When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered in 1993, viewers got their first glimpse of a new species, the Trill, represented by Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). The concept of Jadzia’s character is centralized around change, as she is host to a symbiont that has lived as a Dax over 7 lifetimes in different forms. Her journey is a fascinating arc that exemplifies the way we grow and change, and how those changes affect us at each stage of life.
Jadzia Dax represents the complexity of being
As a being who has lived for more than 7 lifetimes, Jadzia may represent the complexity of the human condition. While we may only live once, we experience different stages, and each carries its problems as we struggle to find a place where we feel comfortable. For example, during the pre-teen and teenage years, young people struggle with the idea of what it means to be successful and how to handle failure, as Jadzia did when she joined the Trill Symbiosis Commission but failed to qualify for joining with the Dax symbiont. While Curzon Dax, the former host, later admitted he rejected her because of his romantic feelings toward her, Jadzia continued to struggle with the memories of her initial failure.
Jadzia Dax and memories of our past selves
Jadzia carries the memories of the 7 Dax hosts who came before her, along with the attached emotions of what each experienced. For example, Curzon Dax was a close friend and mentor of Benjamin Sisko, who still calls Jadzia “old man,” his nickname for Curzon, from time to time. Carrying Curzon’s memories caused Jadzia and Sisko to clash from time to time, but they also created a strong bond between the two.
The concept of how our memories help shape who we are in the present is quite apparent in Jadzia’s character. Both pleasant and traumatic memories play a large role in who we become in adulthood and can even affect stages within it. For example, a failure in academia might become a memory someone revisits repeatedly may affect self-esteem and the ability to make decisions. While Jadzia grew into a confident Trill, her initial rejection from the joining program affected her deeply for many years.
Jadzia represents the inner self
Each of us has an inner monologue and a sense of individuality. As a Trill, Jadzia must harness the past thoughts of all the former Dax hosts while maintaining and growing her own personality; however, the metaphor is a powerful one, as humans must do the same in the face of influence from others, the media, mentors, and world events that change the face of culture. Jadzia stays true to herself and balances the effect of the Dax’s former hosts, a feat that cannot be simple after living 7 lifetimes.
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