I've been reading through some Essays in http://slayageonline.com (It's a very good site for anyone who loves BTVS) And I happened upon this little titbit:
"Every Night I Save You: Buffy, Spike, Sex and Redemption." by Rhonda V. Wilcox:
"[that] since Angel is good because he possesses a soul, he still represents an essentialist definition of good." This is in contrast to the vampire Spike, who, she argues, "owns no human soul, yet repeatedly does good; if he can be seen as capable of change, capable of good, capable of love, then he can represent an existentialist definition of good" (paragraph 15).
Needless to say, this little statement got me thinking on a lot of things, particularly on the definition of "hero" in the BTVS.
Spike's existential hero status, is highly misleading. Firstly, because like Angel he too has a soul, thus in S7 and ATS S5 he too, became an "essentialist hero." Second, he had a chip in his head, which ultimately subjects his "free will" to the vicissitudes of his situation, making him, in a way, an essentialist and circumstantial hero ? and not an existentialist one. In fact, the only point where you can even vaguely consider Spike as an existentialist hero was when he was ATS S5, when he said that he was staying because: "It's the right thing to do."
Spike, soul or no soul, just doesn't have what it takes to be defined as an existentialist hero/villain, simply because he does not have the necessary insight in making conscious acts of Good and Evil. He is incapable of doing good or evil for its own sake, or simply out of conscious self-awareness. He always bases his actions on the needs of the moment, his relationships (Buffy, Dru, Fred, etc?), his circumstances, and/or the "prizes" (the Shanshu, His Soul, Buffy's affection, that Ring in S4). IMO
Angel/Angelus, on the other hand, are always concerned about the bigger picture ? always basing their actions on higher motivations (twisted ideals, in Angelus' case). Take note, that Angel's capacity for sacrifice is awesome (Connor, Fred, Buffy). What does this say about him?
To me, Angel's introspection and his ability to see the "bigger picture," is what makes him "Dangerous and Unpredictable." His fluid "grey area" morality, his isolated/sacrificial warrior mentality (reminiscent to that of Buffy's, Jack Bauer and Bruce Wayne personality), his willingness to create hard sacrifices is what typifies him as an existentialist. This self-awareness, coupled with a well-covered personality of ruthless single-mindedness, is what makes him the ultimate existentialist hero in the jossverse.
In short, Angel is an existentialist hero =
? Sacrifice,
? Ruthless,
? Love,
? Vindictive,
? Ability to see the bigger picture,
? Fight because you want to become, and not because you want to have.
Now, on to the anti-hero discussion. Anti-heroes are generally defined as heroes who perform good deeds through questionable, Machiavellian tactics, OR for dubious motives. I will not contend that Spike is an Anti-hero. Angel, on the other hand is an interesting case.
Angel is the epitome of a hero fighting against himself. Spike doesn't seem to have that problem because he doesn't really think about his "former" existence all that much (IMO this does not make him any less of a hero, it does, however, prevent him from being more effective). Darla? well, she willingly wanted to be a vamp ? it was her conscious choice.
I always encounter this issue about Angel "wallowing in his guilt." I won't argue with this statement, but rather, I want to delve into it a little deeper. Why is he wallowing in his guilt? And, How much of Angelus is still in Angel (there's a lot of unsouled Spike in Souled Spike, and the same is true with human Darla)?
This how I answered the first question, Angel wallows in his guilt and broods a lot because he still thinks and feels like Angelus. Self-Hatred is an interesting aspect of an Anti- Hero, and Angel certainly has it to a tee. It was only in S5 that he had learned to live with all of this ? to stop hating himself.
But prior to that, this self hatred was a sort of double edged sword. On the one hand, it drew the line of where Angel ends and where angelus begins. On the other hand, this has made Angel brood and has caused him to be somewhat below optimum level (I ran out of words, okay! Give me a break).
Why? Because he doesn't want to use the same tactics, the same weapons (metaphorically speaking) or the same leverage that Angelus would use. Let's face it, Angel is dangerous, sure, but Angelus is so much more deadly and manipulative. I mean, let's take BTVS angel and pit him against BTVS angelus. Who would win? My money's on Angelus.
Which brings us to the next question. How much of Angelus is in Angel? IMO. A lot.
That is why, Angel hates himself. That is why he broods all the time (You can't really have a healthy personality if you're constantly staring at yourself in the mirror). But at the same time, that is what makes Angel very effective as a "champion." He is capable, and willing, of facing the darkness in it's purest form ? in his soul. It was only when Angel managed to find peace with the darkness within, to "conquer" it that he has managed to realise his full potential; but it had also turned him a little darker. And though that may be true, it curiously, doesn't seem to make him any less of a champion. Thus ? anti hero.
Spike on the other hand seems to rationalise his unsouled version's deeds ? he doesn't think about it all that much IMO. Does this make him a better champion? The circle of the Black Thorn didn't seem to think so: "Spike's not a threat you are."
