Snoke seduction and offer for Ben Solo was....

pure speculation since we have so few clues to work from:

• i'm guessing Ben felt alienated by his FS very early on. it didn't help that he was also the heir of legends. he was saddled with a sensibility of importance, a lot of confusing power, and probably not a lot of discipline, focus, or positive reinforcement in the areas that he needed it most.
  
• Snoke convinced Ben that he understood the boy, believed he had a special place in the galaxy (probably encouraged his fixation on Vader).
  
• Snoke also convinced Ben that he was "weak and foolish" like his father and needed a teacher to realize the full potential of his powers.
  
• Leia panicked and sent Ben to train with Luke, but it was already too late.
  
• Luke's message of patience probably fell on deaf ears for a kid who was already confused and frustrated and groomed to feel inferior and cosmically misunderstood.

my point is: Snoke didn't really have to offer Ben much to trap him. just a place of belonging.

which ties in with the theme of TFA.

 

I think Ben was always likely to fall as he lived in the shadow of his two famous parents, and everything he would have done with his life it would have been hard for him to live up to that fame, this would've made him very likely to be tempted by the Darkside and succumb to it. And with a little Manipulation from snoke I think he felt very quickly, with a little help from his grandfathers memory.

 

Yeah not enough info to even speculate really. Could be many possibilities. Maybe Kylo is just a bad seed man. Didn't need any promises.

So how about this...I'll flip the switch and ask the opposite question... what did Kylo promise Snoke if he would train him?

 

Very well thought out and articulated!

 

Wasn't there a line from ESB where Vader told Luke with their combined strength they could put an end to this destructive conflict and rule the galaxy as father and son?
We've established in TFA that Ben is actively trying to purge all of the light from himself in order to grow as powerful as Darth Vader. He is also very interested in finding Luke, perhaps with his own agenda, independent from the First Order's. Another thing that stuck me just now is that when he offered Rey his tutelage he never mentioned the Dark Side. His words were I can teach the ways of the force not I can teach you the power of the Dark side. Perhaps just maybe he is looking for that other half. To him it has always been Luke - but with this awakening he has suddenly been offered another option.

 

totally. i think he's motivated by loneliness.

 

I think the acknowledgement that Ben had too much Vader in him is key here. I think with Ben and Anakin as well, the seduction to the darkside was accomplished with an appeal to their individual vanities and fear. Both want to be viewed as powerful and both had fears (Anakin the death of his loved ones, Kylo that he isn't as powerful as his lineage would seem to imply he should be).

 

A lot of good points raised here.

I voted Snoke offered to teach Ben and make him as powerful as Darth Vader. That was ages ago though and I don't remember even voting.

Recently, I've been thinking about this more and I still think the same way.

I think Snoke's seduction of Ben will have similarities to Sidious' seduction of Anakin. The nature of how Snoke has moulded Kylo just makes me think that way.

Since this is a speculation thread, for a bit of fun I'm going to post an attempt at some fan-fiction.

Re-using a lot of the dialogue from the ROTS script/novel, I'm going to play with the idea that Ben's seduction was somewhat similar to his grandfather's. I don't know if the timeline/canon knowledge match up, and I don't even necessarily think it will play out like this, but who cares?

So it's around 28 ABY. Ben - a 23 something-year-old Jedi - hasn't learnt the truth about Vader yet. He visits Snoke for the first time, after receiving a tip-off that Snoke has something belonging to him...

INT SNOKE'S THRONE ROOM​

Inside a dimly lit room, except for an intense beam of light penetrating from the entrance, Supreme Leader Snoke sits atop of his throne. At the entrance, the silhouette of an unidentified figure begins to emerge from the blinding light.



The mysterious figure slowly approaches the ominous Snoke, all whilst his shadow grows larger and larger.




SNOKE: Welcome, young Jedi.
BEN: Who are you?

Snoke removes his hood, revealing his disfigured face and crooked smile.

