What Do Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a puppet, while the puppeteer is the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei. Ahmadinejad is inferior, but he receives all of the attention. Khamenei lurks in the shadows, making the actual decisions for his puppet. Ahmadinejad isn't nearly as powerful many would have you believe. The power structure in Iran
Obviously, Darth Vader is all business and does not like to wait around. Like Ahmadinejad, Vader garners attention by making threats. He will accomplish a task through any means possible, eliminating those who stand in his way. If Vader wants an answer, he will strangle you until you provide one. If one of his subordinates makes a wrong move, they will probably end up dead. One toe out of line under Vader's watchful eye is a death sentence. Imperial commanders and Stormtroopers alike fear the hand of Vader.
Darth Vader represents physical force. Unfortunately, brute force is essentially ineffective. The Emperor prefers to enforce his will through fear. For the Emperor, fear is power. For Vader, power encompasses Force choke and a lightsaber. The Emperor's method is clearly more effective at keeping order. Vader can only be in one place at a time, whereas the Emperor can use his Stormtroopers to spread mass fear. Vader may instill fear in his lone, helpless victim, but the Emperor can instill fear in victims throughout the empire. Vader's power pales in comparison with the sheer dominance of his master.
Darth Vader does not make any of his own decisions. He simply carries out the orders of his master. A powerful person is usually an independent person. Darth Vader tends to be completely dependent on the Emperor to tell him what to do, when to do it, and how. Had it not been for the Emperor telling him otherwise, Vader would have set out on his own to look for Luke. Episodes IV, V and VI consistently show a relationship between master and pupil where the hooded master provides his masked pupil with orders to carry out. Vader simply doesn't have the power to call the shots.
Darth Vader eventually overcomes the Emperor and the dark side of the Force. Vader reveals his compassionate side when he throws the Emperor down the shaft. The sight of his son being tortured became too much for the once vile villain. You could argue that Vader made his own decision. However, Vader was, once again, influenced by an outside factor - in this case, the Force lightning killing his son. Even when he was known as Anakin Skywalker, Vader was susceptible to his emotions. This characteristic usually isn't found in irreversibly evil characters.
Is it really possible to consider Darth Vader as a villain? In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine convinced Anakin Skywalker that the dark side of the Force could save Padmé from certain death. She still died, and it was too late for Anakin. Anakin-turned-Vader was the victim of a sleazy scam that left him with nothing but the ability to use the Force and wield a lightsaber. With no other option, Vader was left to do the bidding of the con artist who saved his life. In our society, someone who is kidnapped and forced to serve the kidnapper isn't looked upon as a villain. Vader could fall in the same category.
. Darth Vader is consistently ranked as one of the greatest villains of all time. In many respects, the "honor" just isn't appropriate for Vader. Of course, Darth Vader is an imposing and heavily-armed figure. Star Wars just wouldn't be the same without him. However, Vader lacks authority and is heavily dependent on others. Thus, it's hard to accurately label Darth Vader as a villain. Like Ahmadinejad, Vader is one of the best examples of a puppet on strings. We should be thankful that the puppets can't provide each other with nuclear fuel and lightsabers. That would be quite a show.
7 comments:
Not everything has to relate to politics. Interesting essay. As I was reading, I was going to comment that Vader made his own decision to stop the Emperor from killing Luke, but After reading the next paragraph I changed my mind. I don't know how you do it, but you always seem to have a current event to tie into whatever you write about but Star Wars and the Middle East? that is a bit of a stretch.
Once again, brilliant essay skills. I am enormously jealous. However, though you analyzed HOW Vader was a puppet, I was always waiting for an analysis of WHY Vader submitted to the Emperor. Great overall essay, once again.
-Nick Phoenix
But Was Darth Vador Really A Puppet All Along?? Or Was It All An Act?????? Hmmmmm... =]
I really like that you thought to compare this story to something happening in today's society. Darth Vader is a very interesting villain to analyze, and finding a parallel outside the realm of fantasy makes him seem somehow like more of a real person.
I found it quite interesting that you tied your paper into the topic of Iran's government. I think that it is very interesting that Anakin Skywalker made all of his choices based on his emotions even though he was a Jedi. I think that you are right to look at Darth Vader as a puppet, because he is always serving something. Even in the end he is serving his own emotions. I found this essay to be quite interesting, good job.
Well, I can honestly say that this essay was the first time that I ever saw a similarity between a middle Eastern leader and the only film villain who sounds genuinely asthmatic. That being said, I feel that your essay definitely presented a unique theory and gave fresh insight to the character of Darth Vader. I would agree with you that most people forget how many of Vader's actions are directly influenced by his master, rather than his own free will. I'm also glad that you mentioned the role of emnotions in Vader's life and how his feelings led him to a life of crime. My only issue is with your conclusion that Vader isn't much of a true villain, but rather a dependent puppet. Although Vader was manipulated, one could argue that he definitely had a degree of power even in his early days, and that this power became a threat when he turned to the dark side. All in all though, it was a great essay.
I would have never thought to compare it to something from today. It was very different and interesting. I liked how you compared darth vader to a puppet :) It was very good! Amazing job!
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