"Every Night I Save You: Buffy, Spike, Sex and Redemption." by Rhonda V. Wilcox:
"[that] since Angel is good because he possesses a soul, he still represents an essentialist definition of good." This is in contrast to the vampire Spike, who, she argues, "owns no human soul, yet repeatedly does good; if he can be seen as capable of change, capable of good, capable of love, then he can represent an existentialist definition of good" (paragraph 15).
Needless to say, this little statement got me thinking on a lot of things, particularly on the definition of "hero" in the BTVS.
Spike's existential hero status, is highly misleading. Firstly, because like Angel he too has a soul, thus in S7 and ATS S5 he too, became an "essentialist hero." Second, he had a chip in his head, which ultimately subjects his "free will" to the vicissitudes of his situation, making him, in a way, an essentialist and circumstantial hero ? and not an existentialist one. In fact, the only point where you can even vaguely consider Spike as an existentialist hero was when he was ATS S5, when he said that he was staying because: "It's the right thing to do."
Spike, soul or no soul, just doesn't have what it takes to be defined as an existentialist hero/villain, simply because he does not have the necessary insight in making conscious acts of Good and Evil. He is incapable of doing good or evil for its own sake, or simply out of conscious self-awareness. He always bases his actions on the needs of the moment, his relationships (Buffy, Dru, Fred, etc?), his circumstances, and/or the "prizes" (the Shanshu, His Soul, Buffy's affection, that Ring in S4). IMO
Angel/Angelus, on the other hand, are always concerned about the bigger picture ? always basing their actions on higher motivations (twisted ideals, in Angelus' case). Take note, that Angel's capacity for sacrifice is awesome (Connor, Fred, Buffy). What does this say about him?
To me, Angel's introspection and his ability to see the "bigger picture," is what makes him "Dangerous and Unpredictable." His fluid "grey area" morality, his isolated/sacrificial warrior mentality (reminiscent to that of Buffy's, Jack Bauer and Bruce Wayne personality), his willingness to create hard sacrifices is what typifies him as an existentialist. This self-awareness, coupled with a well-covered personality of ruthless single-mindedness, is what makes him the ultimate existentialist hero in the jossverse.
In short, Angel is an existentialist hero =
? Sacrifice,
? Ruthless,
? Love,
? Vindictive,
? Ability to see the bigger picture,
? Fight because you want to become, and not because you want to have.
Now, on to the anti-hero discussion. Anti-heroes are generally defined as heroes who perform good deeds through questionable, Machiavellian tactics, OR for dubious motives. I will not contend that Spike is an Anti-hero. Angel, on the other hand is an interesting case.
Angel is the epitome of a hero fighting against himself. Spike doesn't seem to have that problem because he doesn't really think about his "former" existence all that much (IMO this does not make him any less of a hero, it does, however, prevent him from being more effective). Darla? well, she willingly wanted to be a vamp ? it was her conscious choice.
I always encounter this issue about Angel "wallowing in his guilt." I won't argue with this statement, but rather, I want to delve into it a little deeper. Why is he wallowing in his guilt? And, How much of Angelus is still in Angel (there's a lot of unsouled Spike in Souled Spike, and the same is true with human Darla)?
This how I answered the first question, Angel wallows in his guilt and broods a lot because he still thinks and feels like Angelus. Self-Hatred is an interesting aspect of an Anti- Hero, and Angel certainly has it to a tee. It was only in S5 that he had learned to live with all of this ? to stop hating himself.
But prior to that, this self hatred was a sort of double edged sword. On the one hand, it drew the line of where Angel ends and where angelus begins. On the other hand, this has made Angel brood and has caused him to be somewhat below optimum level (I ran out of words, okay! Give me a break).
Why? Because he doesn't want to use the same tactics, the same weapons (metaphorically speaking) or the same leverage that Angelus would use. Let's face it, Angel is dangerous, sure, but Angelus is so much more deadly and manipulative. I mean, let's take BTVS angel and pit him against BTVS angelus. Who would win? My money's on Angelus.
Which brings us to the next question. How much of Angelus is in Angel? IMO. A lot.
That is why, Angel hates himself. That is why he broods all the time (You can't really have a healthy personality if you're constantly staring at yourself in the mirror). But at the same time, that is what makes Angel very effective as a "champion." He is capable, and willing, of facing the darkness in it's purest form ? in his soul. It was only when Angel managed to find peace with the darkness within, to "conquer" it that he has managed to realise his full potential; but it had also turned him a little darker. And though that may be true, it curiously, doesn't seem to make him any less of a champion. Thus ? anti hero.
Spike on the other hand seems to rationalise his unsouled version's deeds ? he doesn't think about it all that much IMO. Does this make him a better champion? The circle of the Black Thorn didn't seem to think so: "Spike's not a threat you are."
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