SNOKE: My name is Snoke. If only you could know how I have longed to tell you. All these years—I have watched over you, waiting as you grew in strength and wisdom, biding my time until now, until today...
BEN: You've been watching over me?
SNOKE: Not just you. I have been observing your entire family for decades. The countless stories about the Skywalkers. The great legends about your uncle Luke, your mother Leia...
BEN: They've never mentioned you before.
SNOKE: Quite right... but they also have not mentioned a great number of things.
BEN: Oh, really? Like what?
SNOKE: Who you truly are... you are yet to understand your true place in the history of the galaxy.
BEN: Is that right? And you - a stranger I don't even know - somehow know exactly who I am.
SNOKE: Even deeper than that. I know exactly how you feel. Tell me, young Ben Solo, do you feel your family trusts you?

Ben looks down. This had struck a little close to the bone.

BEN: That isn't any of your concern.
SNOKE: Your mother sees danger in you. She always has. Master Skywalker thinks you're rash. Too reckless. Am I correct?
BEN: You're wrong.
SNOKE: You are not like them. You are younger. Stronger. Better. That is why they will always keep you down. That is why Skywalker fears your power. They all fear you.
BEN: You don't know anything about me, or my family.
SNOKE: But you think you do? Embrace your true feelings, my boy. Do not be afraid to feel. I know you have been longing for a life greater than that of an ordinary Jedi. Give yourself permission to follow that dream. Learn to cast off the petty restraints they have tried to place upon your power. Do what you think is right. Do the one thing your family fears most: make up your own mind.
BEN: Why are you telling me this? What do you want from me?
SNOKE: I can feel the conflict that exists within you. Yes... the pain... the torment. Indeed, you are much like your grandfather.
BEN: My grandfather?
SNOKE: Yes. The Force was strong with him, just as it is with you. A boy with a burning desire to make a better and stronger galaxy, one built on true peace and order, not that of the so-called 'New Republic'. Only when your grandfather freed himself from the Jedi way did he come close to achieving his dream, only when he became Lord Vader did he begin to understand his true power.
BEN: What did you just say?
SNOKE: No one ever told you the truth about your grandfather, did they?
BEN: This isn't funny anymore. You're crazy!

Snoke rises from his throne, his tall, frail figure looming large over Ben. Reaching out his hand, Snoke reveals the deformed mask of Lord Vader, dropping the burnt remains unceremoniously to the floor landing near the feet of Ben. Standing hypnotised by the peculiar energy radiating outwards, Ben's eyes focus firmly on the mask. He can hear voices, mechanical breathing, screaming...

BEN: What is that?
SNOKE: You know exactly what that is. Lord Vader cries out to you.

Ben cannot escape the energy drawing at him.

SNOKE: His mask rightfully belongs to you. Pick it up, my boy. Do not be afraid.

Overcome by the powerful presence, Ben leans forward and stretches out his hand. Suddenly, he is bombarded by an array of perplexing visions - a vast open desert, a young sandy-haired boy standing before a Jedi council, a limbless man screaming in agonising pain. He sees and hears Lord Vader, "You don't know the power of the Dark Side", and "Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son." Then, shocked, he sees his uncle Luke, filled with anger and hate, fighting against Vader...

The visions end. Ben stumbles backwards to the ground, confused, scared by what he has just seen. He returns to his feet, igniting his lightsaber.

BEN: What have you done?!?

Snoke sits once again on his throne.

SNOKE: Nothing.

BEN steps forward, his voice louder and more enraged.

BEN: What have you done to my family?!?

Snoke appears uncomfortable by Ben's exasperation.

SNOKE: Relax, young Jedi. Please. The Force offered you a glimpse into the your grandfather's past... into his murder at the hands of Skywalker and the Jedi.
BEN: LIAR! Don't say another word about my family, you monster!
SNOKE: I'm sorry if I upset you. If you do not believe me, speak with Skywalker yourself. He can confirm the truth about your grandfather.

Ben is staring intensely at Snoke, eyes filled with rage. Realising his anger, he takes a moment to calm himself, breathing deeply, before deciding to lower his lightsaber.

BEN: I will inform my uncle about you. You'll pay for this.

Ben turns around and walks off into the distance, disappearing into the burning light.

A crooked smile returns to Snoke's face once again.
​