Synopsis: Quark must masquerade as a female in order for Zek to reclaim his position as Grand Nagus.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of the importance of the Logos-driven rational conscious ego of those identifying as male to integrate bits of their inner ideal feminine, or anima.
In “Prophet and Lace” Grand Nagus Zek, and Quark and Rom’s mother, Ishka, arrive on Deep Space Nine, fleeing Ferenginar after Zek was deposed for declaring that females be allowed to wear clothes. FCA Commissioner Brunt was then installed as Acting Grand Nagus. Zek believes that once the other FCA Commissioners meet Ishka and realize the potential of females, that he will regain support. One influential commissioner, Nilva, travels to Deep Space Nine to meet with Ishka, but once she is taken ill, another female needs to take her place. Quark is temporarily altered to appear female, impresses Nilva, and Zek is returned to power.
In this episode, when Quark is forced to embrace physically and emotionally his inner feminine, it can be analogized to when the conscious ego of someone identifying as male, allows bits of material from the unconscious anima to integrate into it. At the end of the episode the now once again male Quark comments on how the experience of being female made him more compassionate and nurturing, but this is also where Carl (C. G.) Jung believed creativity and appreciation of beauty also can be found in the psyche. However, because these traits are associated with the feminine, in a patriarchal society quite often they are devalued. But once these attributes are acknowledged and integrated into the ego, it becomes stronger and the psyche more whole.
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