The great promise of the prequel trilogy was its chronicling of Anakin Skywalker’s journey from the brave Jedi Obi-Wan described to Luke, to the clockwork horror known to the universe as Darth Vader. Despite Jar Jar Binks indulgences, shoe horned immaculate conceptions and a plot hole here and there, the prequels lived up to that contract with the audience. The films reveal that Anakin’s downfall was rooted in his passions but it also provides glimpses into the ways in which he himself came to doubt his own capacity to fulfill the ideals of the Jedi. Although he was a highly confident individual bordering on unadulterated arrogance, he was also sufficiently self aware to understand that in some ways he was less than he should be and it created significant turmoil.
As he broaches these conversations with Padme it feels like he doesn’t feel comfortable bringing these concerns to anyone within the Order who may have been able to guide him through his feelings in a controlled and stable environment. Considering the closeness he shared with his Master, the paragon Obi-Wan Kenobi, it may be surprising that he kept so much from him that would have made such a difference in his life. A mini series that takes place in between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones portrays a young Skywalker who not only doubts himself, but decides to leave the Jedi Order altogether. Obi-Wan’s methods in manipulating him to remain while keeping his own secrets and using a blunt exhibition of power may have led to Anakin’s sense of unease in confiding in his master but may have also sowed the seeds for his descent toward the Dark Side.
Star Wars Obi-Wan & Anakin (2015-2016) written by Charles Soule with art from Marco Checchetto revolved around the idea of a 12 year old Anakin deciding to leave the Jedi Order. It is during this vulnerable period in his life that Palpatine begins grooming Anakin as a potential apprentice, three years after The Phantom Menace. Anakin feels as if the things he wants to learn and do lie outside of what is possible for the Jedi, due in part to their relationship to the Galactic Senate. There is a part of Anakin that desires more autonomy and who has already grown weary of the politics and bureaucracy that he feels should not hold sway in the Order, long before its restrictions of personal attachments would begin to chafe. Time and time again Obi-Wan falls back on one ploy to keep Anakin from going through with his decision and it seems deceptively underhanded.
Whenever approached about these concerns Obi-Wan responds by reminding Anakin of the peril involved in stepping away form the Order, especially at his young age. He never specifies as to exactly what the consequences might be but heavily implies that repercussions would be dire. Yet there is no evidence for this in the canonical sources indicating that this is the case. In the Jedi Archives there are bronzium busts of the Lost Twenty, meant to serve as a reminder of the Jedi’s failure in holding onto those Masters who chose a different path. It is clear from the way Mace refers to Dooku when he chides Senator Amidala for suspecting him of having something to do with the attempts on her life that those who leave are not held in any disregard simply for leaving. Ironically his words indicate the exact opposite, erroneously comforting the Senator by telling her that such acts aren’t in his character because he was at one time a Jedi.
Even if an argument could be made that a Master’s departure is different than a Padawan’s, The Clone Wars offers an example of that as well. When Ahsoka Tano was wrongly accused of a terrorist bombing in the Jedi Temple she was exiled from the Order. Eventually with the help of Anakin she was able to clear her name and was reinstated, but she chose to leave. Anakin confided in her that at times he shared the sentiment but ultimately they could do more good among the Jedi, together. After she left it would have been clear to Anakin that all of Obi-Wan’s vague menace about separating from the Order was toothless, something that Obi-Wan must have always known and perhaps this is why in all that time he never described a specific outcome. Yoda even says to Obi-Wan, if Anakin wishes to leave, let him. The Jedi are not jailers.
Obi-Wan and Yoda discussed Skywalker’s decision at length and the two outlined the various options available to them. Obi-Wan made it clear that his commitment to Qui-Gon Jinn’s death bed request superseded any loyalty he had to maintaining his presence among the Jedi and went on to say that if Anakin left the Order he would as well. However he never communicates that devotion to Anakin and actually expresses the opposite. After completing a mission Yoda tasked them, for the express purpose of changing Anakin’s mind, Obi-Wan presents Anakin with an explicit choice. He says to him “The road lies before you Anakin Skywalker. Will you walk it alone?” implying that if he steps away he will do it with no support. Obi-Wan may have done so that Anakin was making a decision embedded with the worst possible outcome to test his resolve, but it was still a lie.
The moment that seemingly convinces Anakin to stay is also one steeped in falseness. Obi-Wan calls in reinforcements to help bring an end to the planet side conflict he and Anakin were sent to investigate and Anakin is bewildered by their appearance since it was clear that the Republic had no interest in this backwater world. Obi-Wan explains that he told them the planet’s unusual atmosphere held a valuable gas and he confesses that he doesn’t know whether or not that is true. His lesson to Anakin is that the massive ships blocking out the sky came because of his role as a Jedi, not because he was Obi-Wan Kenobi. Up until that moment Anakin seemed prepared to walk away from the Jedi, but his Master’s breech of protocol and raw demonstration of soft power is what turned the tide.
Instead of teaching Anakin that he would always be there for him no matter what, Obi-Wan taught him that manipulating the powers that be when it served their purpose was perfectly okay and that the attainment of power was reason enough to wed oneself to the Jedi. This is also taking place as the Supreme Chancellor had begun having private audiences with Anakin and ruminating about the need for less structure and more action to bring about necessary change. Obi-Wan unwittingly opened the fissures that Sidious would sink his hooks into by offering the same temptations and juxtaposing them against similar terrifying manufactured stakes.
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