SW: The "Why does Padmé love Anakin?" discussion

[thalia_seawood]

Apparently there was some debate on why Padmé loves Anakin. In response to this vadersangel wrote down a list of reasons:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/vadersangel/3604.html

The list makes some interesting points, though I do not agree with point 2 ("There is nothing more attractive than someone in love with you.") at all. In fact, having someone on love with you who you can't love back, is usually a very bad thing.
It struck me though that none of the reasons I would have given were listed. I think this shows that the Anakin/Padmé relationship is much more complex than some fans believe.

So here are my reasons:

A really important point is that Anakin sees not the Queen of Naboo or Senator Amidala when he looks at her, he sees Padmé. With Anakin, Padmé can be herself. I believe whenever we see her smile in one of the movies, it happens when she's together with him. All of Padmé's smiles I can remember are aimed at Anakin. This even starts as far back as episode I, e.g. she smiles at him in her handmaiden disguise when they meet Palpatine for the first time, she smiles at him during the celebration at the end of part I. She laughs at his jokes in episode II. I don't think we ever see her more relaxed as when she's with Anakin.

Padmé and Anakin are both idealists. Padmé wants to make things better by her political work. Anakin wants to fix things, he wants to stop people from dying. (In the beginning, Anakin's wish to protect people is a good wish. It's twisted around though when he only starts to protect the people he loves and is willing to sacrifice the rest of the galaxy for this goal.)

I think that Anakin has a very fascinating quality. cupiscent wrote in one of her stories: "Whatever Anakin did, he did ferociously." He really totally focuses on whatever he does - whether he flies or fights, he does it with all his heart. And when he loves, he does it whole heartedly as well. There are no half measures for him, for good or bad. IMO this quality can be very attractive. A bit scary maybe, but attractive too.

Despite of this intensity Anakin has a mischievous streak. He doesn't only make Padmé smile, he also makes her laugh out loud. Just think about the picknick scene: I don't think Padmé had as much fun as that in a long, long time. Anakin balances Padmé's seriousness.
(His sense of mischief even rubs of on Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan is pretty tied up in episode I, in episode II we see he has a sense of humor and in episode III he has become quite reckless as can be seen during his big fight with Grievous or when he looses his lightsaber. The ROTS novelization states this out clearly, too.)

Anakin is also honest and courageous. Padmé shares these qualities and would definitely appreciate them in another person.

Comments

[stephantom.livejournal.com]

You make a lot of very good points. I thought the reasons given in that link were also very reasonable, but you've shown the actual nature of their relationship. It's not all just "forbidden fruit" or the seductiveness of someone being completely in love with you and needing you, although I do think that played into it -- more importantly, they were friends, as you show here. They enjoyed being together.


One thing though - I'm not sure I'd say Obi-Wan's sense of humor is from Anakin rubbing off on him. Obi-Wan is very quiet in Ep. 1, but I think it's clear that his wry, witty humor is still there, for example, "The negotiations were short." These comments become more frequent in the next two movies, but I think that's probably more of a confidence thing - he's not a Padawan anymore; he can say what he likes whenever. Before, he was just content to follow Qui-Gon's lead (well, he was also fine with disagreeing with Qui-Gon in private - but not openly like Anakin in AotC). So, in some ways, Obi-Wan loosens up in AotC, but in other ways... he actually becomes more of a tight-ass, because he knows he has Anakin as his responsibility and, Anakin being Anakin, tries to overcompensate by being very strict. In RotS he finally seems relaxed.

(ok, warning: I'm about to go off on a complete tangent)

Anakin and Obi-Wan are such an interesting pair... It's tempting to define Anakin as the freer, more mischevous, etc. one, and Obi-Wan as the one who takes everything too serioiusly and needs to loosen up. However, it's not that black and white. It's more how they think of certain parts of their life... Obi-Wan is very serious about doing things right, working hard, and above all, about being a Jedi. Anakin, on the other hand, seems to be more lax and without self-discipline, which is understandable -- very smart and/or talented kids often develop bad work habits and take things as a joke, because so many things come to them without effort. He's naturally good at flying, so he treats it as a game.

