In Jungian psychology, as well as in literature and myth, the sage is one of the basic archetypes depicting our struggle toward individuation and wholeness of being. The sage is the elder who has reached a level of objectivity and wisdom through years of observation, experience, and self-examination. His vista is broad. He sees as if from the clouds but in many cases is able to translate his knowledge into practical applications. He is particularly adept at orchestrating large human endeavors. The sage cannot be easily defined. His identity defies exact categorization. For instance, he is often either not human or only half human. His powers excel beyond those of the norm, resulting in a certain amount of tragic isolation and segregation from the body of mankind. He strikes suspicion and often fear into the hearts of less developed beings. Even when he lends his powers to help them achieve their goals, they may harbor secret prejudice regarding his “otherness.”
The ultimate example of the sage archetype is Merlin. Sought after by King Arthur and others to help them achieve their political goals, the great wizard lived most of his life apart from his comrades. King Arthur needed Merlin. Engrossed in his studies and alchemic permutations, Merlin lent his aid once he “saw” the ripe possibilities of a round table, a chivalric code, a Camelot. Even experiments that end in tragedy may leave deep positive changes on a society and culture. Only someone like Merlin would have been able to follow a train of thought, surmise the causes and effects, and imagine the possible outcomes throughout future centuries to “see” the results of his labor and that of the knights.
In the world of Star Trek, Spock serves as the sage archetype to Captain Kirk’s heroic warrior chief and Doctor McCoy’s everyman. Half Vulcan and half human, Spock is never able to totally fit in either culture. He is always somewhat of an outcast, denigrated by his Star Fleet colleagues because of his stone cold logic and seeming heartlessness. However, Kirk in particular quickly comes to value Spock’s unique insight and superior intellect. Together they achieve greater heights than either could have managed alone.
Kirk plays King Arthur to Spock’s Merlin. An Arthur without a Merlin is a ruffian, a usurper, or worse—a dictator. A Merlin without an Arthur is a hermit, a mad scientist, or a lunatic genius.
In creating his version of Spock, Leonard Nimoy gave us a unique character that we took into our hearts. And there he will stay. Always fascinating.
RIP, Leonard Nimoy. As you wished us, your fans, in every sign off—live long and prosper.
What are your thoughts about Star Trek and, in particular, Spock?
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
From the moment I first saw Star Trek as a child, Spock instantly became my favorite character. I think I fell in love with the internal conflict he juggled, half human, half Vulcan, never allowing vulnerability to show. Beneath the logical exterior, you just KNEW Spock felt something in his heart, and every now and then we were allowed a fleeting glimmer…especially when it came to Kirk.
I love your Kirk/King Arthur, Spock/Merlin comparison. beautiful insight.
I was devastated when I heard the news about Leonard Nimoy. It’s amazing to think he played a character that supposedly couldn’t feel, yet left a profound mark on so many hearts.
Yes, and he only went off the deep end a few times. I remember once he turned into a sort of flower child, and it broke my heart when the seed pod or whatever it was evaporated. You could see his sense of loss through all the atoms of his being. Another time Kirk provoked him into anger, and he threw Kirk across the room. We certainly shall remember Leonard Nimoy and Spock.
It’s such a great thing when actors manage to create characters who stay with the audience even after the show stopped or the actors pass away.
I never saw the film. It was released and played in a time when we had no access to such movies. I heard about it after 1989 but I was already too old to watch it.
RIP Leonard Nimoy!
Carmen, the origin was a television series from 1966-69. Then they started making the movies. The first several movies starred the original Leonard Nimoy as Spock and William Shatner as Captain Kirk. In the meantime, came other tv series based on the same world building but with different places and characters. There were four Star Trek tv series in all, not counting the animated versions. If you ever get a chance to watch the movies, my favorite is the one where they save the whales. Here is a clip from you tube of Spock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6EoeqOu7cA
I have always adored the character of Spock. The interactions between him and Kirk and the Doc were sometimes magnififcent. I think you are right about the Merlin link, the other worldly quality, wisdom and one step beyond his compatriots, all of this was reflected in the characterisation of Spok. A real achievement.
It’s magical how a character can become so much a part of our minds and hearts–as if he were real.