Synopsis: Lt. Commander Dax and Lt. Commander Worf accompany Kor on a quest to retrieve the Sword of Kahless relic and unite the Klingon Empire.
This episode can be seen as an exploration of the concept of inflation. As I have written previously, inflation is what happens when the Logos-driven rational conscious ego identifies with the power of an archetype from the Eros-driven irrational unconscious. And while this is a necessary step in the union of opposites, the process by which bits of unconscious material are integrated into the conscious ego, it can be dangerous if the identification with the archetypal power is too great or lasts for too long.
In “The Sword of Kahless” Kor enlists Lt. Commander Worf and Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax on his quest to find the Sword of Kahless, which was lost over 1400 years ago. Worf initially joins the expedition believing that it will unite the Klingon people by strengthening the power of the Emperor with the possession of this symbolic artifact. They find the relic but they also find the political opponents of the Emperor near it as well. With the power of the ancient batleth, the Sword of Kahless, they are able to defeat their foes. But the lure of the power of the sword also kindles a fight between Worf and Kor as to who rightfully should be able to have it and wield its power. At the end of the episode, the Sword of Kahless is beamed into deep space, as Dax, Worf, and Kor understand that the power of it is too great and that no one in the Klingon Empire is ready to handle it.
That the Sword of Kahless is a powerful archetypal symbol is evident here in that to hold it in one’s hands, to wield it, makes both Worf and Kor think that they are destined to lead the Klingon Empire, when before they had wanted to bring it back to the Klingon homeworld and hand it to the Emperor in hopes that it would unite their people under him. This is an illustration of what inflation feels like. Fortunately, there is also a realization as to what is happening and the sword is too powerful and should not be kept. This is followed by the deflated feelings from not being able to unite the Klingon people, but once Worf and Kor get back to their regular routine, they will still feel stronger for having experienced the inflation and the deflation; which is similar to how the conscious ego goes through a cycle of going from inflation to deflation as it integrates bits of unconscious material into itself.
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