The desert world of Tatooine was Anakin Skywalker’s home, where he was a slave. He was considered a prodigy from a very young age, particularly in the realms of mechanics and piloting. During a mission, he was discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, which transformed his life. In particular, the Jedi Master noticed an unparalleled concentration of the Force within Skywalker and he was certain that Anakin was the Chosen One according to the prophecies and it was in his destiny to ensure that the Force attained balance.

After Darth Maul caused Master Jinn’s tragic death, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the former Padawan of Qui-Gon, took Anakin under his wing. Here, Anakin was trained to learn more about how the Jedi functioned and lived. During this period, he meets Senator Padmé Amidala and finds himself falling in love. However, such a relationship was considered forbidden for a Jedi. Despite this, as the galaxy was confronted with addressing the issue of the Clone Wars, Anakin and Padme get married in Naboo – her homeworld.  

In the Clone Wars, Anakin undertook the role of Jedi General in the war against the Separatists and led the elite 501st Legion of clone troopers. Despite Anakin’s impulsiveness and recklessness, he earned immense regard as a General due to his leadership skills and heroic feats. Eventually, these attributes would also make him the symbol of the Jedi Order. According to Master Yoda, however, Anakin still had a lot to learn, including denying any form of personal attachments and becoming a more responsible person. As such, ignoring his protests, Ahsoka Tano was assigned as Anakin’s Padawan learner by Master Yoda. Despite witnessing a shaky start, their relationship would soon improve. They encountered various challenges together when fighting on the front lines.  

During the Clone Wars, Anakin was aware of how his feelings toward the Jedi Order were becoming ambivalent. When false accusations of Ahsoka detonating a bomb at the Jedi Temple surface, she is forced to say goodbye to the Order as well as Anakin. Gradually, Anakin begins to believe that the Jedi High Council started treating him disrespectfully. When he is not granted the title of Master, these feelings become even stronger. However, his conflicting thoughts concerning the Order were mostly rooted in his prohibited love for his wife and their clandestine relationship. Fear and desperation consumed him when visions of the death of his wife were juxtaposed with his ambivalent ideas towards the Jedi Order

Anakin’s emotions were leveraged by Chancellor Palpatine or Darth Sidious (the Sith Lord) to attract him towards the Force’s dark side. Convinced that Sidious is capable of saving his wife by cheating death, Anakin decided to go against the Jedi and join forces with the dark lord. He was dubbed Darth Vader by Sidious, who directed him to kill every Jedi at the Temple. Once this task was accomplished, he was ordered to put an end to the Separatist Council at Mustafar, thereby terminating the Clone War. At this point, Sidious proclaimed himself to be the Galactic Emperor.

When Vader decided to betray the Jedi, both his wife Padmé as well as his mentor Obi-Wan turned against him. Vader’s duel with Kenobi would cause the former to sustain several injuries and he is left on a lava river’s banks to die. Several burns across his body would leave him completely unrecognizable. The Emperor would rescue him eventually, and cybernetic limbs along with a life-sustaining suit of armor were used to rebuild him. However, his wife would die after birthing Luke and Leia – their twin children.

The death of his wife causes Darth Vader to get even more consumed by the dark side. For almost two decades, the Empire would wreak havoc in the galaxy with the help of Darth Vader. He even claims to have executed Anakin Skywalker – emphasizing that he cut off ties with his former life. However, during various events, such as his with Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi, he is put in a position to confront his past. Anakin begins to reemerge within Darth Vader when he discovers his son Luke, who helped him find the good within himself again. Finally, he sacrifices himself to protect Luke when killing the Emperor. 

Anakin Skywalker is therefore redeemed since he fulfills his prophecy and becomes one with the Force during his heroic death. He gained spiritual immortality through his sacrifice, enabling him to act as a Force spirit and communicate with the living, such as Luke, Rey, Ahsoka, and others, guiding and helping them when needed.