Analysis of Anakin and Padme’s Relationship in Star Wars (Essay Sample)

Han Solo and Princess Leia represent the lack of love between Anakin and Padme in the prequels. The forbidden love trope between a young padawan and a beautiful senator destroys the republic. In “Star Wars” Theory: Padme was under a Jedi mind trick – She never loved Anakin, TJ Muscuro discusses a theory of whether or not this love story holds true. Theories are explaining Anakin using a Jedi mind trick on Padme to control her and create this relationship between them. Anakin’s story remains as a dark, twisted, fantasy while hurting those who love him in the process. Star Wars is not a love story as evidenced by Anakin and Padme’s relationship embodying toxic behavior, manipulation, and ends in heartbreak. 

Although this is just a theory that Anakin used a Jedi mind trick on Padme. Several fans still have hope for this intergalactic romance. Dean Manness argues in his blog post, Star Wars: 15 Things About Padme And Anakin’s Relationship That Make No Sense, that their relationship is more complicated than it’s let out to be. Given the fact that their entire marriage is built off a secret, of course, issues will arise. Manness states, “There is pressure on Anakin to bring balance to the force, so perhaps this is what happens when you put those expectations on a child.” The reader views Anakin as Darth Vader and not a worn-out child, but the author enabled them to better understand where Anakin is coming from. 

He never chose to be the “Chosen One” and Manness illuminates this fact in his writing. As a result of high expectations for him from a young age, Anakin declines in a social sense and can not handle a relationship, nonetheless a high-risk one. Ultimately, if Anakin were to leave the Jedi order and pursue Padme without secrets, he could bring balance to the force. Instead, maintaining this confidential relationship only deteriorates Anakin more than before. Are we to blame Anakin for his emotional immaturity when his traumatic and stress-filled childhood influence his actions? Growing up as a slave and learning that he is supposed to restore balance to the force places a lot of pressure on a young man. His dark and mysterious persona is balanced out with Padme’s light and hopefulness. She is a peaceful and loving woman with maternal energy. This develops Anakin’s obsession immediately upon meeting her at nine years old. 

Obi-Wan Kenobi first utilizes the Jedi mind trick in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, a guest author states in CultureSlate’s Did Anakin Mind Trick Padme Into Falling For Him? Obi-Wan teaches Anakin the way of the force and trains him to be a Jedi Master, so Anakin must know how to make use of this trick. In the article, the author explains how the mind trick only works on weak-minded individuals. This disproves the theory of whether or not Padme fell for this trick as she is a young, powerful, and strong woman. She was the youngest queen of Naboo as well as being a senator of the Republic. Despite Padme being a strong, influential person, she still falls victim to this Jedi mind trick. This occurs because over time Anakin wears her down, he constantly pursues her and gives her this suspicious look. Ultimately, what decides their fate takes place in Naboo. Anakin showers her with love and obsession throughout the whole trip and exemplifies the “honeymoon phase”. 

This loving relationship the audience views does not last as evidenced in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. She dies of a broken heart and only to give birth in her last moments to Princess Leia and the Chosen One. Padme giving birth during Anakin’s transition to Darth Vader is not a coincidence. After Anakin attempts to kill his innocent, loving wife, he no longer holds the potential to bring balance to the force. Padme carries the Chosen One in her womb and stabilizes Anakin's dark side through her peaceful and loving energy. The only way balance is restored to the force is through their relationship. The polar opposite love trope results in Luke Skywalker, who is the Chosen One.

Reiterating when they both meet each other in Tatooine, Padme was not interested in the slightest. She babysits him essentially and to Padme, he is nothing more than a pouty little boy. Anakin, head over heels from this moment, holds onto this feeling for ten more years. Reuniting with Padme, he manipulates her into loving him using the power of the Jedi mind trick. Muscuro reiterates how Anakin puts the work in to reach Padme’s love interest in Episode II - Attack of the Clones. From what the audience views, Padme prefers a bad boy to be the yin to her yang. Anakin slaughters an entire village and she recognizes how strong and capable of controlling the force he is. Padme knows this and somehow she now looks at the once little boy from Tatooine in a new light. The audience perceives this from a whole different viewpoint, Anakin is a bad person, not some rogue, lonely, and misunderstood man. This entices her and through the constant glares, manipulative powers, and his broken- messed up backstory she succumbs to his obsession and ultimately falls into this love trap. 

Padme does not even know her feelings towards Anakin. She confesses her love for him in Geonosis during Episode II - Attack of the Clones. She states that this love she feels for him has been there since they reunited. This simply can not be true as evidenced in the films. She is uncomfortable around Anakin and dwells on the fact that he is too young. What could explain these feelings, emanates from the heat-of-the-moment, when they were about to die together. After her confession, Anakin explains how it is forbidden for them to love one another and this only feeds into her out-of-nowhere love for him. Since he was always the one pursuing Padme, now when he disapproves it turns into a chase. Anakin knows exactly what he is doing by not immediately confirming his obvious feelings for her. By telling her their love is neither possible nor allowed, he flips the narrative and has Padme wrapped around his finger.

Another confounding instance when Padme expresses her feelings is when she devotes her undying, long-lasting love for him upon her death in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This occurs immediately after Anakin almost kills her. Fans can argue about how she dies of a broken heart, but following this event, Padme understands that she doesn’t love him. This also showcases the fact that the man she used to love is now Darth Vader. Upon transforming, there is no more room for him to love Padme as the dark side of the force took over. This leaves her to die of a broken heart as she was manipulated for years and left with nothing, not even her own life.

Once their secret marriage occurs, Padme exists as a sitting duck essentially for her downfall. She still serves as a senator for the Republic and fills her role, but when she has to hide her pregnancy, there's nothing else for her to do. Anakin has full control over Padme and this possession turns her to hide away in her home. Muscuro further explains this in “Star Wars” Theory: Padme was under a Jedi mind trick – She never loved Anakin, how Anakin’s fear decides her fate. He states how Anakin discusses his fear of loss with Yoda and with more explanation, this fear is from the lack of control. He wishes he could control Padme and with the application of the Jedi mind trick and displaying mixed feelings of their relationship he accomplishes this goal. He has abandonment issues and now Padme’s pregnancy locks her in with no way out, but death. Yoda explains how fear of loss stems from greed and by Anakin controlling Padme’s life, he displays only qualities that of a Sith. This greed and possession of her ultimately compel him to join the dark side. 

You would think an intergalactic love story would be enough to bring balance to the force, but in the final analysis, their relationship ruins everything in its path. Watching the final film from the prequels, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, a turn of events takes place. Padme dies, Anakin turns to the dark side, and this all leaves the galaxy in disarray. The only inherently good things to result from this manipulative, unhealthy relationship are Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. Throughout their entire relationship, Anakin’s obsession creates their fabricated idea of love. This results from Anakin manipulating her with the Jedi mind trick, concealing their relationship, choosing the dark side instead of her, and possessing Padme’s life-- until he takes it away.