Star Wars: 10 Greatest Emperor Palpatine Moments

Now a more experienced Jedi, Anakin defeats Count Dooku in their second battle, cutting off both his hands. As Dooku descends to his knees Anakin takes his saber, and crosses its red blad with his own blue, held to the count’s neck.

Reminiscent of the throne room scene in Return of the Jedi, Palpatine plays devil in Anakin’s ear, and tempts him to execute Dooku. While Anakin wrestles with his conscience he takes little convincing. After stating, ‘I shouldn’t,’ the Chancellor simply says, ‘Do it!’ Anakin yields, decapitating Dooku with both blades.

As the Chancellor is freed from his restraints, he commends Anakin for killing the man deemed too dangerous to be left alive. When Anakin expresses guilty discontent at having gone against the Jedi way, and killed an unarmed prisoner Palpatine highlights how wanting revenge on Dooku for cutting off his arm is perfectly natural. He frequently uses this rhetoric to his advantage, as the Jedi require their students to repress natural desires.

Another case of classic Shakespearean manipulation by Palpatine.