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Grandfather Skywalker? A Discussion on Anakin's Origins

One of the most interesting, unexpected, yet subtle revelations in Revenge of the Sith was the clever little nod and wink that the story of Anakin's virgin birth may have more to it than meets the eye. In Phantom Menace we learned that Anakin was born without having a physical father; Qui Gon Jinn believes that Anakin was conceived by the Force itself, by the record-breaking amount of midichlorians in Anakin's body, consistent with his belief that Anakin is the prophecised Chosen One of Jedi lore. However, in Revenge of the Sith , Palpatine tells a story about how a Sith Lord called Darth Plagueis had such power that he could manipulate midichlorians into creating life itself; he then "taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep." The implication made by Palpatine's sly recollection is that Plagueis was his own master, and that Palpatine, Plagueis, or both together, may in fact be a sort of indirect father to Anakin. As it plays in the film, with Palpatine's role as father figure, the first option seems most appropriate (and dramatically resonant). However, the ambiguous nature of this plot point allows the viewer to choose either of the three options--or neither of them. But, surely Lucas himself secretly has his own take on the matter--and indeed, a careful reading of the film shows that there may be a very specific backstory implied in Anakin's creation.

From Lucas' very first take on Episode I, Anakin had a mysterious birth. His notes, circa 1994 or so, which appear on the first Episode I web doc, offer the following cryptic info:

"Is he a mutation? Who was his father? Why was his mother outcast"

The implication here seems to suggest he had no father, much like in savior legends of myth, although the question marks on Lucas' notes seem to suggest Lucas was still only toying with the idea. Equally cryptic is the info on his mother, who apparently was first envisioned as having been outcast from...somewhere. Without context, it is impossible to say. Adding further mystery is the fact that in Episode I's rough draft, Anakin's mother's name is not Shmi Skywalker but Shmi Warka.

The final film introduces us to the fact that Anakin had no biological father and the possibility that his high midichlorian count may itself be responsible for his virgin birth. Even in the final film, Anakin's backstory is shrouded in mystery--Anakin says he didn't come to Tatooine until age 8, but no info is given on the circumstances of where he came from.

When Lucas had to finally craft Anakin's turn to the dark side, he used the ambiguity of Anakin's origins to good effect. The plot point of Anakin having a surprise father appears in Revenge of the Sith 's rough draft--and here, Palpatine comes right out and says he is Anakin's father during the "turn" scene.

DARTH SIDIOUS

I have waited all these years for you to fulfill your destiny [...] I arranged for your conception. I used the power of the force to will the midichlorians to start the cell divisions that created you.

ANAKIN

I don't believe you.

DARTH SIDIOUS

Ahhh, but you know it's true. When you clear your mind, you will sense the truth. You could almost think of me as your father.

ANAKIN

That's impossible!

DARTH SIDIOUS

Nevertheless, you must decide...

However, even though Palpatine says he is effectively Anakin's father, the context of the scene--manipulating Anakin into joining him--is sufficiently suspicious. The claim can easily be argued as being a mere ploy to reel Anakin in as he sees him weakening (one which works, as it happens). Nonetheless, as it occurs in the script it is implied to be taken on face value.

Upon completion of the rough draft, however, this scene may have been regarded as being a bit too obvious in its revelation--instead, Lucas dealt with the matter in a much more subtle way, adding Palpatine's tale of Darth Plagueis "the wise" in the next draft. Here, Palpatine regales Anakin by subtley hinting that the power Anakin seeks can be found in Sith teachings, and that one Sith master, a man called Darth Plagueis, could create life through influencing midichlorians. While the final film may hint at Palpatine being Anakin's father, with him using the power as bait to lure Anakin in, the final draft had dialog cut out that makes things clearer:

PALPATINE

...Plagueis never saw it coming. It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself. According to legend, it was a power his apprentice found no value in. So the ability to save loved ones was lost with Plagueis 'the wise.'

Here, the "unnatural" Sith teachings of Darth Plagueis are not passed on; Palpatine, perhaps in true Sith fashion, found no use in them, and so the powers died with Plagueis when Palpatine killed him. This is consistent with what Palpatine says later, using the promise of re-discovering these abilities to lure Anakin in--"the power to cheat death is something only one has achieved, but I know if we work together we can discover its secret."

The final film, then, seems to have been constructed with the backstory that Plagueis created Anakin, but his apprentice, Sidious (Palpatine), didn't bother to learn these abilities and killed him, and ironically now must use them as bait once he realises Anakin is interested in these powers. Or--Palpatine made the entire story up to lure Anakin in. But that's not quite as interesting.

02/07/09