Object
Data's Antique Sonnet
A single antique sonnet on yellowed paper — a small folded leaflet or slim pamphlet with faded ink, frayed edges, and creases from frequent private reading. It sits in a loose pile on Data's desk until Commander Maddox snatches it up, brandishing the fragile sheet as a deliberate provocation that transforms a technical dispute into a moral confrontation and helps catalyze Data's defence of memory and his resignation.
3 appearances
Purpose
To collect and preserve sonnets for private reading and reflection; functions as a personal literary memento within an individual's possessions.
Significance
Serves as the immediate provocation that shifts a technical dispute into an ethical confrontation. The sonnet functions as tangible evidence of Data's interiority and private life, anchoring questions about memory, personhood, and the sanctity of personal artifacts; its removal precipitates Data's moral stand and resignation.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used