{"id":49,"date":"2017-11-16T10:57:31","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T15:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/?page_id=49"},"modified":"2017-12-12T21:52:48","modified_gmt":"2017-12-13T02:52:48","slug":"garth-verdeflor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/anthology\/fall-2017\/garth-verdeflor\/","title":{"rendered":"Garth Verdeflor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chancellor Palpatine: The Untold Rebel of the Star Wars<\/em> Universe<\/strong><\/p>\n

Algerian philosopher and novelist, Albert Camus, states, \u201cWhat is a rebel? A man who says no, but whose refusal does not imply a renunciation. He is also a man who says yes, from the moment he makes his first gesture of rebellion. A slave who has taken orders all his life suddenly decides that he cannot obey some new command. What does he mean by saying \u2018no\u2019?\u201d (Camus 6). Rebels come in all shapes, colors, sizes, or even species, in the Star Wars<\/i> canon. Often times, Star Wars viewers associate the notion of a rebel with that of the fighters of the Rebel Alliance or the Resistance. Legendary characters such as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia are called to mind, both of whom head the rebellion against the seemingly oppressive Galactic Empire. However, what happens when we consider the conflict from the opposing perspective?<\/p>\n

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Rebel fighters in Episode IV: A New Hope<\/p><\/div>\n

As Eric Molinski, host of the Imaginary Worlds <\/i>podcast, postulates, \u201cThe epic battle between the Evil Empire and the Rebel Alliance has become a metaphor we love to use in sports and politics. But what happens when you realize that you\u2019re the Empire in someone else\u2019s story? Do you tell them they\u2019re wrong? Do you embrace being bad? Or do you argue that \u2018evil\u2019 is all relative?\u201d (Molinski, \u201cEmpire vs. Rebels\u201d). This begs the question, can we think of Emperor Palpatine as a rebel?<\/p>\n

The goal of this paper is to investigate the instances throughout the Star Wars canon in which the actions of Palpatine constitute rebellion, as defined by Camus in his work entitled The Rebel<\/i> and by Fanon in his Wretched of the Earth<\/i>. These actions seek to rebel against any combination of the Republic, the Jedi Order, or Palpatine\u2019s own present status in the social hierarchy. More specifically, it will examine Palpatine\u2019s beginnings in the films of the prequel trilogy in translation to his rise to the head of the Galactic Empire. Do the ends justify the means by which the Emperor brings about his reign over the galaxy?<\/p>\n

Nearly all viewers of the Star Wars<\/i> movies can make the unanimous argument that Palpatine is the ultimate antagonist and one of the most powerful Force-wielding characters of the saga. It is a widely accepted viewpoint, especially since fans are inclined, almost predisposed, to sympathize with the cause of the Rebel Alliance. The Emperor is the leader behind the faction that literally blows up the entire planet of Alderaan with the Death Star, just to prove its military capabilities and inflict a personal jab towards Princess Leia (A New Hope<\/i>, 00:59:09). The Rebels\u2019 worst enemy is the Empire; therefore, the Emperor isn\u2019t a likely friend of the fans.<\/p>\n

As such, one might argue that the Emperor represents the antithesis of a rebel, as defined earlier by Camus. With the title of Emperor, Palpatine sits atop the galactic hegemony. That being said, the Emperor is without question the most powerful figure in the galaxy up to this point. When we think of the Emperor, viewers are hardly reminded of anything that resembles the notion of a rebel.<\/p>\n

For instance, towards the beginning of Episode IV, Grand Moff Tarkin states, \u201cThe Imperial Senate will be no longer of any concern to us. I\u2019ve just received word that the emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away\u2026Fear will keep the local systems in line\u201d (A New Hope, <\/i>00:37:30). Without any form of democracy to impede his authority, the Emperor is free to exercise his reign of tyranny as he sees fit, especially through the might of Imperial military force.<\/p>\n

When viewers are first introduced to Palpatine, they know him as the Senator of Naboo, as well as a friend to Queen Amidala. Unbeknownst to the rest of the Star Wars universe, Senator Palpatine is in actuality a Sith Lord, a manipulator of the dark side of the Force. It is this duality of character that allows for Palpatine\u2019s capacity to scheme and connive behind the backs of the Republic and the Jedi Council.<\/p>\n

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Palpatine acting as Senator of Naboo in
Episode I: The Phantom Menace<\/p><\/div>\n

