Anakin Skywalker is the heart of the Star Wars saga, and his ascent to Jedi Knight and subsequent fall to Sith Lord is motivated by the same reason. First a slave on the desolate world Tatooine, Anakin became one of the greatest Jedi in the history of the Order. Plagued by visions of death and the manipulations of Darth Sidious, he succumbs to his fears in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, becoming the galaxy's biggest terror: Darth Vader.
Anakin's entire life is a tragic affair. There are many reasons why he fell to the dark side of the Force, with plenty of blame to go around to various people and factions. The deceptions and mistrust of the Jedi Order, who did not understand Anakin's Chosen One prophecy, serving three years in a vicious war, and the seduction by Palpatine are key ingredients. Overall, though, the responsibility ultimately rests on his shoulders. Misguided as he was, Anakin's fall from grace was rooted in the same obsessive idea that led him to Jedi, beginning with a promise he made to his mother.
Anakin Skywalker Believed Jedi Could Conquer Death
When Anakin Skywalker is first chronologically introduced in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, he is found to be strong in the Force, possessing an unfathomable midi-chlorian count. He is given a choice by Qui-Gon Jinn (who arguably could have stopped Anakin's turn) to go with him to become a Jedi and leaps at the opportunity. Beyond the grandeur of such a role and escaping slavery on Tatooine, why Anakin so wanted to be a Jedi becomes clear when he tells Qui-Gon, "No one can kill a Jedi."
There are many appealing aspects of the Jedi Order for someone like Anakin. The thought of conquering death, though, stands out as one of the most critical factors for Anakin's excitement. It is the first thing he thinks of and speaks about regarding the Jedi. He fears death for himself and his mother, demonstrating a strong desire to avoid that pain and suffering. ing the Jedi Order, in his mind, was the best way to achieve this, to keep himself and even Shmi alive. Unbeknownst to Anakin was the Jedi's negative outlook on attachments and feelings of possessiveness towards others.
The Jedi Could Not Conquer Death - So Anakin Turned To The Sith
As Anakin would painfully learn repeatedly, the Jedi could not prevent death; they could not come close to conquering it. He could not stop his mother from dying in his arms, nor many fellow Jedi, clones, and civilians during the Clone Wars. This growing fear of death, the need to stop those he loved - Pé in particular - from ing on led him to the dark side of the Force. With a big helping hand from Palpatine, Anakin gave himself up to the Sith out of desperation to achieve what the Jedi could not.
Anakin's emotional instability is constantly rising throughout the prequel trilogy and The Clone Wars as he suffers and loses more and more people. It was so easy for Palpatine to slither in and seduce the Chosen One because his hate and fear were already festering. Anakin desperately needed Pé alive; as he said, he couldn't breathe at the thought of not being with her. The idea of her death haunted him, and so he betrayed the Jedi and ed the Sith in a quest to prevent it - a last resort that failed spectacularly.
Without this everlasting fear of death, especially for those he loved so dearly, Anakin may never have gone to the dark side. It was his biggest insecurity that Palpatine constantly picked away at. Of course, his lust for glory and power did not help. In the end, though, one of Star Wars' greatest heroes and villains is one and the same, and Anakin Skywalker's allegiance to both the Jedi and Sith resulted in a miserable, unfulfilled life.
