Elim Garak
Encyclopedia
Elim Garak is a fictional character
from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J. Robinson. In the series, Garak is an exiled spy from the Cardassian empire and a former member of a prestigious Cardassian intelligence group
called the Obsidian Order. Garak was exiled (see Li Nalas|"The Circle"
) to the space station that became known as Deep Space Nine
and established a tailor
ing business there.
(after the double episode "Emissary"). In the episode, he appears in the replimat on Deep Space Nine, where he flirtatiously introduces himself simply as "Garak", a tailor
exiled
from Cardassia, to the station's discomforted doctor
, Julian Bashir
. In the same episode, it is discovered that Garak was simply known as "The Spy" to the crew of Deep Space Nine, being the only Cardassian left on the station after Cardassia withdrew their occupation from the nearby planet Bajor.
Over the course of the series, Garak at first denies involvement with a feared Cardassian intelligence agency
called the Obsidian Order, only to later reveal his connections as he (as plot-development devices) deems necessary. As Garak's friendship with Bashir develops, it is revealed that he was one of the Obsidian Order's highest ranking operatives, and that he was exiled from Cardassia due to unspecified reasons. The details of Garak's exile are never revealed, but it is suggested that his exile resulted from either letting prisoners escape during the occupation of Bajor, or betrayal of the head of the Obsidian Order named Enabran Tain, who is later discovered to also be Garak's resentful biological father. Garak's constant enigmatic secrecy keeps him a character of both interest and importance in the series, and he later uses his contacts with Cardassia and the training he received as an operative of the Obsidian Order to assist the Federation
in the war against the Dominion
.
Despite not being one of the main characters of the show, Garak appears in 33 of the 176 episodes of Deep Space Nine, including the series finale, and appears in each of the show's seven seasons.
Robinson's initial performance as Garak received scrutiny as his portrayal was interpreted as Garak being homosexual or bisexual. Robinson denied that his portrayal was intended to portray Garak as homosexual, and, rather, implied that he was omnisexual. As a result of the controversy, Robinson removed the particular characteristic from Garak.
As the series continued, Garak transforms from a simple mysterious character to one of complexity and secrecy. Robinson stated that the complexity of Garak's character did not come from his lies, but rather his refusal to elaborate on himself.
Garak has a long-standing antagonistic relationship with the prefect of Bajor, Gul Dukat. In the episode "Civil Defense", Dukat states that it was a mistake for his father to have once trusted Garak, and later in "For the Cause" it is revealed that Garak had Dukat's father tortured and killed. Later, Garak fell from grace and was exiled from Cardassia. He fled to the Cardassian space station Terok Nor when the Cardassians withdrew from the station, leaving it for the Federation and Bajorans. The reason for Garak's exile were never stated explicitly. In "The Wire", a delirious Garak gave three different and contradictory stories for his exile; first that he had killed some escaping Bajoran children in the last days of the occupation but in the process also killed the daughter of a powerful Cardassian military official, then that he actually took pity on the children and allowed them to escape, and finally that he had been framed for letting Bajoran prisoners escape. In "Improbable Cause", Garak's former mentor Enabran Tain plainly accuses him of betraying Cardassia but no details are given, while in "The Way of the Warrior" Dukat cynically reminds Garak to remember to aim his phaser
at Klingons and not Cardassians.
Garak's character is elaborated on when his childhood abuse is revealed. Garak, whose father was the head of the Obsidian Order Enabran Tain, is seen to have an acute form of claustrophobia
as an adult. His claustrophobia is strongly suggested to have resulted from his father locking him in a closet as punishment for him not doing his chores, often for hours at a time. Garak followed his father's footsteps and joined the Obsidian Order; at one point he was stationed on Romulus
(and was likely involved in the deaths of several Romulan
officials), until the Cardassians stationed him on occupied Bajor.
In the third season of Deep Space Nine, during the joint Romulan/Cardassian attempt to destroy the Founders' home world, Garak is given the opportunity to return home by proving himself to Tain as a trustworthy operative of the Obsidian Order. As a result, Garak is assigned to interrogate and torture Deep Space Nine's chief of security, Odo, whose people had founded the Dominion. Garak returns to Deep Space Nine with Odo after apologizing to him and the two form a unique bond after realizing that they were more alike than they had originally thought. Later, when Garak goes with Worf
to the Gamma Quadrant to try to find surviving members of the failed attack on the Founders, a dying Tain finally reveals to Garak that he is proud of him as his son.
