The Only True Gift
| Meta | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Only True Gift |
| Creator: | Sarah Emerson |
| Date(s): | June/July 1978 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Only True Gift is a Star Trek: TOS essay by Sarah Emerson.
It was published in Omicorn in the June/July 1978 issue.
The topic was James T. Kirk (TOS), a character the author felt was neglected.
Some Topics Discussed
- while there are stories (and at least one article) about Kirk, they don't really delve into his character
- stories are mostly about Spock, and how he is constantly rescuing Kirk
- Kirk is like "all icebergs, 90% always lies beneath the waves"
- Kirk is a "giver" and the places he gives is The United Federation of Planets - Starfleet, his crew, McCoy, and Spock
- Kirk has taught Spock to feel, and that emotions are not bad
From the Essay
I've read quite a few 'zines with articles devoted to every thing from, the planet Argos to that lady from the past, Zaraheth. In all those' zines, however, there is a marked lack of interest shown in the man who I consider, has shown himself to be 'all things to all men' — James T. Kirk. I know that there is someone reading this who is at, this moment saying, I've got a zine with stories all about him. I'm not saying they don't exist, merely that like Spock's emotions, they don't surface all that often. I've read a few stories and one article all about Kirk. However, these stories all tend to cast him in the role of a reasonably intelligent man who seems to rely heavily on Spock to rescue him from various dire straits. The article was also typical, brief and scathing, written by a Spock fan of the worst kind - those who only see Spock and totally ignore the contribution made by the people both collectively and individually around him, who shape and help to reveal the Spock we eventually see.
In this very short piece I would like to redress the balance a little by writing about one aspect of Kirk that I can personally see. Time and space dictate that one aspect is all that can be written at present and I had a very difficult task in trying to separate one part of his character from the multitude of parts that go to make up the whole.
In the opening paragraph, I said that James T. Kirk was all things to all men. An extravagant claim? No, I don't think so. There are three main groups - the takers, the givers, and the rest, who are roughly composed of equal portions of both. Captain James Kirk is a giver and it is this characteristic that I would like to touch on now. It's easier to see what he gives by looking at a few of the recipients.
It is safe to say that the crew of the USS Enterprise, from the newest ensign up to Commander Spock himself admire, respect, and yes, even love him. They are prepared to do anything for him because he has shown the same willingness to do the same for them. He has the qualities which make them realise the kind of person they could be. Even though he is quite young to have risen to the dizzy heights of a Starship Captain he has not lost the ability to place himself in the shoes of his crew. He gives them 100% attention, effort, and co-operation twenty four hours a day, if need be. He cares about their morale, their happiness and their lives - and they know it, as they also know that the death of any of his crew affects him personally. He can share their friendship, when and where it's offered, talk with them and share a joke, without losing that all important commodity - respect. He gives them strong leadership, a decisive personality, reliability. They may be afraid of a situation, but, they trust him.
By his example and attitude to aliens he has given them a broader outlook on the Universe as a whole. No longer is Chekov so ready to resort to his tried and tested action of 'shoot first and ask questions later.' Kirk has tried to show them that all life forms are worthy of respect and that they all have something to contribute both to the Federation and to themselves as individuals. By his ever growing friendship with Spock he shows, them that just because the first officer is an. alien doesn't mean that the two men cannot be friends and equals. Kirk often points out (though not as often as Spock) that, Vulcans are superior to Humans and that the Vulcans consider that they are doing us a favour by being friends! Not that I mean to imply that their friendship is designed. The two would have been friends anyway because they are two of a kind. It's just that Kirk's attitude is the important thing here because without his continued effort in the beginning the friendship might have not existed in the form, we now see it.
Probably the greatest gift given to Spock is the way Kirk has taught the Vulcan by his own actions, his thoughts and conversations, his ability to give - that to reveal emotions is not a sign of weakness. Spock has seen his Captain laugh, cry, get angry and embarrassed without losing any of the respect and admiration of the people around him. In fact, people seem to care more for Kirk because he shows he has feelings. Certainly without Kirk's vital contribution, in terms of friendship and giving, the Spock we see today would be totally unrecognisable.