Elim Garak
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Elim Garak was a character in the fictional Star Trek: Deep Space Nine universe, played by Andrew Robinson. He was technically classified as a recurring character but many fans considered him to be a regular given his importance to the story arc and his presence in many episodes. Through the development of the character, viewers of the series became more familiar with the Cardassians, making them less of a stereotypical "villainous species" and more an accumulation of individuals with distinct personalities. Like many other Star Trek characters, Garak has a complicated good/evil duality. Although he is portrayed initially as a deceitful, unprincipled Machiavellian capable of torture and murder, he eventually becomes one of the series' heroes.
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Overview
Formative Years
Elim Garak was born on Cardassia Prime. Enabran Tain was his father, but very little else about his background is known from the series. In the non-canon novel A Stitch in Time it was revealed that his mother was Tain's housekeeper Mila. He was raised by Mila and Tolan Garak who lived in Tain's house. Tolan was not his biological father, however. He did not learn, until much later on, that Tolan was his uncle, and Tain was his real father.
A quick learner and an excellent student, Garak attended the prestigious military training school of Bamarren as a young man. Most of the skills and traits associated with Garak can be said to have been picked up at Bamarren. He rose through the ranks and gained the respect of his peers and teachers, though he was ultimately betrayed by Palandine, who later became his lover. Garak was often punished as a child by being locked in a cupboard. It is believed this is the root of his later claustrophobia. These events were formative to his character and general disposition.
After Bamarren, Garak began his career at the Obsidian Order, one of the premiere intelligence agencies of the Alpha Quadrant. Always a quick learner, he proved exceptional at his job and rapidly increased in rank and influence, becoming the right hand man of Enabran Tain, head of the Obsidian Order.
Exile
At the peak of his power and career, Garak was perceived to have succumbed to sentimentality and tried to meet with Palandine. He was caught and, because of his father's important role in Cardassian society, was exiled from Cardassia Prime. He chose to locate to Deep Space 9, then still Cardassian and called Terok Nor. During the withdrawal of Bajor by the Cardassians, Garak was deceived and left to the mercy of the Bajorans. He soon after tried in vain to win the favour of his government by spying on the Bajor-Federation negotiations. Garak has since made use of his extensive knowledge and abilities in aiding the Federation on numerous occasions.
On Deep Space 9, Garak went into business as a tailor. Several other characters suspected that his tailor's shop was a mere front and he was still working for the Obsidian Order. Garak had also, supposedly, served as an undercover operative for the order in the past; he revealed to Odo that he was a gardener at the Cardassian embassy on Romulus. (Coincidentaly, several Romulan diplomats died that same year.) On several occasions, Garak denied having ever been involved with espionage, claiming he was just "plain, simple Garak" and that his difficulties with the Cardassian government were a result of tax evasion.
Garak was a practiced liar, and had a rare gift for obfuscation.
Garak was frequently at odds with Gul Dukat, the station's former commander. This was due to the fact that, as a member of the Obsidian Order, Garak was responsible for the execution of Dukat's father.
After the Federation started administering the station, Garak struck up a friendship with Dr. Julian Bashir. While his exact motives for choosing Bashir are unknown, it is known that Garak wanted a Federation officer with whom he could regularly exchange "back channel" information with the Federation while keeping in communication with his contacts on Cardassia. Captain Sisko encouraged Bashir to pursue the relationship, although warning Bashir that Garak was probably not to be trusted. Bashir was most likely chosen because of his naïveté, intelligence, and trusting nature. However, despite the nature of their clandestine relationship, Garak and Bashir grew to be good friends despite their cultural and personality differences. The two often shared lunch together, where they discussed politics, the arts, and other topics. Their friendship grew deeper, probably because of their mutual abilities to excel at conversation.
The Dominion War
Garak provided essential intelligence on Cardassia to the Federation during the Dominion War. His unique abilities can be said to have influenced the outcome of the war in the episode "In the Pale Moonlight" by getting the Romulans to abandon their neutrality and fight alongside the Federation by making his assassination of a pro-Dominion senator look like the work of the Cardassians. He also assisted the Federation victory at the Chintoka system in the episode "Tears of the Prophets".
The extensive help given to the Federation against his own people led to his mental breakdown, though he believed he was ultimately helping Cardassia by assisting the Federation in defeating the Dominion. He later directly participated in fomenting an anti-Dominion revolution on Cardassia alongside Kira and Damar.