In the last two seasons Garak had shifted his loyalties completely towards the Federation
, primarily because his old political rival, Gul Dukat seized control of Cardassia and aligned it with the Dominion
. In these later seasons, Garak uses his knowledge to assist the Federation in its war against the Dominion and Cardassia. Garak developed serious psychological trauma knowing that he had contributed to the deaths of his fellow Cardassians Towards the end of the war Garak served as a Federation liaison to Legate Damar and his Cardassian rebellion against the Dominion, along with the Bajoran Kira Nerys
. In retaliation for the rebellion, the Dominion killed 800 million Cardassians. As a result of the war, Garak's exile ends and he returns home to Cardassia.
ic and polite, traits that he uses to obscure people's knowledge, or suspicion, of his work as a spy. Despite his image of an optimistic and well-mannered being, he is widely known to be deceitful, even to those whom he considers to be "friends," e.g. Doctor Julian Bashir
. Garak is secretive, often creating elaborate stories about himself to avoid scrutiny about his exile. On several occasions, Garak discussed a friend named Elim, who was later revealed to be fictional. Elim, in fact, was Garak himself, his full name being Elim Garak. As his father Tain once said of him, Garak never told the truth when a lie would do. At one point, Doctor Bashir told him the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf
" and upon hearing the moral ("no one believes a liar when he is telling the truth"), Garak insisted that the true moral was "you should never tell the same lie twice".
Garak on numerous occasions is seen to have internal conflicts between his morals and his obligations to the Cardassian central command. Despite substantial evidence to suggest that he was an operative of the Obsidian Order, Garak on several occasions denies having ever been involved with the group, claiming he is just "plain, simple Garak, a tailor on the Promenade" and that his difficulties with the Cardassian government stem from tax evasion
. He repeats this story frequently, even to people that he knows are aware of the truth about his past.
Garak is a vicious and sadistic Gul in the Cardassian military. He was Intendant Kira's second-in-command and resented her authority. Worf's
mirror universe counterpart personally blamed Garak for losing the Terok Nor station to a Terran (human) slave rebellion, although Garak blamed Kira and attempted to manipulate him into trying to get revenge on Kira.
Robinson reportedly disliked portraying this version of Garak, as he lacked any of his counterpart's depth or complexity, instead serving as a mere treacherous minion.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J. Robinson. In the series, Garak is an exiled spy from the Cardassian empire and a former member of a prestigious Cardassian intelligence group
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
called the Obsidian Order. Garak was exiled (see Li Nalas|"The Circle"
) to the space station that became known as Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
and established a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
ing business there.
Role in the series
Garak is introduced in the third episode of the first season of Deep Space Nine "Past Prologue"Past Prologue (DS9 episode)
"Past Prologue" is the 3rd episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine-Overview:A Bajoran terrorist seeks asylum aboard the station from pursuing Cardassians, publiclly renouncing his past violent ways but secretly ploting more destruction.-Plot:The crew of Deep...
(after the double episode "Emissary"). In the episode, he appears in the replimat on Deep Space Nine, where he flirtatiously introduces himself simply as "Garak", a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
exiled
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
from Cardassia, to the station's discomforted doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, Julian Bashir
Julian Bashir
Lieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
. In the same episode, it is discovered that Garak was simply known as "The Spy" to the crew of Deep Space Nine, being the only Cardassian left on the station after Cardassia withdrew their occupation from the nearby planet Bajor.
Over the course of the series, Garak at first denies involvement with a feared Cardassian intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
called the Obsidian Order, only to later reveal his connections as he (as plot-development devices) deems necessary. As Garak's friendship with Bashir develops, it is revealed that he was one of the Obsidian Order's highest ranking operatives, and that he was exiled from Cardassia due to unspecified reasons. The details of Garak's exile are never revealed, but it is suggested that his exile resulted from either letting prisoners escape during the occupation of Bajor, or betrayal of the head of the Obsidian Order named Enabran Tain, who is later discovered to also be Garak's resentful biological father. Garak's constant enigmatic secrecy keeps him a character of both interest and importance in the series, and he later uses his contacts with Cardassia and the training he received as an operative of the Obsidian Order to assist the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
in the war against the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
.
