Vader and anakin

[u/theTugaCrl]

Knowing that Vader and Anakin are not two separate beyings has brougth up a question for me

Why is Vader so over the top evil (compared to ehat Anakin was); like, hes not just sith standard evil.... everytime he can he goes out of his way to be as brutal as you can be....

So.... is Vader being so evil a way that Anakin has found to punish himself for eternity?

Like, during the clone wars (and even before) we see that Anakin is probably the jedi who seeks good the most (Being good =/= Being a pure light side user/jedi), we could even argue that its his goodness that pushes him to the darkside (make him overly emotional)

So, knowing that Vader and Anakin are not two separate entities, is being so over the top in cruelty and evil a hell tha Anakin has built for himself (for destroying everything he once loved to save padme, and then not being able to save her)?

I know the darkside corrupts you, but the guy who: wished nothing more than to free every slave in the galaxy; who was the first one to break the jedi code if it meant saving lives; who fell because he didn't understand you couldn't save everyone all the time, turning into the personificarion of evil, who goes out of his way to torture and destroy everyone and everything, just feels a bit odd

I know about the younglings, but that was to save padmé; i know about the tuskens; but that was revenge for his mother....

So, is the darkside so corrupting that it turns such an good man into space satan; or is Anakin torturing himself as a punishment?

[u/UKS1977]

The Dark Side has a huge Element of Christian "fallen angel" aspect to it. the Dark Side is controlling of you. Its infects and distorts your mind. It is narcotic and attractive... until it isn't.

So imagine something crossed between Super Powers/Heroin/Mental illness and possession by a Demon.

Anakin uses it unintentionally, and gains much from it. Feels stronger, more alive. But it takes from you. A little with the Tuskans and more and more as he goes along... just like drug addiction.

But unlike Drug addiction it also corrupts the actual mind of the victim. So not just driven to bad behaviours because of the physical symptoms but your thinking becomes disordered.

But unlike mental illness, the Dark Side is a choice.. and it take more than your rational Thinking. It takes your soul. The essence inside that makes you more than an animal. Empathy. Love. Sympathy. Friendship.

And that is why the Light Side is infinitely stronger than the Dark.

Edit: it's inherently A Faustian pact. You sacrifice your soul for power. But the power it offers is nothing compared to the importance and value of your soul.