Emperor Sheev Palpatine is the most evil entity to come out of the Obi-Wan Kenobi is yet another example of his evil and how his machinations kept him in power for so long - especially in regard to his ability to manipulate even powerful pawns like Darth Vader. The complexity of the Star Wars universe makes it so that the tiniest of details will continue to surprise fans, as well as further deepen the already complex world in which the stories take place. In the case of Palpatine, further analysis into his actions and choices further reveals exactly how he managed to trick and manipulate others so effectively.
Not only is Obi-Wan Kenobi, as it appears in the Kenobi show that Palpatine made the choice to let him live as a means of keeping his student hateful and one with the dark side.
Palpatine Could Use A Living Obi-Wan To Manipulate Darth Vader More
Palpatine has done many things to manipulate Vader over the years. Whether it's making slight tweaks to his life-ing armor to cause discomfort or mentally, emotionally, and even physically mistreating him, there is nothing that Palpatine wouldn't do in order to keep himself superior and keep Anakin both loyal and on as short a leash as possible. This is made especially evident when Palpatine appears in hologram form for a special cameo in the Obi-Wan Kenobi season finale. Over the course of the series, Darth Vader was determined to find Obi-Wan, his former master and friend, and kill him. When Palpatine learns of this personal mission, he outright questions Vader's loyalty to him over it, and the Sith and makes him abandon his search.
Seemingly, this shows that Palpatine had zero intention of hunting for Obi-Wan, despite his creation of Order 66 to kill every last Jedi in the galaxy - and seems unbothered that a powerful Jedi continues to evade him. Palpatine calling Vader off the hunt is more than likely a purposeful decision that gives him an advantage over his apprentice that distracts him, as well as a way of keeping him angry, and thus continuing to keep him powerful in the ways of the Sith. Seemingly, Palpatine does not see Obi-Wan as a threat to him now that his operation has finally gained traction, therefore giving him the freedom to use Kenobi as a symbol of negativity for his poor apprentice.
How Palpatine Could Have Used Obi-Wan To Prevent A Darth Vader Redemption
The biggest way that Palpatine could use Obi-Wan to manipulate Darth Vader is by using him as a representation of failure. Being Anakin's former master and friend, Obi-Wan stands as a constant reminder of Vader's past and the close bonds that he once formed. Palpatine knows this, and possibly uses this to his benefit, as it would prevent his pupil from attempting to establish any other bonds or partnerships during their time together, keeping his apprentice Darth Vader suitably cruel and bitter as a result. Palpatine could have possibly also used Obi-Wan's symbolism as a way to deter Vader from taking in an apprentice of his own and keeping himself as Master for as long as possible, as the idea of replicating the dynamic he had with his mentor likely was a painful idea to Darth Vader - and even more so with the knowledge Obi-Wan was still somewhere out there. It is details like this that remind audiences who the real villain of Star Wars is, as Palpatine is the baddest the galaxy far, far away has to offer, and his complex machinations are proof that his evil knows no bounds.