Week 10

How does Buffy deconstruct traditional literary notions of good and evil?

I chose to answer this question as it is an interesting one to look into. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has got the traditional ‘good vs evil’ theme going on, but it warps and changes the boundaries of this immensely. For example “Evil is often less fixed... with many characters demonstrating both decent and demonic traits and behaviours across episodes or seasons. ‘Good’ characters may develop in frighteningly sinister ways; while villainous ones may surprisingly reveal complex and even selfless motivations” (Braum, 2000). This happens all throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer seasons, with some characters (such as Spike) starting off as an ‘evil’ character, then becoming friends with Buffy and seeming to become ‘good’ character, and eventually to commit more bad acts to once again blur the line.

Another example of this happening in Buffy the Vampire slayer is her interactions with the character Angel. He was a somewhat morally ambiguous character, with a dark past, but he swiftly became a romantic interest for Buffy. They would often fight vampires together and he would be there when she needed help. Eventually they made love, and this awakened Angels ‘curse’ (triggered by perfect human happiness) which made him revert back to his vampire form to become one of Buffys greatest enemies. This is a clear example of how Buffy the Vampire Slayer lines to deconstruct the literary notions of good and evil. The relationship between Buffy and Angel clearly demonstrates the tension between love and aggression that can often occur in intimate relationships (Braum, 2000.)

The show clearly bases everything it’s about on this sort of blurring between good and evil. With Buffy the teenage girl who has to fight all sorts of villainous creatures, and her array of friends/foes who are often changing sides or doing acts that the traditional ‘good’ character wouldn’t do.

Braum, B. (2000) The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The ambiguity of evil in supernatural representations. Retrieved 18 October, 2005 from: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0412/is_2_28/ai_64688900