Synopsis: An artificially engineered virus infects the population on Deep Space Nine and causes them to lose their ability to communicate with words.
This episode can be interpreted as being an illustration of how the unconscious communicates to us indirectly, by means other than rational thought or speech. Depth psychology is the field of psychology that has the exploration of the unconscious as its defining characteristic.
In “Babel” as individuals on Deep Space Nine become infected with the virus left there from a past occupation of the station, they start speaking incoherently in words that are incomprehensible to others but make total sense to the individual. This is analogous to how the unconscious is perceived by the rational ego. The virus can be seen as analogous to complexes, the way in which bits of the unconscious become conscious to the rational ego. Once the ego acknowledges and integrates the bits of unconscious material in a complex into itself, the ego is made stronger and the psyche made more whole. This was reflected in the episode in that once the virus was identified an antidote could be created to bring the infected individuals back to health.
As for moments of somatic awareness, there is another scene of tenderness between Commander Benjamin Sisko and his son Jake, when he again touches him on the face and then kisses him as he leaves him in quarantine.
Original post created 12 November 2021
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