The world of the Buffyverse is full of guilt and redemption. The character arcs of Angel, Spike and Faith are forwarded through the force of guilt and redemption. Buffy also has issues with guilt, but her feelings of shame are mostly focused on sexual issues. The narrative surrounding her carnal activities often depict her dealing with remorse afterwards. This isn’t necessarily focused on traditional or puritanical notions of sex, but out of these situations she becomes a better person and an empathetic hero who isn’t perfect.
Within Kenneth Burke’s Dramatism, the concept of the Guilt and Redemption Cycle was developed. Burke viewed the ultimate motivation of rhetoric is to purge feelings of guilt. According to Burke, redemption is gained through two forms of victimage, mortification and scapegoating. Mortification is the act of blaming oneself and scapegoating is blaming external forces for problems.
During the run of the series, Buffy has sex with four different men. When she has sex for the first time with three of these partners, guilt is brought out within her and she must find ways to alleviate herself of the guilt. Buffy uses both forms of victimage in all three situations to release her of her guilt, but she never becomes a victim in the traditional sense of the word.
Buffy’s sexual relationships with Angel, Parker and Spike bring on feelings of guilt. In all three instances, she faces sexual guilt for many different reasons. Buffy deals with her remorse through mortification and scapegoating in both physical and psychological ways. I will cover each of these relationships in future posts.
The Guilt and Redemption Cycle is a recurring theme regarding Buffy’s sex life. Through the progression of the story Buffy finds redemption and purges herself of guilt in each instance. Her resolution of guilt is not easy, redemption is eventually earned, and she comes out with strength and maturity. Sex and guilt have been linked throughout history and the metaphoric telling of the narrative doesn’t allow her sexual activity to devalue her as a woman and a hero. Buffy’s ability to rise above these emotions under extraordinary circumstances is admirable and in itself heroic. These experiences, at times, make Buffy seem weak, but the instances of sex and guilt are opportunities to show flaws as well as bravery in character, superpowers not withstanding.
Within Kenneth Burke’s Dramatism, the concept of the Guilt and Redemption Cycle was developed. Burke viewed the ultimate motivation of rhetoric is to purge feelings of guilt. According to Burke, redemption is gained through two forms of victimage, mortification and scapegoating. Mortification is the act of blaming oneself and scapegoating is blaming external forces for problems.
During the run of the series, Buffy has sex with four different men. When she has sex for the first time with three of these partners, guilt is brought out within her and she must find ways to alleviate herself of the guilt. Buffy uses both forms of victimage in all three situations to release her of her guilt, but she never becomes a victim in the traditional sense of the word.
Buffy’s sexual relationships with Angel, Parker and Spike bring on feelings of guilt. In all three instances, she faces sexual guilt for many different reasons. Buffy deals with her remorse through mortification and scapegoating in both physical and psychological ways. I will cover each of these relationships in future posts.
The Guilt and Redemption Cycle is a recurring theme regarding Buffy’s sex life. Through the progression of the story Buffy finds redemption and purges herself of guilt in each instance. Her resolution of guilt is not easy, redemption is eventually earned, and she comes out with strength and maturity. Sex and guilt have been linked throughout history and the metaphoric telling of the narrative doesn’t allow her sexual activity to devalue her as a woman and a hero. Buffy’s ability to rise above these emotions under extraordinary circumstances is admirable and in itself heroic. These experiences, at times, make Buffy seem weak, but the instances of sex and guilt are opportunities to show flaws as well as bravery in character, superpowers not withstanding.
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2 comments:
Have you read Lewis Call's work on the kinky aspect of _Buffy_? A really good read. So is Dee Amy-Chinn's essay. I look forward to reading your other posts!
I'll have to check those out. Thanks for reading.
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