Admiral Jarroc as a Traitor :: Star Trek Essays Papers

Admiral Jarroc as a Traitor In the Star Trek episode of "The Defector," Admiral Jarroc betrayed the Romulans by giving out his own empire state's information concerning a base being built in the neutral zone. For the sake of Admiral Jarroc's circumstance, he did not know whether he was being tested for his loyalty. According to R. H. Webster College Dictionary, a traitor is someone who commits treason by betraying his or her country. A loyal person will not reveal vital information to gain his or her personal advantages as Jarroc did to protect his family. Jarroc displayed his dishonesty first when he gave a false name and then destroyed his vessel before the Federation could examine it. This incident causes Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew members to have doubts regarding Jarroc's honesty. Then Admiral Jarroc told the Federation about an illegal base being built. The Romulans are building a military base too close to the Federation and this will cause a war to break out instantly. Jarroc also has no real evidence about the plans of a base being constructed in that area. On the other hand, he told Picard that he saw reports and work orders for the military base being planned out by the chief of the Romulans. Not only did Jarroc commit treason, his emotions played an important role in his decisions. To the Romulans officials, Jarroc is a traitor because he revealed secret information pertaining the illegal base to the their enemy. The reason why Jarroc betrayed his country is to save his daughter. For the safety of his daughter and the other Romulans, Jarroc released the information to the Federation hoping they can stop the construction of the military base that can cause war. Any loyal soldiers would have sacrifice anything for their empire. Jarroc let his emotions interfere with loyalty according to Joe Chung, "The Romulans are a race which the same ancestors as the Vulcans. The main difference between these two races is that the Vulcans are 100% logical and the Romulans act on their feelings." As you can see Romulans react to their emotion too and Jarroc is not any different from the rest of them. This explains why Jarroc's action committed this treason. Emotions can influence a person's decision and Jarroc happens to fallen within the characteristic of a traitor. According to my beliefs, Jarroc is a traitor because he betrayed his country or empire within the boundaries of danger.