Synopsis: Lt. Commander Worf’s brother, Kurn, comes to Deep Space Nine to ask Worf to kill him.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of some of the reactions that can occur when the Logos-driven rational conscious ego is made aware of bits of material from the Eros-driven irrational unconscious. Sometimes these bits of material are repressed, but sometimes the material is acknowledged and integrated into the conscious ego. The latter is the union of opposites, or what Carl (C. G.) Jung also called individuation, the ongoing process by which an individual’s ego becomes stronger and the psyche more whole.
In “Sons of Mogh” Lt. Commander Worf’s brother, Kurn, comes to Deep Space Nine so that Worf, who has taken away the honor of their house, can give him back his honor through a ritual murder, the Mauk-to-Vor. Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax realizes what is going on and stops it. Kurn recovers and begins to work for Odo. However, when Kurn once again tries to die with honor – this time on the job, Odo fires him. Worf finally comes upon a solution. Kurn’s memory will be wiped clean by Dr. Julian Bashar and a trusted friend will adopt Kurn into his family, so that he may live out his life with honor.
In this episode Worf represents not only Starfleet, but also how the rational conscious ego wants to control the psyche. Kurn represents not only the Klingon Empire, but also the irrational emotions and instincts of the unconscious that do not want to be controlled by the ego. Initially, Worf tries to abide by the ways of Klingon custom but is forced to stop because it is against Starfleet regulations. He then conceives of a way in which to honor Klingon traditions without breaking Starfleet regulations, although it is something very painful to him and something he never before would have considered. This reflects how a conscious ego might first attempt to acknowledge and integrate bits of unconscious material, but when it is too difficult, the material is repressed. But when the bits of unconscious material resurface to the awareness of the conscious ego, they must eventually be addressed. Sometimes this can be painful, and it often calls upon the conscious ego to do something that it would never think of doing before, but it is all part of the process of individuation, acknowledging and integrating bits of unconscious material into the conscious ego, to make it stronger and the psyche more whole.
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