Antihero/Hero

            John Williams writes music according to a story’s mood, setting, and feeling that a particular scene might be trying to convey. Film music plays a traditional role of setting a mood while remaining subservient to the screen action. In the case of the Star Wars films, Williams aimed to raise the music to the level of a story character in its own right. He typically composes fully orchestrated sketches, eight to 10 lines including winds, brass, strings, and percussion. The trend of movie music shifted back to full orchestras, and for several decades since, the role of music in film has been far more important than ever before (“Back Again”).

           Williams supported the focal scene with a depressing melody that makes listeners genuinely feel for the character Anakin. Just as the dark side wins over the light in the film, it does so in the soundtrack as well. The soundtrack describes the ongoing battle between the light and dark side of the force. The entire film basically depicts the struggle between each side of the Force, particularly within Anakin. Foreshadowing gives viewers the hint that Anakin is headed down the wrong path, and the music heavily supports this (Chris).

           When listening to the soundtrack carefully, the soundtrack is slowly rising up and reaches maximum tension, or a climax. The rise and fall in the music take place continuously to grab the attention of the listeners. The focus of the listener is attracted mostly at the highest or lowest tension in the music.