Why does Yoda act so childish in ESB?

Of course, after watching the prequels, we all know yoda is old and wise and almost... very elegent. But if you watch esb, in the first scenes, he is like... a child. getting into everything. making a mess. acting as if he doesnt know what things are.... its weird. So is he purposefully doing that because he knows who luke is and wants to play around? Or is it just because he hasnt seen anyone in so long? Just a question. thanks.

 

He is testing Luke's patience.

 

Are you sure? I'v heard that if someone is alone for a long time, he will be crazy. Example who are on the desert island... Just thinking .

 

I can attest to the fact that after living alone for a while, one does tend to go a little daft.

It does however, seem rather inappropriate for the former head of the Jedi council to act so childlike - second childhood at 900 years? But who after all is going to call him on it.

Seriously though, I think Yoda is trying to see what Luke?s motivation is in trying to find the Jedi master. After all, Yoda is in hiding. What if Luke were just a minion of Vader? In acting this way, Yoda is excluding the initial possibility that he will be found.

 

He was testing Luke... duh ... DAGODUH!!!!!

 

Okay, but you don't think he's crazy ? Only a little bit?

 

It was almost like he was a Sesame Street character at first like Elmo with the Force. (Frank Oz who did the Yoda voice and puppeteering in the ESB did work for Jim Hensen.) Maybe it was just an homage to Hensen.

 

I would say it was a combination of being away from sentient contact for 20 years and him wanting to test Luke. I could definately see anyone, even Yoda, losing it a little even though he supposedly could talk to Qui-Gon. Regardless, if you are alone for 20 years without anyone but spirits to talk to, you will lose the ability to interact like everyday people woudld.

 

Well as Master Bin has already stated it is to test lukes patience in which he fails when Yoda says 'I cannot teach him,the boy has no patience' to which good ol' obi wan replies 'he will learn patience'

 

All i know is that it is hysterical!

 

20 years is only relatively long for humans, especially StarWars-humans, so it's not really that long for a 900-year-old
especially a 900-year-old who is not only a Jedi Master, but the greatest of old. Plus, now we know he had Qui-Gon to talk to. And he "watched" the twins, supposedly. It does not fit Yoda's character to simply go bonkers in exile. Plus, he reverts back to usual Yoda instantly after Luke loses it during dinner. It was a huge act. And even in the Prequels he had that kind of humor, just a lot milder.

Yoda obviously tests the patience of the audience, too. You're convinced he's insane. So is Luke. Both him and us were not supposed to see a great Jedi Master during that time. That obviously works. Too well

 

He totally changes his personality in the scene when Luke loses it and yells about not knowing why he's there and about wasting his time.

Yoda goes from "nutty kid" to wise Yoda right after that. He reverts to his normal self.


So yeah he wasn't crazy...He was just "crazy" like a Jedi fox. LoL

 

I liked the idea that he was drunk. Or high. He seemed to have the munchies and an unnatural attraction to lights. So, that leads me to believe he smoked a fattie right before Luke showed up.

 

cause he is so overwhelmed and excited that somone has visited him over so many years. and yeah he is probably testing lukes patience, plus he is crazy becuase he has been living on that crappy planet by himself for sooo0000 long.

 

This begs the question...

Why didn't Yoda go crazy in front of the Clone Troopers in Kashyyyk in ROTS? Would have been strange but definately hilarious!

COMMANDER: Look, a creature over there. Is it Jedi?

YODA: He... hehe, you come for greater conquest, hm?

COMMANDER: We seek Yoda!

YODA: OH! Yoda, you seek Yoda!

COMMANDER: Have you seen him?

YODA: 'Bout my size, green, long ears, acts normal?

COMMANDER: Yes!

YODA: Never heard of him, nope. But take him to you I will! Got some crack, I have! Share, I could!

 

Read Dark Rendezvous. He acts just like he does in ESB, only much earlier =P

 

cos Yoda is havin it on some steins.

 

There's an old saying....ONCE A MAN, TWICE A CHILD....

I think Yoda is still powerful in the Force and very wise but he's losing his mind by the OT.

 

It was obvious to me even as a kid in 1980 that Yoda was doing two things. 1. Testing Luke's patience. 2. Making a point that you shouldn't judge someone by their looks, size, or character.

It was also a way to do the same thing to the audience. It's a great cinematic trick. There are two big surprises in ESB for audiences, and Yoda was one of them.

The second Yoda sighs and says "I cannot teach him." The childlike Yoda is instantly gone, as he is no longer putting up the charade. It's visibly obvious, and has been for 25 years. It's a testament to Frank Oz's acting.

 

I've always been on the impression that it's Luke that consider Yoda like a useless, inferior creature first. Yoda learned him a lesson that Luke will take 2 times to understand:

Size mathers not.

 

No yoda is defo high on steinage.

 

He is testing Luke.

 

1. As several wise posters already pointed out, he was simply testing Luke, a test he failed. Yoda does not want to create another Vader. And what was one reason that Anakin fell to the darkside? A lack of patience

2. 20 years to someone who has lived 90 years is nothing. Plus he is so accustomed to spending time in private and meditating, he was actually enjoying it.

3. If you read Dark Rendezvous, the first book to focus on Yoda, you see that he has playful side to him, that he cannot often show as the Leader of the Jedi Order, especially in a time of war.

 

I've always understood he was testing Luke's patience and his treatment of strangers. Think I read it somewhere.

-DS

 

*sigh*

It's a TEST.