The Emperor's Motivation.

[grimsprice]

Ok, so i just got done watching the original Starwars Trilogy with... myself. And i notice something... odd.

The Emperor has no motivation. Why does he want to rule the Galaxy? You see, power, is a means. Not an end. And a means to... what end? Whats his motivation. He's already basically wiped the Jedi out. So why does he want power? It just doesn't make sense to me. So i ask you Escapists, what is the Emperors motivation?

 

[The87Italians]

If he has power he can induce fear into every organism he so chooses, and thus rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Isn't that what everyone wants in life?

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

If he has power he can induce fear into every organism he so chooses, and thus rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Isn't that what everyone wants in life?

I know that's what I want.

 

[Jark212]

He's like the guy that owns a massive mansion but doesn't live there. I think he just owns it to say that he owns it...

 

[Kuchinawa212]

He wanted to control the universe and bring back the power of the sith...dats what I think

 

[grimsprice]

If he has power he can induce fear into every organism he so chooses, and thus rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Isn't that what everyone wants in life?

Yes, everyone wants power. But power is a means, not an end. So why?

Let me ask it this way. If you had ultimate power, what would you do? Would you just say "i have ultimate power. Sweet." and then do nothing? No, you'd use it for something. A nice house, cars, your own personal Island, women, drugs. You'd use power to get what you want.

So what does the Emperor want? What is he going to use "Unlimited Power!!!" for?

 

[Joe Deadman]

Meh he's pure evil, does he really need a reason beyond doing it for a laugh?

 

[Davrel]

Trying to find depth in something written by George Lucas...well there are plenty of other ways to waste your time.

That being said, I do really like Star Wars...at least the bits that Bioware gets involved with.

 

[omega 616]

Why did the brain, from the cartoon pinky and the brain, want to take over the world?

So nobody can tell him what to do and he can have absolute control, the same reason the emperor wants to rule the universe.

So I think your basic assumption that emperor has no motivation is wrong.

 

[Simalacrum]

Why does any dictator want power? So they can do as they wish of course

 

[oppp7]

For the lulz? He's evil, just go with it...

 

[Pokeylope]

It's his Midi-Chlorians, they're evil.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

If he has power he can induce fear into every organism he so chooses, and thus rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Isn't that what everyone wants in life?

I know that's what I want.

I know your avatar creeps me out.

OT: It is one of the things the prequels should have explained, but they didn't do a very good job.

 

[Quaxar]

Would be funny to see him on a press conference "My dear press, now that the Jedi are dead I think it's time for me to retire. Everyone just pretend nothing happened and reestablish your system of democracy"

 

[grimsprice]

So, from what i gather, the Emperor was just a cardboard stand in for the necessary "plot villain" in the Starwars movies?

Or, he wanted to bring the Galaxy under Sith control once again? Why? So they could be bothered with interplanetary trade laws? Lol.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Meh he's pure evil, does he really need a reason beyond doing it for a laugh?

your avatar is FANTASTIC. My favorite on the entire site.

OT: He wants enough power to make...you know what? I've never seen Star Wars Original Trilogy. I'd just be talking out my ass.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Unfortunately, most of his motivation takes place off screen.
If you really want to understand the Emperor, go out and buy some of the Star Wars Expanded Universe novels. They're worth it.

 

[The Blue Mongoose]

One explanation is that he is crazy. He is very, very old, the mind wanders a bit at that age. The cost of immortality I guess.

That or he's just a dick who enjoys watching people suffer, so he's causing as much suffering as possible. This explains the retard get ups the storm troopers wear.

 

[Kayevcee]

According to the oodles of backstory surrounding KOTOR and the new MMO (the gist of which can be found on http://www.swtor.com/), the ancient Sith empire has been trying to take over the Republic off and on for the last 4000 years. I think the 'end' you're looking for was just to finally fly the Sith flag on every planet of the old Republic. Whatever tactical reasons they had beyond the tyrant's traditional "I want to own everything I can see" have been lost to the mists of time. Maybe.

EDIT: Of course, in KOTOR/TOR times the Sith Empire is MASSIVE and covers a huge chunk of the galaxy. By the time Palpatine shows his wrinkled mug, there's no sign nor mention of it. Maybe the Jedi knights mumbling about how there are no Sith left means the war between Sith Empire and Republic ended in the Empire, or at least its overlords, being completely wiped out. Perhaps, like the film title says, Palpatine's motivation for making the entire Republic kneel before him was revenge for the massacre of his ancestors at their hands?

-Nick