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The personality disorders of Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) in the Star Wars movies

Avirat Kampani

The Star Wars saga is an extremely popular series of science fiction movies based in the future and in outer space. The saga is known for its many beloved characters, but for this blogpost I will be focusing on the character of Anakin Skywalker or more popularly known as Darth Vader. I will be investigating the personality disorders depicted through the character and critiquing how the disorders are depicted through Anakin and speaking a little about how he developed them. I chose the character of Anakin Skywalker because his story depicts him turning from the potential protagonist to the primary antagonist of the story and displays aspects of these disorders through the process. In this blog I will be critiquing a few scenes from the movies that can potentially explain the development of these disorders and then critiquing displays of characteristics of these disorders by Anakin.

The primary disorders depicted through Anakin are borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. The characteristics that Anakin displays that indicate he has borderline personality disorder are his impulsive and erratic behaviors his recurring fits of anger and even his identity crisis. The indicators of his narcissistic personality disorder are his arrogant attitude caused by his prodigal status and excellent skills, his lack of empathy and his obsession with power and immortality.

Since a young age Anakin had the perception that he was capable of exceptional things and was extremely confident in himself. As a child Anakin was an exceptional engineer, he created and repaired complex technological objects for example he created the C-3PO droid and repaired multiple crafts for his pod racing. Anakin was also exceptionally skilled and had enough confidence as a pre-teen child to go up against skilled pod racers and even defeat them. Another factor that could contribute to his narcissistic personality as an adult could be his time spent as a slave. Going from the status of a slave to one of the greatest warriors in the galaxy can have a major impact on one’s self-image and perception of others. The theme of powerless to powerful is a recurring one in this saga, the journey from powerless to powerful can inculcate narcissistic views within the mind of the individual making the journey, making them believe that they are destined for greater things and better that the people around them. The experience of being born a slave can also be viewed as a traumatic event, even though Anakin did not necessarily view it as a traumatic experience it can still be a subconscious traumatic factor that could have led to the personality disorders.

The first instance where Anakin’s disorder was displayed was right after one of the most traumatic events of his life. Anakin’s mother whom he had not seen for years was kidnapped by a group of Tusken raiders; the native species of the planet where Anakin’s mother had settled. They captured and tortured her because they did not like the settlers on their planet. Anakin rushed to help his mother as he found out but once he reached her, he was too late, His mother uttered her last words to him and passed away in his arms because of the torture. Anakin was enraged and proceeded to slaughter the entire village of the native species including innocent women and children. This event displayed the lack of empathy, impulsiveness and anger brought on by Anakin’s Narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder and the traumatic event that potentially led to the unveiling of these disorders.

Another aspect that could reflect his narcissistic tendencies is his relationship with his wife. As a Jedi Anakin was not allowed to be betroth to anyone as stated by the higher ups. Anakin still refused to follow this law and secretly wed his wife which could be another reflection of his grandiose personality as he believed he was above the law. Another factor that contributed to his narcissism and belief that he was better than his peers was his awareness about his DNA. When his blood was tested it was found that his blood contained a special component that Jedis have called midichlorians and to add to this as a young boy Anakin had more midichlorians than one of the most powerful Jedi’s. The knowledge of this only added to his self-promoting nature. Anakin then began dreaming of the death of his wife and since most Jedi’s are connected to “The Force” a source of energy that the Jedi use to their advantage. This Force also gives them visions of the future. Anakin had also dreamt about the death of his mother before it happened. These dreams about his wife led him to become desperate and easy to manipulate by the enemy. Anakin was manipulated by the enemy into thinking they can save his wife and eventually betraying the Jedi.

After his betrayal Anakin began displaying more characteristics akin to borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. Anakin slaughtered a bunch of children who were training to become Jedis displaying unwarranted violence, and lack of empathy. He then dueled his Jedi master with the intent of killing him displaying grandiosity, lack of empathy, unwarranted violence and impulsiveness. Anakin also tried to justify betraying the Jedis to his wife by saying he could takeover the republic and establish the empire which only displays his narcissistic tendencies. After the death of his wife, he completely succumbed to his narcissistic and violent tendencies even knowingly trying to kill his own children on multiple occasions while also trying to make his son join him. The character of Anakin Skywalker is an effective portrayal of how these personality disorders affect an individual overtime, the portrayal of these disorders was not completely accurate since it was depicted in a science fiction movie with extraordinary circumstances.

 

Padm Amidala (Canon). (n.d.). Wookieepedia. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Padm%C3%A9_Amidala?so=search#Death

Wiki Targeted (Entertainment). (n.d.). Wookieepedia. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Shmi_Skywalker_Lars#:%7E:text=Prior%20to%20leaving%20for%20his,would%20return%20and%20free%20her

Tusken Raider (Canon). (n.d.). Wookieepedia. 

            https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Tusken_Raider

 

Who Knew Darth Vader was Anakin Skywalker? (n.d.). Wookieepedia. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Anakin_Skywalker#Accepting_the_dark_side

 

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