However, when it comes to the people in his life, Anakin is completely serious. I mean, yes, he jokes with Padme, and Obi-Wan too, but more often than not, he'll take an offhand comment entirely to heart. Like Obi-Wan's "You'll be the death of me," which he responds to very solemnly, saying, "Don't say that, Master. You're the closest thing I have to a father." Obi-Wan likes to keep things light and easy-going, at a safe distance, whereas Anakin is all passion and intensity. He takes relationships a little too seriously - not that they're not serious and important things. But I mean that, people can't go saying "I can't live without [whoever]" all the time. It's, as Anakin shows, destructive.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Anakin and Obi-Wan are such an interesting pair...

Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship is one of my favorite SW relationship. Ever since I read the ROTS novel and watched the movie I find it extremely intriguing and watch TMP, AOTC and the imperial trilogy with the new eyes.

One thing though - I'm not sure I'd say Obi-Wan's sense of humor is from Anakin rubbing off on him.

True, I made my case very sloppily in a side-note. :-)Their relationship is definitely more complex than that.

I think Obi-Wan has a sense of humor, but in TPM he comes across very haughty when he's interacting with anyone apart from Qui-Gon. (He's "not another pathetic life form" comment springs to mind.)

IMO, Anakin has influenced him strongly. My view is most likely strongly influenced by reading the ROTS novelisation. Here Obi-Wan reflects specifically on Anakin's influence on him. I'm not sure I would have seen it like this if I had only watched the movie.

How far the book is taken into account depends in some way on personal taste. E.g. there are some scenes in the book I love and would have wanted to see on screen. On the other hand, I'm glad other scenes were not included or changed. Personally I just pluck the ideas I like from the novel and integrate them into my way of viewing the movies while I ignore other aspects. True canon would be only the movies, though, which means I should focus on them when making my point.

Back to Obi-Wan and Anakin:
It's interesting that they are more antagonistic in AOTC. Here Obi-Wan teases Anakin, but mostly tries to rein him in. He's only truly relaxed when he's not around Anakin. (E.g. in the scene in Dex's diner or when visiting Kamino.)
In ROTS their relationship has matured. They are both at ease with one another. E.g. I love the moment when they step apart from Palpatine and move closer to one another instinctively in order to discuss the situation. They fly with perfect synchronicity in the first scene of the movie; even the way they walk matches in the early scenes. At this point, Obi-Wan is comfortable around Anakin.

And I totally agree: They both have a mischievous side and a serious side. Obi-Wan can be quite reckless, too, but he usually holds his reckless tendencies back around Anakin. He gets reckless when Anakin is not around - most likely because he doesn't have to be a good example for him. :-)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree that Anakin brought gave joy and a certain abililty to just relax to Obi-Wan and Anakin.

Anakin is also honest and courageous. Padmè shares these qualities and would definitely appreciate them in another person.

You know, he really is. He's a straight-forward guy trapped in a sea of politicians. He's not good at the double-talk.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

You know, he really is. He's a straight-forward guy trapped in a sea of politicians. He's not good at the double-talk.

Even when I first watched ANH many years ago, I got the impression that Vader hates politics and wordy discussions. It's the way he's late for the meeting on the Death Star, doesn't sit down, starts force-choking someone for having a different opinion... :-)
Even back then we see that he likes action when he goes out to fight with his troups in battle.

He's really very naive in some way: The way he trusts Palpatine just so much in ROTS wrenches my heart every time.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Good points all around :).

[cupiscent.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. I like your reasons much better than that other person. All of those reasons are intellectual, rational, distancing. They look at why a person in that situation might be in love. They don't look at why Padme might be in love. Yours do. Yours are personal. And therefore they resonate more truly. (Other person's #1 is the exception, and I don't think that explains the ferocity and strength of Padme's love for Anakin.)

OMG, I got a mention. *brief attack of vanity* Hee.

[firehearts132.livejournal.com]

I really, really like this list, and prefer it to the other person's list. Your's is very realistic, and true to Padme. I think the reason why some people can't understand why she fell in love with Anakin is because they think about what *they* look for in a relationship, rather than what *Padme* personally prefers.