Camus asserts that \u201cThe rebellion does not arise only, and necessarily, among the oppressed, but that it can also be caused by the mere spectacle of oppression of which someone else is the victim\u201d (Camus 9). By no means is Palpatine oppressed in the manner that most would think of oppression. Sheev Palpatine is victimized by the system which he falls under: the Galactic Republic, along with the police force of the Jedi Order. Frustrated with his current situation, he has fallen slave to the ruling system. This internal conflict is magnified by the fact that Palpatine is a Sith, the sworn enemy and direct contradiction of the Jedi. His frustration with the galactic government is unmistakable in his conversation with Queen Amidala over the course of action regarding the Trade Federation\u2019s blockade on Naboo. Palpatine argues, \u201cThere is no civility, only politics. The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good\u201d (The Phantom Menace<\/i>, 01:22:52).<\/p>\n

Thus, Palpatine\u2019s first act of rebellion is his persuasion of Queen Amidala of Naboo, in regards to control of the Senate. He urges her to call for a \u201cvote of no confidence\u201d in the current Chancellor Valorum. This census results in Palpatine himself receiving a nomination to the chancellorship. This shift in the Senate gives Palpatine a more commanding presence in the galaxy and allows him to climb the hierarchical structure of the Republic (The Phantom Menace, <\/i>01:28:58).<\/i><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Palpatine has been biding his time and masquerading as the enigmatic Darth Sidious in order to advance his agenda and rebel against the current nature of things. Franz Fanon claims, \u201cDecolonization, which sets out to change the order of the world, is clearly an agenda for total disorder\u201d (Fanon 2). The Sith Lord created this disorder by becoming the driving momentum that sooner or later brings the galaxy to the brink of war. His plotting includes but is not limited to the conflicts instigated by the Trade Federation, the training of the Sith apprentices Darth Maul and Darth Tyranus, also known as Count Dooku, and the creation of the clone army on Kamino (Attack of the Clones<\/i>, 00:42:52). These events bear a snowball effect, each related and having an additive effect on the other to provide an escape route of rebellion, from Palpatine\u2019s oppression in the system to his eventual totalitarian rule of the galaxy.<\/p>\n

The Chancellor\u2019s finishing instances of rebellion, moving towards personal liberation, are evident in Episode III. The Clone Wars have begun, and the galaxy is in turmoil. Palpatine becomes closer to the young Anakin Skywalker, developing a sort of mentorship with the Jedi Knight. With each conversation the two share, Palpatine attempts to subtly manipulate Anakin\u2019s views, causing him to distrust the Jedi. With recurring nightmares of his wife Padm\u00e9 dying in childbirth, Anakin has become frustrated and confused. The Chancellor takes advantage of Anakin\u2019s desperation and fear of losing his loved ones by luring him to the dark side of the Force with the tale of Darth Plagueis the Wise<\/a>, a renowned Sith Lord and Force-user fabled to have the ability to cheat death (Revenge of the Sith<\/i>, 00:46:09).<\/p>\n

This interaction is reminiscent of a statement by Fanon in The Wretched of the Earth<\/i>: \u201cBut deep down the colonized subject acknowledges no authority. He is dominated but not domesticated. He is made to feel inferior, but by no means convinced of his inferiority. He patiently waits for the colonist to let his guard down and then jumps on him\u201d (16). Anakin is to the colonist, as Palpatine is to the colonized subject. Anakin represents the Jedi Order, while Palpatine exemplifies the Sith. The Jedi oppressed the Sith by being the dominant Force user of the galaxy at the time. Whereas the Jedi were prevalent and in good standing with the Republic, the Sith have been in hiding and were thought to be eradicated. Palpatine \u201cjumps on him\u201d in the sense that he wastes no time in attacking the Jedi ideals of which Anakin was trained to believe and uphold. To reinforce this notion, Palpatine is successful in imposing the Sith standards upon a shaken Skywalker. Consequently, Sidious gains a new apprentice in the rogue Jedi: Darth Vader, the vengeful Sith puppet and Imperial enforcer whose strings are pulled by the Emperor.<\/p>\n

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Darth Vader kneeling before the Emperor in
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back<\/p><\/div>\n

