"Gul Dukat: a Character Analysis"
by JustWriter
Gul Dukat is a difficult man to understand, but that should be expected considering his Cardassian upbringing. Once you've seen him in his darkest moments though, his needs and desires become clear.
I'll try my best not to use metaphors, as they could be considered insulting, and that's the last thing I'd ever want to happen if he came to our world from an alternate universe and reads what I have to say abut him; not because I fear him, but because I respect him.
He lives for a social or political problem to solve and is remarkably good at finding or making a situation for him to do just that. He loathes peace, because it provides him with fewer opportunities for him to do so.
He loves his daughter Xial, as he should considering how important family is to Cardassians. He feels an obligation to her just as she does for him, but they don't seem to let family get in the way of their own agendas.
You may find what I am writing to be ludicrous or you may agree with me, but Gul Dukat is not a bad man; unfortunately he isn't a good one either. He always makes decisions that will save his own neck and that of his own people. He is very loyal to Cardassia, but not as most humans would see it. He wishes to preserve a prosperous future for Cardassia and its people, but doesn't see a problem with manipulating them in order to do it.
When things aren't going exactly as he planned he speaks harshly, has long reflective silences, and is very unpredictable to an extent. He can never decide for long what he desires, what he wants. He absolutely loves being in a position of power, but only in order to control his own fate. He'll never admit to not liking to be alone, and no matter what he'd have you believe with some ridiculous front, he doesn't have a compassionate bone in his body. He does his best to eliminate all threats to him and Cardassia and because of this he doesn't appreciate Sisco's restraint when it interferes with his Cardassian thoroughness.