Anakin Skywalker's famous speech in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith exposes the hypocrisy of the Sith. Throughout the Star Wars series, Anakin never truly believed in democracy. In Episode II - Attack of the Clones, he even mentioned to Padmé Amidala, a senator, that a dictatorship could be more effective than the Republic. In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin embraces these beliefs, leading to Order 66 and aiding Palpatine in establishing the Empire.
The climax of Revenge of the Sith occurs when Padmé Amidala and Obi-Wan Kenobi confront Anakin on Mustafar. This pivotal moment marks the complete downfall of Anakin as he fully embraces the ways of the Sith. Not only does he lose everything he once held dear, but he also adopts their philosophy of seeking absolute power and dominance.
Anakin Skywalker Claimed He Had Brought Freedom To His Empire
Anakin Skywalker standing beside an unconscious Padme Amidala after Force choking her on Mustafar - Anakin Skywalker Claimed He Had Brought Freedom To His Empire
As Darth Vader, Anakin Led An Army Of Slaves
Standing over Padmé's body, Anakin tells Obi-Wan that he has "brought peace, justice, freedom, and security to my new Empire." Even at this stage, Anakin is justifying himself - insisting his actions are for the good of others, not purely in his own interests. Anakin has moved from believing in dictatorship as a potential good, to claiming the role of dictator for himself. This philosophy told Obi-Wan that his friend was lost, because he understood things like freedom cannot come from dictatorships.
Anakin marches on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant with clones behind him during Order 66 - As Darth Vader, Anakin Led An Army Of Slaves
Anakin's claim of bringing "freedom" is ironic because he actually led an army of clones during Order 66, who were later revealed to be controlled by inhibitor chips that erased their free will. These clones were essentially slaves, forced to act under the will of another instead of making their own choices. So, the idea of bringing freedom was clearly false.
The revelation of Darth Vader's involvement in slave labor worsens his character. Timothy Zahn's Thrawn (2017) and Andor show that the Empire frequently used slaves, and Darth Vader was complicit in this. Considering the Empire's oppressive nature, this may not come as a shock. However, Anakin, who was once a slave himself, despised slavers. He even expressed a desire to eliminate them in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Nevertheless, as Darth Vader, he perpetuated slavery. This transformation from the Chosen One to a slaver represents a tragic downfall.
The Sith Way Is Freedom... Only For The Sith
Anakin Skywalker staring at the camera with a hood on and an angry look on his face right after he agreed to become Palpatine's apprentice in Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith - The Sith Way Is Freedom... Only For The Sith
Anakin's speech on Mustafar reveals the Sith's true intentions - they desire personal freedom, but only in the sense of being able to dominate and control others. The Sith seek power for their own benefit, disguising their actions as a pursuit of freedom for all. Their Code dictates that victory through power will break their own chains, yet in reality, it only tightens the grip on everyone else.
The Sith's downfall is inevitable because they are constantly competing with each other for power. Each Sith sees other Sith as obstacles to their own dominance, viewing freedom as simply a means to control others. Darth Bane tried to address this by creating the Rule of Two, but it only led to an endless cycle of rivalry between master and apprentice. The flaws in the Sith philosophy are exposed in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
You can watch Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith on Disney+ for streaming.
