Mr. Spock

Spock is perhaps the best-known character in the original Star Trek series and a favorite to many. He is the embodiment of the age-old internal battle between logic and emotion.

On most occasions, Spock does manage to keep his emotions in check. Being raised on the planet Vulcan by a Vulcan father and a human mother, Spock was taught that the display of emotion was shameful and stood in the way of the qualities the Vulcan people prize: logic and efficiency. Thus Spock is of a cool, calm, and rational disposition. When Spock finds himself in command, he strives to run the Enterprise with utmost efficiency. In these situations, however, efficiency comes at a price. Spock has difficultly making personal judgment calls, and some crewmembers object to his relentless rationalization, as in "The Galileo Seven" and "The Tholian Web".

Despite his reserved manner, Spock isn't a completely unfriendly person. He is kind in a diplomatic sense to nearly everyone he meets, and he shows a great deal of compassion and respect to those closest to him. Spock isn't without a sense of humor either. He is quite clever and witty in his speech, though the humour of Spock's character frequently springs from his inability to comprehend the 'illogical' behavior and customs of human beings.

The Vulcan's ultimate antagonist in this regard is one Dr. McCoy, who taunts and teases him every waking hour, but Spock often delights in outwitting McCoy during their light-hearted banters. Although the two appear to despise each other, they are actually good friends. This relationship is explored on a deeper level in "Bread and Circuses" and "All Our Yesterdays", among other episodes.

Spock's emotions do surface at several points during the series. In "The Naked Time," he breaks down in a briefing room, weeping over the fact that he could never display emotion as a child despite his human heritage; he couldn't even tell his mother he loved her. In "Amok Time," the Vulcan can't resist cracking a big smile at seeing his captain alive. In "This Side of Paradise," under the influence of the spores, he falls in love with the beautiful Leila Kalomi, hangs from a tree, mouths off to Kirk, and later, with Kirk's provocation, beats his captain up. Of course, this behavior ends when the spores leave his system.

The most intense displays of emotion from Spock usually occur during the Vulcan mind meld, a technique which uses the limited telepathic ability possesed by a Vulcan to merge with the mind of another personal, animal, or even machine. This technique is used to gain tactical information and insight. However, mind melds cannot be considered true displays of Spock's character, since his subject usually speaks and acts through him.

As a half-Vulcan, Spock also has superior strength, vision, hearing (thanks to a notorious pair of pointed ears), and mental capacity when compared to the average human. He is able to render people unconscious with the Vulcan nerve pinch, a technique which applies pressure to the lower neck and shoulder. Since Vulcans abhor violence, Spock prefers to use the quick, simple neck pinch instead of engaging in hand-to-hand combat with his opponents.

Spock plays the Vulcan lute. Once every seven years, Spock experiences Pon Farr, the Vulcan mating drive. In "Amok Time," Spock must return to Vulcan to engage in the mating ritual, or die. Kirk defies orders and risks his position by taking Spock to the planet, proving the captain's close friendship with his first officer. They are almost always together on away missions, and Spock is at his most relaxed and casual around Kirk, even calling him by the informal name of Jim. Spock is, in turn, Kirk's voice of reason when the captain becomes too irrational or fixated, as seen is episodes like "The Conscience of the King" and "The Devil in the Dark."

The Star Trek films give Spock the opportunity to learn to balance his logical and emotional sides. His death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn and rebirth in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock give him a chance to begin anew. His arc of development in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home sees him attempting to come to terms with his dual heritage, and by Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, he has it pretty well worked out. He displays emotion when it's logical to do so.

It isn't difficult to see why the character of Spock has become known and loved all over the world. Many people can sympathize with his emotional angst and admire his quick reasoning and wit.