Canon vs Fanon: Anakin Skywalker

padawanlost:

this is an answer to this question | for @leia1998

Canon

Canon:
canon!Anakin is reserved and most people considered him mysterious/sad/burdened.
Only a few people in canon ever saw him smile or laugh. He is incredibly intelligent
and hardworking. Anakin is known to be awkward and not having the best social
skills. He often described as extremely generous, compassionate, patient,
gentle and forgiving. I think the best to way to understand a character is to
look at how they are perceived by other characters.

“I’m not
speaking of your power, Anakin, but of your heart. The greatness in you is a
greatness of spirit. Courage and
generosity, compassion and commitment.
These are your virtues,” Obi-Wan said gently. “You have done great things,
and I am very proud of you.” [Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith]

“A man who
knew exactly what he wanted and was honest
enough to simply ask for it; a man strong
enough to unroll his deepest feelings before her without fear and without shame. A man who had loved her for a
decade, with faithful and patient heart,
while he waited for the act of destiny he was sure would someday open her own
heart to the fire in his. [Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith]

“[Anakin]
is not a perfect man: he is prideful,
and moody, and quick to anger—but these faults only make her love him the more,
for his every flaw is more than balanced by the greatness within him, his capacity for joy and cleansing laughter,
his extraordinary generosity of spirit,
his passionate devotion not only to
her but also in the service of every living being.” [Matthew Stover’s Revenge
of the Sith]

“He thought
of how unflinchingly loyal Anakin was
to anyone he considered a friend.” [Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith]

“Ferus did
not allow for the goodness of Anakin’s
heart. He did not see how hard
Anakin tried. He did not know that Anakin
questioned himself all the time.” [Jude Watson’s The Changing of the Guard]

It’s not
just Skywalker’s rank that makes us give him one hundred percent. It’s because he treats us with respect, and he
puts himself on the line with us.” [The Clone Wars by Karen Traviss]

“He feels too much, too keenly. Maybe
that’s what happens when you’ve got the highest midi-chlorian count in Jedi
history. Maybe that’s the trade-off. You
feel everything, so you’re brilliant. You feel everything, and it hurts. [Karen
Miller’s Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth]

“Sometimes [Ahsoka]
even deliberately flouted his wishes. Anything to break him free of sorrow or frustration or some bleak memory he refused
to share. Anything to let him know, Hey, what you did then? That was
stupid. But mostly she kept her fears for him to herself, because all his bright and burning passion for justice, his
reckless courage, his hunger for victory and his refusal to accept defeat—they
were what made him Anakin. He wouldn’t be Anakin without his feelings.  [Karen Miller’s Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth]

Obi-Wan
stifled a sigh. Oh Anakin. This was about his childhood. Again. About the indelible fingerprints slavery had left on
his soul and his psyche.  [Karen Miller’s Clone
Wars Gambit: Stealth]

The fear and dread in her face eased, just a little. “You’re a very sweet young man, Anakin
Skywalker.” [Karen Miller’s Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth]

[Anakin]
humbles me, sometimes. He makes me feel small. He can’t see a broken thing
without wanting to fix it. [Karen Miller’s Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth]

“I don’t
know,” she said, floundering. “I can’t say I’ve ever given the Jedi much
thought. I mean, not as individuals. I never expected to meet one—let alone
two. I don’t tend to go places where your skills are needed. But—well—you’re gentle.” [Karen Miller’s Clone
Wars Gambit: Stealth]

Fanon

Fanon!Anakin
always laughing and cracking jokes (with complete strangers). He’s dumb, lazy
and a ladies man. He is often described as vain, incompetent, selfish and sometimes
cruel. This Anakin is motivated mostly by greed, wanting power only for
himself. If Vader and a dudebro had a baby, that baby would be fanon!Anakin. it’s
also important to mention there are subgenres to this. To name a few, we have Damien!Anakin,
fuckboy!Anakin, god!Anakin (he is responsible
or EVERYTHING that happens in the galaxy) and incompetent!Anakin (NOTHING is
his fault).