Conversations with Palpatine
In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker has five conversations with Palpatine leading up to the point where he pledges loyalty to him and becomes a Sith. In classic Star Wars fashion, the five conversations form a chiastic structure. The first conversation rhymes with the last, the second rhymes with the fourth, and the third one is unique, setting it off as the conversation during which Anakin’s growing trust in Palpatine eclipses his diminishing trust in the Jedi.
A’ — The first conversation, on Count Dooku’s observation deck at “night,” follows a duel that ends with the victor (Anakin) holding a defenseless old man (Dooku) at lightsaber point. Sitting in a swivel chair, Palpatine orders Dooku’s execution. Anakin briefly regrets obeying Palpatine’s order, saying, “It’s not the Jedi way,” but Palpatine replies, “He was too dangerous to be kept alive.” He also approves of Anakin cutting off Dooku’s hands.
B’ — In Palpatine’s office, during the day, Palpatine appoints Anakin to represent him on the Jedi Council. At the beginning of the conversation, Palpatine says, “I hope you trust me, Anakin,” and at the end, he says, “[The Jedi] need you. More than you know.”
X — During a night at the opera house, Palpatine reveals he knows the Jedi Council told Anakin to spy on him. Palpatine questions Anakin’s trust in the Jedi way and, by telling him the legend of Darth Plagueis, implies that Anakin can find what he needs, but “Not from a Jedi.”
B“ — In Palpatine’s office, during the day, Anakin threatens to turn Palpatine –revealed to be a Sith – in to the Jedi Council. At the beginning of the conversation, Palpatine tells Anakin, “[The Jedi] don’t trust you,” and at the end, he argues Anakin needs him more than he knew.
A” — The last conversation, in Palpatine’s office at night, follows a duel that ends with the victor (Mace Windu) holding a defenseless old man (Palpatine) at lightsaber point. Mace Windu says Palpatine is “too dangerous to be left alive,” but Anakin objects that “It’s not the Jedi way” and cuts off Windu’s hand. Anakin briefly regrets helping Palpatine kill Windu just as he briefly regretted killing Dooku, but when Palpatine moves back to his swivel chair and orders the execution of all Windu’s fellow Jedi and all Dooku’s fellow Separatist leaders, Anakin obeys.
Chiastic structures are also called ring compositions, because their purpose is for a story, character, or theme to come full circle. The irony of this ring of conversations with Palpatine is that the outcome of the last one was all but assured by the outcome of the first. In the final conversation, Anakin pledges, “I will do whatever you ask,” but he already showed his willingness to obey Palpatine and the Sith way the moment he killed Dooku.
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Characters: Anakin Skywalker / Count Dooku / Mace Windu / Palpatine
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