Is the Dark Side Stronger?

 

The dark side provides powers similar to those of the Jedi such as psychic communication, hypnosis and extrasensory perception but draws energy from emotions and passion This energy is enhanced by emotion, in this world we call it adrenaline. These emotions that include hatred, rage are usually bad, but fear and anger are a part of every day life. These emotions can lead to very powerful skills, such as lightning from the fingertips, and Vader's famous Force Choke. While the original films may picture the dark side as evil, a deeper analysis brought to us by the prequel trilogy and the Expanded Universe give us a much better understanding of what it truly is. For one, the dark side stems from all strong emotions, not just the negative ones.

Through the use of negative emotions, such as anger, aggression, and greed, the powers of the Force come to the individual more easily. The downside, when they lust for power, it consumes, them and they have tendencies to think more highly of themselves (arrogance). When individuals go down this path, it is assumed that they always become corrupted individuals, evil and wicked, ever consumed with self-centerdness and the never ending desire for more power (addiction similar to drug users).

The Jedi do a good job recognizing how tempting the path to the dark side is, and think it to be evil. It is for this reason that their teaching includes restraint, limiting their abilities in the force. Yoda mentioned that a Jedi uses his/her skills for “knowledge and defense, never for attack.” While that seems noble, it is often necessary to attack, or at least counter an attack, in which case the force comes in very handy.

The Sith, on the other hand (users of the Dark Side of the Force) utilize the Force's full potential. They feel that you must examine both sides of something, much the same as I. This is seen clearly in Revenge of the Sith when Aniken realizes Palpatine is a Sith Lord, or when Vader in The Empire Strikes Back informs Luke that only hatred can destroy him. I think he was right as we saw in Return of the Jedi. Luke's fear of his sister turning to the Dark Side led to fear, hatred, and aggression, and Vader was defeated.

 

Lucas uses 'the dark side', and "paths to the dark side", as disposition to propose that the distinction between good and evil is clearly not a distinction between us vs. them. So that brings to question, is the Dark Side Stronger? My analysis, yes it is. Yoda was either a liar or was fooled. I am unsure, what do you think?