Despite not being one of the main characters of the show, Garak appears in 33 of the 176 episodes of Deep Space Nine, including the series finale, and appears in each of the show's seven seasons.
Portrayal
Upon his introduction in the series, Garak was intended to be a one-shot character, and not a character that was to be developed or even appear in the series beyond a single episode. Robinson stated that he portrayed the character in the episode for the simple fact that he needed money for that month to pay his bills. The producers were impressed with Robinson's performance as Garak, and decided to develop the character after Robinson agreed to return as the character for future episodes. The decision to incorporate Garak into more of the series actually resulted in Garak becoming a pivotal character—transforming him from a simple one-time character to one of importance and unusual complexity and resonance.Robinson's initial performance as Garak received scrutiny as his portrayal was interpreted as Garak being homosexual or bisexual. Robinson denied that his portrayal was intended to portray Garak as homosexual, and, rather, implied that he was omnisexual. As a result of the controversy, Robinson removed the particular characteristic from Garak.
"I had planned Garak not as homosexual or heterosexual but omnisexual, and the first episode I had with Bashir played that way gave people fits. So I had to remove that characteristic from him."-Andrew J. Robinson
As the series continued, Garak transforms from a simple mysterious character to one of complexity and secrecy. Robinson stated that the complexity of Garak's character did not come from his lies, but rather his refusal to elaborate on himself.
"The important thing about Garak is that he lives in the subtext. Again, with the iceberg analogy, the substance of Garak is what you don't hear. It's what he doesn't say."-Andrew J. Robinson
Character overview
As the series develops, Garak's early life is revealed little by little to the audience and the other characters in the series.Garak has a long-standing antagonistic relationship with the prefect of Bajor, Gul Dukat. In the episode "Civil Defense", Dukat states that it was a mistake for his father to have once trusted Garak, and later in "For the Cause" it is revealed that Garak had Dukat's father tortured and killed. Later, Garak fell from grace and was exiled from Cardassia. He fled to the Cardassian space station Terok Nor when the Cardassians withdrew from the station, leaving it for the Federation and Bajorans. The reason for Garak's exile were never stated explicitly. In "The Wire", a delirious Garak gave three different and contradictory stories for his exile; first that he had killed some escaping Bajoran children in the last days of the occupation but in the process also killed the daughter of a powerful Cardassian military official, then that he actually took pity on the children and allowed them to escape, and finally that he had been framed for letting Bajoran prisoners escape. In "Improbable Cause", Garak's former mentor Enabran Tain plainly accuses him of betraying Cardassia but no details are given, while in "The Way of the Warrior" Dukat cynically reminds Garak to remember to aim his phaser
Phaser
Phaser may refer to:* Barber pole phaser is an analog synthesizer specially designed to create Shepard tones, an Auditory illusion.* Endosulfan, an organic compound* Phaser , in the Star Trek fictional universe...
at Klingons and not Cardassians.
Garak's character is elaborated on when his childhood abuse is revealed. Garak, whose father was the head of the Obsidian Order Enabran Tain, is seen to have an acute form of claustrophobia
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms...
as an adult. His claustrophobia is strongly suggested to have resulted from his father locking him in a closet as punishment for him not doing his chores, often for hours at a time. Garak followed his father's footsteps and joined the Obsidian Order; at one point he was stationed on Romulus
Romulus
- People:* Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome* Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor* Valerius Romulus , deified son of the Roman emperor Maxentius* Romulus , son of the Western Roman emperor Anthemius...
(and was likely involved in the deaths of several Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
officials), until the Cardassians stationed him on occupied Bajor.
In the third season of Deep Space Nine, during the joint Romulan/Cardassian attempt to destroy the Founders' home world, Garak is given the opportunity to return home by proving himself to Tain as a trustworthy operative of the Obsidian Order. As a result, Garak is assigned to interrogate and torture Deep Space Nine's chief of security, Odo, whose people had founded the Dominion. Garak returns to Deep Space Nine with Odo after apologizing to him and the two form a unique bond after realizing that they were more alike than they had originally thought. Later, when Garak goes with Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
to the Gamma Quadrant to try to find surviving members of the failed attack on the Founders, a dying Tain finally reveals to Garak that he is proud of him as his son.
