Do you think Obi-Wan was wrong to leave Anakin?

[Astrid]

I do not feel comfortable with the way it happened. I don't think he should have let him burn if he was still alive and not help him. It also is hard to take that he cut off all of his limbs. He didn't have to cut them all off. If he wanted him to die why not run him though the heart or cut off his head? Cutting off the limbs and leaving him in the fire to suffer seems cruel. I would have accepted it better if Anakin had fallen, or even been pushed, into the lava and got his injuries accidently, though still as a result of the fight. Does anybody see how I feel about this? I am open to a friendly discussion of all viewpoints.

[PadmeSkywalker]

I see how you feel, I don't believe that Obi-wan planned on cutting off his limps, Anakin leaped, Obi-wan reacted with his saber......

As for the fire..... I have to believe that Obi-wan probably thought Anakin would die, he couldn't bear any longer to watch him die......

He knew Anakin was a Sith, it had to be done..... Obi-wan thought that he would die, hence he didn't have to really kill him, etc., plus Anakin is yelling I HATE YOU.... Obi couldn't bear any more.... he had to leave.....

[Astrid]

I see what you mean, Obi-Wan saw him as truly lost. I still have a problem with him turning his back and walking off while Anakin was still alive and in pain but I know this is how it had to be for the story. Thanks for responding.

[Annie]

I think all he had to do was to cut off his right arm, even though it was fake. That would have stopped the fight. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened. Maybe someone can write a story on that 'what if'!

[jedidaughter1]

I don't think that Obi-Wan had a choice, Anakin had turned into a Sith, it was the duty of a Jedi to defeat the Sith no matter who he was. And Anakin wasn't listening to anything that Obi-Wan said anyway, so it wouldn't have made a difference.

[Steller's Jay]

I agree with jedidaughter1. Obi-Wan wanted to turn Anakin back, I believe, but when Anakin leaped at him and began the fight, I think Obi-Wan realized that Anakin was too far gone. I believe he did what he had to do to cut Anakin down. I didn't like him leaving, either, but it was good to see him pick up Anakin's lightsaber, so he could give it to Luke 20 years later!

[padme52]

I don't think Obi-Wan had the heart to kill him and really believed he was dying. I think he felt he was being merciful.
I do think it was cruel to leave him in the shape he was in.

It was so tragic to see them fighting each other so viciously .
I would have preferred to see him fall in the lava as well.

[PadmeSkywalker]

I remember when I first saw the movie in the theaters, when they were on the piece of machinery that fell off, I thought when Obi-wan jumped off that Anakin would go over the lava fall.......

[Astrid]

I know he had to be stopped, but it was the method used that I don't like. It was the most painful and agonizing 'way to go.' I just think there was some other way he could have done it, even killing him outright instead of just cutting him to pieces and letting him suffer. I'd have felt a lot better about Obi-Wan if Anakin had just fallen in the lava. Wasn't that the original EU story from long ago, that he fell in while fighting with Obi-Wan?

[christyc21]

I know he had to be stopped, but it was the method used that I don't like. It was the most painful and agonizing 'way to go.' I just think there was some other way he could have done it, even killing him outright instead of just cutting him to pieces and letting him suffer. I'd have felt a lot better about Obi-Wan if Anakin had just fallen in the lava. Wasn't that the original EU story from long ago, that he fell in while fighting with Obi-Wan?

I agree, it wasn't the best method ever...i do have a question though....about Anakin falling into the lava, if it had of happened like that...then there wouldn't be a Vader and the original triology would have been useless because who would have been Darth Vader...but i do understand what you are saying though, he wouldn't have suffered as much i guess...

[Annie]

Hey, I can read the print again! Whatever was wrong fixed itself!

How about if he fell in only enough to burn off his limbs but not die, would that work out? But then I guess somebody would have had to pull him out before he was dissolved?

[PadmeSkywalker]

Obi-wan thought him dead right? I mean he never mentions him, just the Chancellor when speaking of the children..... he had no idea that Darth Vader in the suit, etc., survivied right?

Its how I saw things, even Yoda, etc., didn't know or did they? Haven't seen the movie in awhile

[Annie]

I thought they must have known he was alive because they knew the name "Darth Vader" and they knew Anakin had been called that. They might figure being disfigured he'd need some kind of suit. Being second in command in the empire they probably saw Darth Vader on 'tv' or something. But Obi and Yoda did live very isolated lives. Anyway we know by the time of ANH he knew for sure. I don't know if Lucas ever cleared up exactly when they knew he was alive. But Obi Wan knew he was still screaming when he left him. Kind of like turning off a ball game that seems hopeless with a minute to go and finding out later they came back and won.

[PadmeSkywalker]

I agree Anakin was still alive when Obi-wan left him, but I guess I have to believe that Obi-wan thought him dead, that he would die, Obi couldn't bring himself to "finish" Anakin off...... At the end of ROTS when Yoda, Bail and Obi are talking they say the Sith.... I think..... they didn't know Vader survived right then. I think......

[Annie]

padmeskywalker said:

I agree Anakin was still alive when Obi-wan left him, but I guess I have to believe that Obi-wan thought him dead, that he would die, Obi couldn't bring himself to "finish" Anakin off......

But really, isn't that the cruelest thing to do? Leaving someone to burn to death and going 'oh he's as good as dead'? I've seen lots of movies where people kill someone, friend or foe, to put them out of the painful misery of their certain death. In Gangs of New York, the main character killed his best friend when he found him impaled alive, as sad as it made him, he had to save him from a slow, painful death. Cowboys did it for their horses with hopelessly broken legs. In the Civil War, in the battle of the Wilderness when they were trapped in a burning forest, many injured soldiers of both sides begged for anyone of either side to please put a bullet in their head to spare them burning to death. I really can't see anything good or honorable in walking away and leaving anyone or anything, even a skunk, burning alive and screaming. Unless they were meant to suffer as torture, like being burned at the stake in the middle ages?

At the end of ROTS when Yoda, Bail and Obi are talking they say the Sith.... I think..... they didn't know Vader survived right then. I think......

I don't think they did know at the end of ROTS, that's for sure. But I think it's very likely they found out before ANH. The name "Darth Vader" would give him away. Obi-Wan knew who he was when he faced him on the death star in ANH.

Speaking of that, I also think it's terrible that Obi and Yoda sent Luke to kill Vader not telling him who he was. That was actually a rotten trick!