Additionally, Palpatine further elevates his stature in the Senate by assembling the Republic into the Galactic Empire. His proclamation is justified by the accusation that the Jedi are plotting to overthrow the Republic. With the galaxy at war and current affairs at an uneasy state, the Senate likely rationalized this Palpatine\u2019s decision in order to seek protection from the imminent danger of the Clone Wars. With this rearrangement of government, Palpatine officially became the \u201cEmperor\u201d that fans are familiar with in the original trilogy.
\nWith the authority of an emperor at his disposal, Palpatine executes Order 66, the infamous command that, in effect, intended to wipe out the entirety of the Jedi (Revenge of the Sith<\/i>, 01:20:48). The clone troopers that Palpatine himself had commissioned years prior as yet another facet of his plot were conditioned to obey the order in their programming. It prompted each clone trooper squadron to hunt down and betray their Jedi leader. The execution of Order 66 was the Sith\u2019s greatest fantasy brought to life: the destruction of the Jedi. As Fanon once stated: \u201cThe work of the colonized is to imagine every possible method for annihilating the colonist\u201d (50). It signaled the end of the Sith oppression and the beginning of the regime of the dark side.<\/p>\n

In storytelling, we are always invited to relate to the motivations of the protagonist. In the case of Star Wars<\/i>, we are drawn to the heroism and valor that is embodied in the likes of the Jedi, the Rebellion, and the Resistance. On the contrary, we are rarely given reason to even consider sympathizing with antagonistic forces. The Empire and the First Order are both taken to be synonymous with evil. Now that we have explored Palpatine\u2019s motives, can we relate to his character\u2019s intentions?<\/p>\n

As stated previously, the purpose of this paper is to explore the actions of Palpatine that could be considered rebellion, especially through the lenses of Camus\u2019 The Rebel <\/i>and Fanon\u2019s The Wretched of the Earth<\/i>. By playing the role of devil\u2019s advocate in support of Palpatine, viewers are granted a more holistic perspective of the saga. Taking a look behind the curtain provides a medium through which we can understand Palpatine\u2019s motivations and his subsequent actions throughout the narrative.<\/p>\n

This research seeks to paint the whole picture, in reference to the struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. These two forces are respectively thought of in terms of the universal conflict of good against evil. Despite knowing this, what happens when we redefine these positions and take a look from the other side? Giving attention to Palpatine\u2019s own rebellion grants us the ability to do so. Consequently, this challenges our understandings of morals and the manner in which we distinguish right from wrong. Again, after this discussion of Palpatine as a rebellious figure, Star Wars fans can ask themselves the same question: do the ends justify the means by which the Emperor brings about his reign?<\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/strong><\/p>\n

Camus, Albert. The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt<\/i>. Vintage International, 1991.<\/p>\n

Fanon, Franz. The Wretched of the Earth<\/i>. Grove Press, 2005 (originally 1961).<\/p>\n

Kershner, Irvin, director. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back<\/i>. Twentieth Century\u00a0Fox, 1980.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George. \u201cPalpatine with Queen Amidala.\u201d Star Wars. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom\u00a0<\/i>Menace, <\/i>1999,\u00a0 <\/i>http:\/\/www.starwars.com\/news\/6-of-palpatines-key-manipulations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George. \u201cPalpatine Talks About Darth Plagueis.\u201d YouTube<\/i>, Voca Productions Watch\u00a0Latest Video, 25 October 2016, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Xx52–WmLQs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George. \u201cRebel trooper.\u201d Wookieepedia.\u00a0 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, <\/i>1977,\u00a0http:\/\/starwars.wikia.com\/wiki\/Rebel_trooper<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace<\/i>. Twentieth Century Fox, 1999.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones<\/i>. Twentieth Century Fox, 2002.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith<\/i>. Twentieth Century\u00a0Fox, 2005.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope<\/i>. Twentieth Century Fox, 1977.<\/p>\n

Lucas, George. \u201cVader kneeling to the Emperor.\u201d Star Wars Underworld. Star Wars\u00a0<\/i>Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back,\u00a0<\/i>1980,\u00a0http:\/\/starwars.wikia.com\/wiki\/Holoprojection_chamber<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Molinski, Eric. \u201cEmpire vs. Rebels.\u201d Imaginary Worlds<\/i>, Episode 28, 17 November 2015,\u00a0https:\/\/www.imaginaryworldspodcast.org\/empire-vs-rebels.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
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Chancellor Palpatine: The Untold Rebel of the Star Wars Universe Algerian philosopher and novelist, Albert Camus, states, \u201cWhat is a rebel? A man who says no, but whose refusal does not imply a renunciation. He is also a man who … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":594,"featured_media":0,"parent":10,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-49","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/594"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":405,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49\/revisions\/405"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/postcolonialstarwars\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}