Could Luke have killed Yoda?

Question

From the script (emphasis added):

Nervously, he looks around at the foreboding jungle.

LUKE: Still...there's something familiar about this place. I feel like...I don't know...

STRANGE VOICE: Feel like what?

Luke jumps out of his skin. Artoo screeches in terror. The young warrior grabs for his lightsaber as he spins around, looking for the speaker. Mysteriously standing right in front of Luke is a strange, bluish creature, not more than two feet tall. The wizened little thing is dressed in rags. It motions toward Luke's sword.

LUKE: (looking at the creature) Like we're being watched!

CREATURE: Away with your weapon! I mean you no harm.

After some hesitation, Luke puts away his weapon, although he really doesn't understand why. Artoo watches with interest.

By the time Yoda reveals himself, Luke is clearly on edge. From the jungle simply being creepy to almost witnessing R2 get eaten by the swamp monster, his survival instincts must have been through the roof. When Yoda spooked him, there was, more than likely, a high chance Luke would have attacked out of sheer reflex.

At this point in the movies, we're not sure of Yoda's health or power, but when he lifts the X-Wing, it requires much more time (and possibly focus) to get it done when compared to his shows of strength from Ep. III, even after Luke warmed it up for him.

Is there any reference or evidence that states, if Luke had followed through with his attack, that Yoda wouldn't have been able to react in time and've been killed?

Answer 1

Would he have killed Yoda?

In a word, No. Yoda was projecting no threat, or rather projecting an aura of calm. Luke evidently has sufficient Force abilities to sense that there's no danger here, even if he was slightly startled. On top of that, Luke for all of his many flaws certainly doesn't seem to suffer from an itchy trigger finger.

The official novelisation mentions that Luke senses Yoda's presence but doesn't sense any animosity.

For the moment, Luke could not decide whether to be frightened or to laugh. But when he gazed into those bulbous eyes and sensed the being’s kindly nature, he relaxed. At last the creature motioned toward the pistol in Luke’s hand.

The original script also seems to imply that Luke has been mind-tricked by Yoda. Again, Luke has sufficient Force power to realise that something weird is happening, but insufficient power to prevent it.

LUKE: (looking at the creature) Like we're being watched!

CREATURE: Away with your weapon! I mean you no harm.

After some hesitation, Luke puts away his weapon, although he really doesn't understand why. Artoo watches with interest.

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Could he have killed Yoda?

As to whether Luke could have killed Yoda (had the mood taken him), the answer is no. Yoda has the Force on his side. An untrained Jedi would be no match to Master Yoda's ability to control animals, to use the Force to deflect blaster fire, throw objects, to mind-trick opponents and to outright control them if the need arises.

On top of that is the fact that Yoda has been watching Luke his entire life. He's got a pretty good handle on the fact that he's a benign soul, incapable of ruthless murder.