The Sith code is key to the Empire’s doom in Star Wars

By Chris Snellgrove
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When you think about it, the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire at Star Wars is peculiar: We witness the palpatine emperor transforming the aged Millennial Republic into a fascist empire over a few years, but the whole thing falls apart a few decades later. Supporters and characters in the universe would be right to ask themselves how the Hec Palpatine managed to grope things so badly after all his earlier treatments were a success. The answer is, however, depressing: Palpatine’s code of the Sith is simply suppressed it and its empire.

Rule Two and the Sith Code

That’s because the Sith is obsessed with a rule two, which means that Master Sith and a young apprentice must always wait for their turn to betray their teacher and assume quite power for themselves. On paper, this philosophy ensures that the Master Sith who reigns is always as strong as possible and, if failed, is replaced by someone better. In fact, however, this vaunted code of the Sith assured that palpatine had no real successor to run his empire after he died.

In the real world, large leaders have replacements standing aside; Corporate leaders take proteins under their wings, for example, and presidents are supported by sub -presidents. Of course, this system works because the newer person is not waiting to stab his boss at the back and replace it. In Star WarsFor example, it seemed very obvious if Grand Moff Tarkin and when Grand Moff Tarkin died, another member of the imperial bureaucracy (like those stuffed shirts that Vader uses the power to scare) could step up and replace easily.

However, we can see the problems with the Sith code begin to introduce themselves to The empire is hitting back. Tarkin’s replacement seems to be replaced Darth VaderBut Vader spends all his free time plotting to betray and murder his own boss, the palpatine emperor. Vader’s aspirations lead directly to the highlight of the film, where he reveals that he is Luke Skywalker’s father and urges the young Jedi to join him and demolish the emperor so that they can control the galaxy as a father and son.

If Luke had said “yes,” the Sith code would not have been a problem. Simply kill palpatine and begin to control the empire themselves. But Luke’s rejection to join Vader leads in Return the JediWhere Vader appears at first to be cowed by palpatine power. But Luke convinces Vader to destroy palpatine and effectively save the galaxy, leading directly to the collapse of the empire. As we see in shows like The mandalorianThe empire falls rapidly in the emperor’s absence.

So, if palpatine hadn’t been such a sticker for the Sith code, the empire would have been in a much better place after his death. He could have had some sort of younger Tarkin figure staying in the wings who could assume an order in his absence. For example, the man himself was stuck on the other side of the Galaxy, but if palpatine could have had someone with intelligence and charisma grand admiral on a hot standby reserve, that person could assume immediate control and fight back against the rebellion before the empire was reduced to the shadow of his previous glory.

Of course, Palpatine was true to himself to the end: he lived and died by the Sith code, and the same prohibited instructions that helped him to achieve power in the first place eventually punctured his empire. This may be the will of the police, a message from the Cosmos for Humility and Borough. Or it could be a message from George Lucas alone, reminding us of the dangers of letting religious cultures control us (even if they are act Get cool laser swords and can charge your phone with their fingers).