In the last two seasons Garak had shifted his loyalties completely towards the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
, primarily because his old political rival, Gul Dukat seized control of Cardassia and aligned it with the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
. In these later seasons, Garak uses his knowledge to assist the Federation in its war against the Dominion and Cardassia. Garak developed serious psychological trauma knowing that he had contributed to the deaths of his fellow Cardassians Towards the end of the war Garak served as a Federation liaison to Legate Damar and his Cardassian rebellion against the Dominion, along with the Bajoran Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
. In retaliation for the rebellion, the Dominion killed 800 million Cardassians. As a result of the war, Garak's exile ends and he returns home to Cardassia.
A Stitch In Time
In a novel written by Andrew Robinson, Garak's life is further explored. The novel focuses on a letter from Garak to Bashir and suggests that Garak has become involved in the political and social rebuilding of Cardassia.Personality
Garak is optimistOptimist
An optimist is a person with a positive outlook on life.Optimist may also refer to:* A member of Optimist International* The Optimist, a small sailing dinghy sailed by children...
ic and polite, traits that he uses to obscure people's knowledge, or suspicion, of his work as a spy. Despite his image of an optimistic and well-mannered being, he is widely known to be deceitful, even to those whom he considers to be "friends," e.g. Doctor Julian Bashir
Julian Bashir
Lieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
. Garak is secretive, often creating elaborate stories about himself to avoid scrutiny about his exile. On several occasions, Garak discussed a friend named Elim, who was later revealed to be fictional. Elim, in fact, was Garak himself, his full name being Elim Garak. As his father Tain once said of him, Garak never told the truth when a lie would do. At one point, Doctor Bashir told him the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Boy Who Cried Wolf, is one of Aesop's Fables, numbered 210 in the Perry Index. From it is derived the English idiom 'to cry wolf', meaning to give a false alarm.-The fable and its history:...
" and upon hearing the moral ("no one believes a liar when he is telling the truth"), Garak insisted that the true moral was "you should never tell the same lie twice".
Garak on numerous occasions is seen to have internal conflicts between his morals and his obligations to the Cardassian central command. Despite substantial evidence to suggest that he was an operative of the Obsidian Order, Garak on several occasions denies having ever been involved with the group, claiming he is just "plain, simple Garak, a tailor on the Promenade" and that his difficulties with the Cardassian government stem from tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
. He repeats this story frequently, even to people that he knows are aware of the truth about his past.
Mirror Universe
In the mirror universeMirror Universe (Star Trek)
The Mirror Universe is a fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place...
Garak is a vicious and sadistic Gul in the Cardassian military. He was Intendant Kira's second-in-command and resented her authority. Worf's
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
mirror universe counterpart personally blamed Garak for losing the Terok Nor station to a Terran (human) slave rebellion, although Garak blamed Kira and attempted to manipulate him into trying to get revenge on Kira.
Robinson reportedly disliked portraying this version of Garak, as he lacked any of his counterpart's depth or complexity, instead serving as a mere treacherous minion.
Appearances
- Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
:- "Past Prologue"
- "Cardassians"
- "Profit and Loss"
- "The Wire"
- "Crossover"
- "The Search: Part 2"
- "Second Skin"
- "Civil Defense"
- "Distant Voices"
- "Through the Looking Glass"
- "Improbable Cause"
- "The Die Is Cast"
- "The Way of the Warrior"
- "Our Man Bashir"
- "Shattered Mirror"
- "For the Cause"
- "Body Parts"
- "Broken Link"
-
- "Things Past"
- "In Purgatory's Shadow"
- "By Inferno's Light"
- "Empok Nor"
- "Call to Arms"
- "A Time to Stand"
- "Rocks and Shoals"
- "Favor the Bold"
- "Sacrifice of Angels"
- "In the Pale Moonlight"
- "Tears of the Prophets"
- "Afterimage"
- "The Emperor's New Cloak"
- "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
- "When It Rains..."
- "Tacking Into the Wind"
- "Extreme Measures"
- "The Dogs of War"
- "What You Leave Behind"
External links
- A brief Elim Garak Biography at StarTrek.com
- A list of 10 "Great Garak Episodes" at StarTrek.com