Sith: Difference between revisions
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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The Sith are portrayed in various ''Star Wars'' media as individuals who use the dark side to attain power at any cost. The [[Prequel trilogy (Star Wars)|prequel films]] establish that they draw upon strong emotions, both negative and positive, as the source of their power, and care only about themselves. This is in contrast to the Jedi, who are portrayed as forsaking emotional attachment in order to serve others and [[Star Wars galaxy|the galaxy]] as a whole. Sith recieve ceremonial titles upon knighthood, with [[Darth]] in place of their first names and plays on real words in place of their last names ([[Count Dooku|Darth Tyranus]], [[Darth Maul]], etc). |
The Sith are portrayed in various ''Star Wars'' media as individuals who use the dark side to attain power at any cost. The [[Prequel trilogy (Star Wars)|prequel films]] establish that they draw upon strong emotions, both negative and positive, as the source of their power, and care only about themselves. This is in contrast to the Jedi, who are portrayed as forsaking emotional attachment in order to serve others and [[Star Wars galaxy|the galaxy]] as a whole. Sith recieve ceremonial titles upon knighthood, with [[Darth]] in place of their first names and plays on real words in place of their last names ([[Count Dooku|Darth Tyranus]], [[Darth Maul]], etc). |
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==The Sith Code== |
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:''Peace is a lie, there is only passion.'' |
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:''Through passion, I gain strength.'' |
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:''Through strength, I gain power.'' |
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:''Through power, I gain victory.'' |
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:''Through victory, my chains are broken.'' |
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:''The Force shall free me.'' |
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:—The Sith Code <sup>[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic|<nowiki>[src]</nowiki>]]</sup> |
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[[Image:Palpatine_ROTJ.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Emperor Palpatine]], A [[Sith]] in the Original [[Star Wars]] Trilogy.]] |
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== Timeline== |
== Timeline== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 21:37, 12 February 2008
The Sith are a group of fictional characters in the Star Wars universe.[1] They are introduced as a cult of warrior priests devoted to the dark side of the Force, serving as the counterparts of the Jedi Knights.[2] The series' "Expanded Universe" reveals the Sith had originated as a primitive group from the planet Korriban.[1]
Description
The Sith are portrayed in various Star Wars media as individuals who use the dark side to attain power at any cost. The prequel films establish that they draw upon strong emotions, both negative and positive, as the source of their power, and care only about themselves. This is in contrast to the Jedi, who are portrayed as forsaking emotional attachment in order to serve others and the galaxy as a whole. Sith recieve ceremonial titles upon knighthood, with Darth in place of their first names and plays on real words in place of their last names (Darth Tyranus, Darth Maul, etc).
The Sith Code
- Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
- Through passion, I gain strength.
- Through strength, I gain power.
- Through power, I gain victory.
- Through victory, my chains are broken.
- The Force shall free me.
- —The Sith Code [src]
Timeline
Origin
The first use of the word Sith in the Star Wars universe was in the script and novelization for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, as a title for Darth Vader, the "Dark Lord of the Sith." While the original Star Wars films' villains, Vader and Emperor Palpatine, are both Sith, the Sith are not named as such until the later prequel films.
Prequel trilogy
The predations of Darth Sidious (Palpatine's Sith alter ego) and Darth Maul indicate the presence of the Sith in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Meanwhile, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn inadvertently meets Anakin Skywalker, a nine-year-old slave; Qui-Gon soon becomes convinced that the boy is the "Chosen One" of Jedi prophecy who is destined to destroy the Sith.
Darth Maul dies at the hands of Qui-Gon's apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, but the Sith ultimately emerge victorious; Palpatine is elected to the office of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, and sets his sights on making Anakin his new apprentice.
In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, former Jedi Master Count Dooku, now Palpatine's Sith apprentice, starts the Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS or the Separatists), which threatens the unstable Republic. A motion made in the Senate by Representative Jar Jar Binks, who is easily manipulated by Palpatine, grants the Chancellor vast emergency powers. When the Jedi discover the threat, the Clone Wars begin with a battle to rescue captured Jedi on Geonosis.
As depicted the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars and myriad Expanded Universe novels, many Jedi lose their lives at the hands of the Separatists and their military leader, General Grievous. Throughout, the Jedi suspect that the war is part of a Sith plot to destroy the Jedi.
In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, they learn too late that their fears are correct; Palpatine reveals himself as Darth Sidious, corrupts Anakin into becoming his apprentice, Darth Vader, and orders the Republic's clone troopers to exterminate the Jedi. He then turns the Republic into the tyrannical Galactic Empire and appoints himself Emperor for life, effectively placing the galaxy under Sith control.
Original trilogy
Beginning in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the Rebel Alliance arises to threaten the Empire's unchallenged sovereignty, and surviving Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda make plans to thwart the Sith utilizing their greatest hope, Luke Skywalker, the son of Anakin, who begins his Jedi training under Kenobi. In the film's climactic battle scene, the Rebels destroy the Empire's Death Star superweapon, and both Palpatine and Vader become aware of the young man's identity. Both Sith Lords hope to corrupt Luke to the dark side, but each have a different motive; Vader desires to kill the Emperor and rule the galaxy with his son, but Palpatine wishes to replace Vader with the boy.
In Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Luke, by now having nearly completed his training under Yoda, nearly succumbs to the dark side when Palpatine and Vader threaten to kill his friends in the Rebellion. He pulls away from the brink at the last minute, however, and proudly declares his allegiance to the Jedi. The Emperor then tortures Luke with Force lightning. His son's suffering and pleas for help free Anakin Skywalker from the Sith's grip, and he throws his former master down the newly constructed second Death Star's reactor shaft, in the process subjecting himself to the full force of the Emperor's lightning. Mortally wounded by the Emperor's assault, the former Sith Lord dies a few minutes later. In killing the Emperor and sacrificing himself, Anakin fulfills the prophecy and destroys the Sith.
Rule of Two
In The Phantom Menace, Yoda explains that the Sith exist only two at a time, with a master and an apprentice. That concept is fleshed out in the Expanded Universe, particularly the novels Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and Darth Bane: Rule of Two.
These novels explain that, thousands of years before the films' timeline, the Sith are equal to the Jedi in number, but are too focused on fighting each other for power to unite against the Jedi. The title character solves that problem by exterminating the entire Order, save himself and apprentice Darth Zannah, and instituting the "Rule of Two": "Only two shall there be, a master and an apprentice: one to embody power and the other to crave it." Central to this rule is that the apprentice desires to one day overthrow the master, thus taking on their own apprentice and perpetuating the Order.
References
- ^ a b The Sith, Expanded Universe. Starwars.com, Lucasfilm. Last accessed 2007-11-25.
- ^ The Sith. Starwars.com, Lucasfilm. Last accessed 2007-11-25.
- Official Star Wars Website
- Star Wars Essential Guide Series (Del Rey Books Copyright 1999) ISBN 034539299X
- Sith Article in Expanded Universe Databank
External links
- Sith on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- The Sith Explained (Howstuffworks.com)
- Who's Who of the Sith on SithOrder.com
- Imperial Revenge : les Sith on Imperial Revenge (FR)