The Star Wars saga revolves around the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker, the young Jedi who would become Darth Vader. While the first three movies of the series deal with the events surrounding his rise to prominence and fall into the Dark Side of the Force, the last three movies deal with the events leading to his redemption.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is an example of a Tragic Hero. A Tragic Hero, by definition, is a privileged character who falls from grace due to a character flaw or fate, leading to his or her suffering.

Anakin Skywalker was identified as “The Chosen One”, a rumored savior in Jedi mythology who would “bring balance to the Force”. At an early age, he is mentored and trained in the ways of the Jedi Knights, an order of fighting monks in the tradition of the Shaolin or Templar Knights. The Jedi were revered throughout the galaxy for their strict devotion to the Light Side of the Force, and efforts to bring order to the Republic. They were affiliated with the Republic, and worked to fight against a coalition of breakaway planets. The Jedi Knights have three main “ranks” of Jedi. Padawans (trainees), Jedi Knights (mentors), and Jedi Masters.

Anakin Skywalker had character flaws that led to the Dark Side of the Force: passion, jealousy, selfishness, and a lust for power.

Anakin was passionate about his mother, who was abducted and killed by a band of Tusken Raiders. Upon her death, and his revenge on the perpetrators, he transferred his passion to Senator Padame Amidala, who he married in secret, against the Jedi Code. Anakin also harbored an intense jealousy of his Obi Wan Kenobi, the Jedi Knight who sponsored him throughout his Padawn training. He often accused Kenobi of “holding him back”. His selfish attitude led to his betrayal of the Jedi, and his lust for power enabled Darth Sidious, the evil Sith Lord, to recruit him as his apprentice, Darth Vader.

After years of service to the Dark Side of the Force as Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker is turned back to the Light Side through the selfless sacrifice of his own life in order to save his son, Luke, from Darth Sidious.

In conclusion, Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader is a classic example of a Tragic Hero who rose to prominence, fell from grace, and redeemed himself as a true Jedi Knight.

Check out the Rest of the Darth Vader Costumes here and pick your favorite.