I don’t know who invented the idea, but when George Lucas agreed that it would be great to make Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader into the same person, he made quite the job for himself. On the one hand we had a man that was established as very evil, and the other spoken of in glowing, wonderful terms. Did the prequel trilogy explain how that seeming dichotomy took place?

Originally posted by: Jumpman
Tiptup,

"Training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge. And even if you succeed, it's a hard life. Take that line by Qui-Gon, add the fact that Anakin was raised by his mother exclusively for nine years but can't see her because of the Jedi way, on top of the fact that he's been labeled the Chosen One and he knows it(literally) and feels it and end it with his superiors constantly keeping a watchful eye on him and holding him back.

I think you can possibly see why Anakin is a little different, 10 years later...and why he goes back and forth between doing his duty and training as a Jedi and he desires toward Padme in Episode II. He's a good kid in Episode II. He's just dealing with some angst when it comes to the Jedi Way.

"Must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi. Not be able to visit the places you like or do the things you like."
"Or be with the people that I love."

Yes, I see how that would be a very difficult life, but Anakin should have also learned some discipline at the same time, should he have not? Also, how was the life of a slave not that much different in those same ways? (He couldn’t go to the places he liked do the things he liked whenever he wanted.) And quite frankly, what does that say about him as a person if his virtues are totally dependant upon his external circumstances? The goodness of his mother was the only thing that ensured that he was a good boy? The instant he was on his own he becomes ungrateful and whiny?

According to TPM’s view of the Jedi, Anakin was allowed to become a Jedi under very, very special circumstances. He was not only an odd case but a potentially dangerous case and Anakin knew this. We’re supposed to believe that he’s then justified when complaining about being held back?! How on earth is that such a terrible plight? He can’t take his time and, at the very least, try to be industrious? Talk about a bad attitude.

And whether Anakin enjoys the life of a Jedi or not, HE CHOSE IT FOR HIMSELF, did he not? He was told it would be hard and he fully knew that he would not be with his mother. Now he’s going to whine about his choice and the audience is supposed to still like him for that much of a weak will? Seriously, does he have no self-respect? What about dedication or perseverance? Sticking to his personally chosen goals no matter the hardship and taking it all like a man?

The character we saw in Menace was not a character that would grow into what we saw in Clones. It doesn’t matter how much Jedi “angst” builds up, he wasn’t the kind of person who’d allow it to affect him towards such extreme levels of pessimism and distrust. That just was not his character. If anything, if the frustrations and hardships of the Jedi lifestyle were truly so difficult, they would have worn on him hard and he would have become tired and depressed, not energetically angry and nasty. In addition, the Jedi lifestyle should have constantly been teaching him proper attitudes and ethics, so if anything, the good, humble side of Anakin should have gotten plenty of reinforcement along with the bad. Attack of the clones introduced a totally different character with no connection to the previous one.