Deceptive Disavowals
In Revenge of the Sith and the Clone Wars micro-series, Jedi and Sith alike deceive themselves by making sweeping statements about problems they purportedly do not have.
In Revenge of the Sith, the Jedi Anakin Skywalker claims that there is a vice that the Jedi do not have but the Sith do. During their conversation at the Coruscant Opera House, he disagrees with Chancellor Palpatine’s assessment that “The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way.” Anakin replies that “The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inwards, only about themselves,” whereas “The Jedi are selfless. They only care about others.” Anakin denies that the Jedi can be selfish, claiming that is a problem only the Sith have.
Similarly, in the Clone Wars micro-series, the Sith Count Dooku says there is a weakness that the Sith do not have but the Jedi do. In Volume 1, he tells Asajj Ventress she cannot claim to be a Sith, because “You lack a vital quality found in all Sith. Sith have no fear, and I sense much fear in you.” Similarly, in Volume 2, he tells General Grievous that “If you are to succeed in combat against the best of the Jedi, you must have fear, surprise, and intimidation on your side,” implying that the Jedi are susceptible to fear. Dooku denies that the Sith can be fearful, claiming that is a problem only the Jedi have.
The deceptive danger in Anakin and Dooku’s statements is that denying susceptibility to a particular vice or weakness makes it easier for it to rule one’s life, precisely because it reigns undetected. Believing that the Jedi cannot be selfish leaves Anakin unprepared for the shock of hearing Mace Windu argue that Palpatine should be executed to protect the Jedi. Likewise, by telling Ventress she cannot be afraid if she wants to be a Sith, Dooku fails to prepare her for the terror she will feel when confronted with Anakin’s wrath during their duel on Yavin IV. Windu and Ventress fall because of the very problems that, as a Jedi and a Sith respectively, they are theoretically not supposed to have.
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Characters: Anakin Skywalker / Asajj Ventress / Count Dooku / Mace Windu
Shows: Clone Wars (Micro-Series)
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Concepts: fear / Jedi / selfishness / Sith / truth and falsehood
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