"Analyzing Love in the 'STAR WARS' Prequel Trilogy"
"ANALYZING LOVE IN THE 'STAR WARS' PREQUEL TRILOGY"
For years, I have read some rather curious remarks about the Anakin Skywalker-Padme Amidala relationship in the "STAR WARS" Prequel Trilogy. There are many fans who have questioned Padme's love for Anakin not only in "STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES", but also in "STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH".
For some reason, many STAR WARS fans seemed to find it inconceivable that Padme would fall in love with such a flawed character like Anakin. I am curious as to why people think they can analyze love, whether between fictional characters or in real life. And why do many assume that love and morality is one and the same?
If Anakin Skywalker, in the "STAR WARS" Prequel Trilogy, had been the model Jedi who could do no wrong, people would have never questioned why Padme had fallen in love with him, or why she married him. But since Anakin is presented as being a flawed person, people come up with all kinds of theories and reasons (which usually has nothing to do with love) as to why she fell in love with him in the first place.
The problem is that people seem to harbor the mistaken belief that love is about perfection or near perfection. Or that no one would fall in love with someone with the potential for evil. They also believe that one can only fall in love with someone after a certain period of time. Unfortunately, love does not work like that. Love is dangerous, unpredictable and very confusing for all. You cannot pinpoint on why someone will fall in love with a certain person.
One thing I have always admired about Padme was her willingness to love Anakin for himself. Yes, some people like to theorize that she became his wife because she mistakenly believed that she could "reform" him. I cannot help but laugh at such a theory. Has it ever occurred to anyone that the true reason Padme fell in love with Anakin was because he brought up feelings within her that no one else has ever been able to?
When you love someone, you have to be willing to accept that person is and always will be flawed - and will always have the potential for both good and evil within. Not only was this true of Anakin, but of Padme as well. She has not always been perfect. In "STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE", Padme had allowed her anger and frustration with the Galactic Senate to be coerced by Palpatine into declaring a vote of "no confidence" against Chancellor Valorum. This act led to Palpatine's first step into a position of real power. And it also proved that Padme was just as capable of making disastrous choices on the spur of an emotional moment. Anakin, himself, discovered how arrogant and pushy she can be upon their arrival in Naboo, in "ATTACK OF THE CLONES". During their time on Padme's home planet, he realized that she was not the symbol of angelic perfection that he had perceived. Yet, he fell in love with her, more than ever.
In the end, I think we must realize that we cannot really judge why Padme fell in love with Anakin. She knew that he was capable of great darkness. But she also knew that he could be a good man. But I think that in the end, what really mattered was that he made her feel something that no one else could. And when you find someone like that - why ignore it? Even if the relationship might end in disaster or tragedy?