Do Jedi Have Emotions?

Yes. There’s been some confusion about this, but Jedi do have emotions. They have to learn how to control them.

Everywhere in visual media, (movies, games, etc), we see many cases of a Jedi being emotional. Whether it’s Yoda teasing someone or a Force ghost smiling proudly from a distance, Jedi have the same range of emotions as everyone else.

But the Force is bound to their emotions, which is why patience is required to master it. And why most Padawans begin their training as younglings.

Do Jedi Have Emotions?

Except for a few alien species, then yes, all Jedi regardless of rank, have emotions. (The only other way they wouldn’t have any, is if they’re sociopathic or suffering from mental health problems.)

The Jedi live by a code that is meant to guide them. 

There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

There is no chaos, there is harmony.

There is no death, there is the Force.

In the old days, Force-sensitive children were taken from their parents when they’re around three years old. This helped them to be trained to love those in the order like a family, while also helping them to avoid attachments. 

We see this during the prequel trilogy, and in the original as both Anakin Skywalker in, The Phantom Menace (1999), and Luke Skywalker in, The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Were both told that they were too old to receive training.

Due to the buildup of emotional attachments to their families and friends.Yoda said it best to Anakin Skywalker. “Fear leads to Anger. Anger leads to Hate. Hate leads to pain. And I sense much fear in you.”

This was not intended as an insult, but as a warning, which was sadly proven true, and even repeated slightly with Luke Skywalker.

Can Jedi Feel Love?

Yes. This is one of the points that fans become confused with. Though it’s not unheard of for Jedi to be in the same family.

Getting married and having children are forbidden. As losing them would be a great blow to any Jedi and risk the Dark Side taking over.

That said, Jedi can have relationships outside of the order and with each other. Provided that they take precautions and control their passion.

Even the bond between a Jedi and their Padawon is run the same way. With the Jedi only being permitted to train one Padawan at a time.

Thus forming a pusado parent/child type of relationship. But, should one die, those that survive are encouraged to remember their training with the Force.

Death doesn’t mean the end. Instead of lamenting loss, celebrate who they were in life, and feel them with the Force.

Perhaps even seeing them as a Force ghost in the future. (If Padme hadn’t been involved with politics, her relationship with Anakin might have been overlooked. But they still wouldn’t have been able to marry.)

Can Jedi Be Happy?

Yes. The goal of the code is to install and keep a serene state of mind at all times. Jedi are meant to be selfless and compassionate. 

That said, there’s a difference between happiness and affection. Jedi are not supposed to become attached to others.

Things like the birth of a baby or a wedding are times of joy, and Jedi can be happy for those involved, especially when it’s their friends.

Do Jedi Suppress Their Emotions?

They’re not supposed to. Though the code and laws can appear harsh, they don’t forbid showing feelings outright.

It’s okay to feel. The main things to watch are the negative emotions. Jedi are supposed to use the Force for self-defense, not attack.

Jedi will only kill their enemy if there’s no other way. We see these teachings best in The Phantom Menace and Return Of The Jedi, (1983).

In the battle between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul, we can see how a Jedi is meant to be in battle. Qui-Gon Jinn even takes a moment to meditate and turns his back to Maul in the process!

Meanwhile, Maul never takes his eyes off Qui-Gon, and passes just inches from the barrier. Yet he still wasn’t fast enough to prevent Qui-Gon Jinn from getting up and resuming the fight as soon as the barrier moved.

During the final fight between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, we see how everything can go wrong. Luke does tap into the Dark Side and almost kills Darth Vader.

But the sight of Vader missing a hand and unarmed, combined with the knowledge that this is his father, helps snap Luke out of it, and he’s able to regain his composure. Vader, too, is very emotional throughout the films, though thanks to his mask we have to rely on his body language, and even then, we’re left debating his thoughts in certain moments. 

Even though Vader starts off by saying that Luke will join them or die, the sight of his son being tortured in front of him made Vader betray the Emperor and fullfil his destiny at the cost of his life.

Emotions play a critical role with the Force. Similar to adrenaline, they can boost a Jedi’s abilities, but left unchecked they can easily backfire. 

Even though he’s a Sith Lord, Darth Vader is still the best example of emotions. And the fact that we can’t see his face only makes his scenes that much more impactful.

Other Points Of Interest

Yoda did go to the Dark Side once to see what would happen. (Can you imagine what would’ve happened if he stayed with the Dark Side?!)

There have been cases when a Jedi gave birth. Though the code was broken, the Jedi Council would still have helped in these situations.

One of the most loved rumors surrounding Star Wars is the meaning behind Darth Vader’s name, and if it was meant as a hint for the big reveal in episode five. However, it’s been confirmed that this was a happy accident. (Darth Vader wasn’t intended to be Luke’s father until the second draft of The Empire Strikes Back. 

In Conclusion

Feelings are natural and welcomed on both sides of the Force, and even Masters can struggle from time to time. Though Jedi can’t marry, they can still feel happy and have friendships both in and out of the order. Thanks for reading!