Synopsis: Voyager becomes trapped in an area of chaotic space, where its inhabitants try to reach Commander Chakotay through his unconscious to assist the crew in getting out of the dangerous place.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of how what Carl (C. G.) Jung called a complex allows bits of material from the Eros-driven irrational unconscious come into the awareness of the Logos-driven rational conscious ego.
In “The Fight” Voyager enters an area of space where a phenomena distorts space and is unable to escape from it. Meanwhile, Commander Chakotay is having hallucinations in which aliens are trying to communicate with him. Chakotay is unsettled by the experience because his grandfather had visions, and as Chakotay tells Captain Kathryn Janeway his grandfather refused treatment to eradicate them telling Chakotay that: “His spirit was in pain, but that the wound must be honored” (Menosky & Kolbe, 1999). Chakotay fears becoming like his grandfather in seeking guidance from the aliens that are trying to communicate with him. The Doctor tells him that he must trust them and conquer his fear of the unknown. Chakotay does and the aliens are able to lead Voyager safely out of the area of chaotic space.
In this episode Chakotay can be seen as experiencing a complex, in the way in which the term is used in general, and being a complex in the way in which Jung defines the term. Jung defined a complex as a way in which unconscious bits of material created by a psychic wound that had been suppressed can come to the awareness of the conscious ego, and integrated into it to make the psyche more whole. Here, Chakotay can be said to have a complex, in that he is afraid of becoming like his grandfather, who was belittled because of his hallucinations. In the Jungian sense he can also be said to be a complex in that he is the way that the aliens that are native to this area of space can communicate through him to guide Voyager out of this location. By facing his resistance, or fear of being overwhelmed by the aliens, Chakotay is able to save the vessel and her crew. This can be analogized to how when the conscious ego, through a complex, acknowledges and integrates bits of unconscious material into itself, it becomes stronger and the psyche more whole.
Reference:
Menosky, J. (Writer), & Kolbe, W. (Director). (1999, March 24). The fight (Season 5, Episode 18) [TV series episode]. In B. Braga & R. Berman (Executive Producers), Star trek: Voyager. Paramount Television.
mydailysoultrek 