Despite the efforts of Gul Dukat, Garak pursued a relationship with Dukat's daughter Tora Ziyal when she sought refuge on DS9 after her rescue from the Breen. Ziyal fell in love with Garak, but he often called her interest "misguided." When they were separated during the Dominion occupation of DS9, they realized they loved each other. Ziyal's eventual rejection of her father's wishes led to her death at the hands of Dukat's aide Corat Damar when the Federation was on the verge of re-occupying the station.
Post-War Involvement
The Federation-led alliance won the war and Garak returned to his people. What was supposed to be his moment of triumph turned into a pyrrhic victory given the death of 1 billion Cardassians and the destruction of much of Cardassia Prime's infrastructure.
Garak has since assisted in the rebuilding and recovery of Cardassia, while also supporting democratic reforms for its government. He believes that the Dominion War and destruction of Cardassia was partially caused by its military-led government.
The Deep Space Nine novel A Stitch In Time, written by Robinson, is supposedly Garak's memoir, and gives a great deal of information about his past and current circumstances. While the novels are not officially considered part of the Star Trek canon, this book can, given its author, be considered a fairly definitive portrait of the character. As such, much of this information was obtained from his book. Garak's memoirs,of course, contain an ironic post-series twist; a memoir written by a practiced liar is questionable history, at best.
Memorable quotes
From "Past Prologue"
Doctor Julian Bashir: You're Mister Garak, aren't you?
Garak: No, please, just plain, simple, Garak.
From "Cardassians"
Garak: I believe in coincidence. Coincidences happen every day. But I don't trust coincidences.
From "Profit and Loss"
Bashir: Assuming you're not a spy...
Garak: Assuming?
Bashir: ...Then you might be an outcast.
Garak: Or maybe I'm an outcast spy.
Bashir: How could you be both?
Garak: I never said I was either.
From "The Wire"
Bashir: So of the stories you told me, which ones were true?
Garak: My dear doctor, all of them were true.
Bashir: What about the lies?
Garak: Especially the lies.
From "The Way of the Warrior"
Garak (Shooting attacking Klingons with phaser): I find this hand to hand combat really quite distasteful.
Dukat (Fighting two Klingons with bat'leth): I suppose you would prefer the simplicity of an interrogation chamber.
Garak: You have to admit, it's much more civilized!
From "The Way of the Warrior"
(After Garak was attacked by several Klingons)
Bashir: They broke seven of your transverse ribs and fractured your clavicle!
Garak: Ah, but I got off several cutting remarks which no doubt did serious damage to their egos.
From "Our Man Bashir"
Garak: Kiss the girl, get the key! They never taught me that in the Obsidian Order!
From "Improbable Cause"
(Bashir tells the story of the boy who cried "Wolf")
Bashir: If you lie all the time, no one is going to believe you, even when you're telling the truth.
Garak: Are you sure that's the point, Doctor?
Bashir: Of course. What else would it be?
Garak: That you should never tell the same lie twice.
From "Call to Arms"
Odo: You'd shoot a man in the back?
Garak: It's the safest way, isn't it?
From "By Inferno's Light"
Garak: I only wish I were still a member of the Obsidian Order. This would make a wonderful interrogation chamber. Tight quarters, no air, bad lighting, random electric shocks, it's perfect.
From "In Purgatory's Shadow"
Garak: Lying is a skill like any other, and if you want to maintain a level of excellence, you have to practice constantly.
Appearances
Garak appeared in the following episodes:
Season 1
- Past Prologue
Season 2
- Cardassians
- Profit and Loss
- The Wire
- Crossover
Season 3
- The Search, part II
- Second Skin
- Civil Defense
- Distant Voices
- Through the Looking Glass
- Improbable Cause
- The Die Is Cast
Season 4
- The Way of the Warrior, part I
- The Way of the Warrior, part II
- Our Man Bashir
- Shattered Mirror
- For the Cause
- Body Parts
- Broken Link
Season 5
- Things Past
- In Purgatory's Shadow
- By Inferno's Light
- Empok Nor
- Call to Arms
Season 6
- A Time to Stand
- Rocks and Shoals
- Favor the Bold
- Sacrifice of Angels
- In the Pale Moonlight
- Tears of the Prophets
Season 7
- Afterimage
- The Emperor's New Cloak
- Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
- When it Rains...
- Tacking into the Wind
- Extreme Measures
- The Dogs of War
- What You Leave Behind, part I
- What You Leave Behind, part II
External links
- Template:Memoryalpha
- A list of 10 "Great Garak Episodes" at StarTrek.com
- A brief Elim Garak Biography at StarTrek.com