Channel72 said:
But the point is, later movies reveal that Brackett really nailed Lucas’ ideas about how the Dark Side works, and how one can fall to the Dark Side via embracing anger. And I think this was lost in later drafts of ESB. Vader has a few lines about “giving in to hatred” while fighting Luke on Bespin, but it’s all sort of deflated once Vader reveals he never actually wronged Luke (by killing his father), and in fact, actually IS his father. It also lessens the stakes during the final battle in ROTJ, because there’s much less the Emperor has to work with to make Luke turn evil. Still, I think it was worth it - because the twist in ESB is just too awesome to leave on the cutting floor.
Haha, this reminds me me how even as a kid I’ve always felt the weird paradox of the Emperor’s whole spiel “don’t you just HATE me? I’m really PISSING you off, aren’t I? Good! Now, JOIN me!” If that were me, it would make me want to reject him all the more, just out of spite.
I actually don’t think channeling one’s hatred is meant to be the only approach to turning to the dark side, it’s just the one the Emperor seems to think will be most effective on Luke given the circumstances in ROTJ (and for whatever it’s worth - I know Lucas made lots of last minute changes - it’s not really how we eventually see Anakin fall in ROTS). The “dark side” of the force is that its power is intoxicating, and if you’re not a trained, disciplined professional you’re liable to become hopelessly addicted to using it for your own selfish interests (note that the movies never mention a “light side” of the force - the “dark side” is simply the force being abused). Luke is too loyal to his friends and too far along in his training to give in to persuasion, so the Emperor opts to make him feel a direct dose of its sweet, sweet power, and he fully expects Luke to be hooked and that his need for another hit (and another, and another) will override all his allegiances (“Your hate has made you powerful”).
In both the Brackett draft and the finished ESB Vader actually comes at Luke from multiple angles, at certain points even appealing to Luke’s altruism (the Brackett draft: “The Emperor is a harsh master. YOU would not be.” The film: “Together we can END this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy!”). For most of the duel in the film Vader appears to be praying on Luke’s fear, desperation, and hopelessness: demonstrating how helplessly outmatched Luke is (“You are beaten. It is useless to resist.”), cutting off any alternative ("There is no escape. Don’t make me destroy you," “It is the only way.”), and finally revealing that even Luke’s precious heroic father couldn’t resist, and Vader should know, because “I am your father!” And then sweetening the deal: “You can destroy the Emperor,” “Together we can rule the galaxy,” and making it seem inevitable and what he’s essentially supposed to be doing anyway: “He has foreseen this. It is your destiny.” Frankly, between the Emperor and Darth Vader’s two sales pitches, I find Vader’s more convincing!
From a story standpoint, it does seem a bit of a missed opportunity not to be able to more fully exploit the idea of Vader having killed Luke’s father, but I also sort of like the implication that Luke might’ve come prepared for this line of attack (especially taking into account Mark Hamill’s performance): “Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.” “He told me enough!” (ie. “I already know, so if you’re trying to shock me, forget it.”) “He told me YOU killed him.” (The emphasis on “YOU” says to me, “Taunt me about it all you like, asshole, in the end YOU did it and therefore I won’t ever be on YOUR side.”)