Contemplating the Twilight
In the first and third films of the prequel trilogy, a character contemplates a fateful decision while gazing out a window at the twilit skyline of Coruscant. Ultimately, both characters choose to go against their ideals and form a partnership with someone they previously despised because they are afraid of losing the ones they love.
In The Phantom Menace, Padmé Amidala watches the sun set over the Coruscant skyline while ruminating on the possible deaths of her people, the Naboo. (”Yousa thinking yousa people gonna die?” asks Jar-Jar Binks.) Because the Senate will not act in a timely manner to save Naboo from the Trade Federation, Padmé decides to defy the instructions of Senator Palpatine and take matters into her own hands. She leaves in a ship to save her people by mounting a military campaign in partnership with the warlike Gungans, abandoning her pacifist ideals and contradicting her earlier statement, “I will not condone a course of action that will lead my people to war.”
In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker watches the sun set over the Coruscant skyline while ruminating on the possible death of his wife, Padmé. Because the Jedi will not act to save Padmé from Anakin’s premonitions of her death, he decides to defy the instructions of Jedi Master Mace Windu and take matters into his own hands. He leaves in a ship to save Padmé’s life by learning the secrets of the dark side in partnership with Palpatine, abandoning his Jedi ideals in the process.
The imagery of the setting sun in these scenes recalls Shmi Skywalker’s words to her son Anakin before his departure from his home on Tatooine: “You can’t stop the change, any more than you can stop the suns from setting.” Throughout the prequel trilogy, Palpatine preys on people’s desire to stop the changes they fear from taking place. In The Phantom Menace, Padmé’s decision takes Palpatine by surprise, briefly disrupting his plans – but only after he has already successfully played on her fear for her people to bring about his own election as Chancellor. In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin’s decision plays directly into Palpatine’s hands: his fear of losing Padmé leads him to the dark side.
EXPLORE FURTHER…
Characters: Anakin Skywalker / Padmé Amidala / Palpatine
Films: Episode I: The Phantom Menace / Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
GO DEEPER INTO THE ARCHIVES…
Concepts: change / fear / grief and loss / ideals / life and death / light and darkness / war and peace
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To quote C-3PO: "Here we go again."😁 It's simply uncanny. You don't know what I'm referring to. For now, I will say that I am glad you posted this today instead of Friday. You will see why on Saturday. 😉
As for the post itself, you have done it again with your wonderful connections and insights. I'm not sure I ever thought of these two scenes like that before. My only criticism is that I think using the word "despise" is too harsh, especially concerning Queen Amidala. She may have disagreed with the Gungans but she certainly didn't hate them.