I have already written on this bond, I know. But the scene of their farewell is a powerful one, it is highly reminiscent of the departure of Prince Hektor in the Iliad from his Father, King Priam and also of his farewell to his beloved wife Andromache and their little boy Astyanax.
And thus it requires a brief if deeper analysis. Anakin at his core is a lot like Gilgamesh, he hungers for eternal life true and longs to share it with his loved ones, so that this is the reason for which he suffers so much.
In Anakin’s case faith is hard for him. Because of the Christian element in Star Wars one must have faith in the Light, and must cling to one’s innate goodness, and beware the Darkness, so that Anakin truly struggles.
Yes in the end his goodness wins out, and this is important. But his fall should also serve as a warning of hubris and thinking one’s own opinion and wisdom greater than that of others.
That being said, in Episode 3 Anakin struggles after his dashing rescue of Palpatine & Obi-Wan, and make no mistake it is freaking dashing. He comes in like a classic Errol Flynn hero, and does some amazing work. Honestly, one can see dashes of Kyle Katarn in his character in his rescue of the pair of older men.
What is more is that later he discovers his wife to be pregnant, she is worried (with good reason as it signals the end of her career) he has a nightmare about her death (possibly sent by Palpatine or so it is implied) and then he is appointed to the Jedi Council as the 13th Member, never a good omen. What is more is that Palpatine tells him the story of Darth Plagueis (in a scene I shall analyze next week) and is told that Grievous is still out there.
The Council wishes Anakin to keep an eye on Palpatine, and still clings to the openly corrupt and wicked politician even as Obi-Wan pleads with him unsuccessfully.
Nonetheless ahead of any politics, Obi-Wan chooses Anakin, and makes a point of being warm towards his son.
It is in this scene that we see the closeness of the two. The way in which Anakin values Obi-Wan as highly as he did Shmi. As he looks Obi-Wan in the eye and begs his forgiveness saying to him that he’s behaved ungratefully, he’s been arrogant, and he’s been selfish.
Obi-Wan is very evidently wowed, and moved, flushing brightly and smiling like it’s Christmas. The reason being that this is validation to him. We must bear in mind that Obi-Wan struggled wtih his own father, Qui-Gon who often took him for granted, neglected him and was rarely grateful to him or for him. Siri Tachi, Obi-Wan’s lover has died in the war, leaving Obi-Wan Kenobi a widow, one who is often lost.
In this way Anakin approaching him, to apologize, to admit that he truly loves him, honours him and is grateful for him is far more than most have ever done for him. In the novel just a few days before Mace admitted he thought of Obi-Wan as a true friend, just as he has sought to speak to him of Siri and of the importance of Obi-Wan in the Jedi Order. Honestly, after going through years of few kind words thrown in his direction, Obi-Wan is very much amazed to find in contrast to his melancholy that he is truly valued and loved.
It is for this reason that while sure Qui-Gon was reconciled to him, the damage the staunch traditionalist did to him often leaves Obi-Wan out of sorts with regards to love. Hungering for it and feeling inadequate, yet here is Anakin telling him how much he loves him. To Obi-Wan who has dedicated his life to Annie, this means more to him than words, and he displays it and smiles toothily at his boy.
Anakin may not know it, but he’s just valided Obi’s faith in him. Anakin could never know just how pleased and moved his father is, and how much he would later cling to this memory as the last time he was ever truly happy. What Anakin has just done is something on a par with what Luke later does; he has shown a degree of Filial Piety that saved Obi-Wan.
You see giving the order to spy on Palpatine wounded Obi-Wan, he hates being put in the middle of choosing the Jedi and Anakin. This is one thing he vowed when he became Grandmaster (he was 3rd in line, and in the novel Mace talks about only keeping the office a short time after Yoda before abdicating to Obi-Wan), to change. It is something Mace himself wished to change out of loyalty to Obi-Wan.
Thus, Obi-Wan felt alone and lost. And Anakin rescued him with his Filial Piety. The sad thing though is that this moment is followed by Obi-Wan telling Anakin, ‘You are wise and strong Anakin,’ and then he goes on to tell Anakin he has known him since he was a little boy, and seeks to tell him that he is a far better Jedi than him (I disagree). But Obi-Wan is blinded by love. Thing is, Obi-Wan was at one time abusive, was harsh and cruel and sarcastic with his words, but since then Obi-Wan has lost, has suffered and has sought forgiveness, and in this scene Anakin gave it, and assured him there was never anything in his eyes to forgive, and that it is the reverse; Anakin needed forgiveness.
The closure the two get here is astonishing. Yet a shadow looms over the meeting, as Obi-Wan says farewell he realizes this is the last moment they’ll ever see each other. Anakin regrets not telling more, about his dreams and about Plagueis, about so much and yet he withdraws. He wishes he could have a do-over of the moment if only to keep Obi-Wan a little longer with him. Because it isn’t Palpatine or Padme he wants with him at that moment, but Obi-Wan to keep him safe and protect him and reassure him like Obi-Wan always did.
Interesting fun-fact; yes whenever Anakin had nightmares as a kid, Obi-Wan would sometimes sense it and reach out to him, or Anakin would come to Obi who would seek to reassure him. Some times choosing time with Anakin over time with the likes of Siri (his lover).
That aside, on Obi-Wan’s end this moment would become a nightmare. Later as he’d be left to rot on Tatooine in exile, bitter and broken with Obi-Wan left to be but a sliver within him, to be replaced by the cold, ruthless and cruel Ben Kenobi, he would look back on this moment with pain in his heart. Sometimes he’d wish to go back and hew down Anakin then, other times he’d ponder, what he should have said, what he should have done, how might he have convinced Anakin to turn away from Palps.
In the end though, all he needed to do was defy the Council one last time; all he needed to have done was invite Anakin along. If he had done that, and Anakin had already expressed hope he might, Anakin might well have been saved. In time en route to Utapau, Anakin would have confessed everything, Obi-Wan would have investigated Darth Plagueis, given the info to Mace who would have killed Palpatine, and Bail Organa would have been nominated temporary Supreme Chancellor and the Senate would have been reorganized and new elections held the first in many, many years.
All Obi-Wan had to do was invite him along. Yet he did not, out of a sense of propriety because he sensed that Padme was pregnant if on an unconscious level and felt it inappropriate to take Anakin from her side even for a few days, miss the birth and defy the Council. But it would have been better for Anakin. Sadly it was not to be, like so much in their lives.
Great character analysis. So deep and so tragic.