WK 10: How does Buffy deconstruct traditional literary notions of good and evil?

Beth Braum wrote a critical essay about the ‘Ambiguity of Evil in Supernatural Representations,’ and compares the actions of both characters in both TV series Buffy the Vampires Slayer and The X-Files. In the case of Buffy, Braum pressures on several important points that show how Buffy breaks the stereotypical notion of what good and evil truly is, and also details how the series purposely instills ambiguous perceptions of good and evil to serve its own agenda. As Braum noted, “moral ambiguity” is the core idea of her critical essay, and how this relates to the traditional literary notions of good and evil.

Author Braum initially starts by discussing how the newer representations of supernatural TV series have a specific moral ambiguity that many inhuman beings and ordinary characters may sometimes portray. In addition, she also mentions how these ambiguities also seem to intertwine with themes related to sexuality and gender.

For example, she mentions that, “Both Buffy and The X-Files use sexual tension between various characters to drive the narrative,” moreover she goes on to state that, “In these representations, good and evil are every-shifting qualities.” In the case of Buffy, a young attractive girl who is suppose to represent ‘good’ is slaying ‘evil’ vampires finds herself in a predicament of falling in love with someone who some might think of as evil, Angel.

At first, Braum explains that in the series, Angel was first considered a tortured soul that needed someone like Buffy to care for him. When Buffy and Angel retreat to his apartment, they finally made love for the very first time. Braum explains, “Unbeknownst to them, Angel’s curse held that if he ever experienced a moment of ‘perfect human happiness,’ the spell would be lifted.” Little did the viewers watching that very same episode that his spell would transform him from a “tortured soul into a soulless demon.”

Braum compares this shift in relationship between Buffy and Angel to the psychoanalytical theory of Melanie Klein, which studies how “infants ‘split’ their mothers into good and bad ‘objects.’” She further details this same idea to relate it to “the tension between love and aggression that is often present in intimate relationships.” But, what makes Buffy different from the rest of the TV shows, “is that is portrays these psychoanalytically charged themes so effectively through the use of supernatural muthology. Furthermore this moral ambiguity within the main characters is reflected in the development of others on the show…”

Similarly, author Braum also points out to several examples of obstacles that love/hate relationships that are found between Scully and Mulder, in The X-Files. For example, she mentions the “portrayal of the love-hate relationship between the human protagonists and the alien/monstrous other.” Braum then differentiates this notion of good over evil that The X-Files may portray with agent Scully because of her ‘susceptibility’ was indirectly hinted at rather than being part of the plotline.

Furthermore, the themes of both good and evil are similarly used interchangeably depending on how they are portrayed. The barriers of stereotypical ideas about good or evil are broken. The sense of ambiguity of the norms is purposely done to make the audience ponder the thought about evil not being so evil after all, or even pondering the thought of doing “evil” for the “greater good” scenarios.

Finally, Braum notes, “they have in common an acknowledgement of the aggression within ordinary people and tendency to explore themes of good and evil through supernatural narratives incorporating complicated relationships between morality, sexuality, and gender.”

In Buffys world, it is clear that the traditional literary notion of good and evil is not of the norm. Buffy’s moral consciousness heavily conflicts with her actions of intuition and instinct; which might oppose the moral beliefs that any human might be used to. The borders of evil and good are very thin, and sometimes coincide with one another. Buffy has a Machiavellian way of dealing with things, “the ends justify the means.”

Reference:

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_m0 412/is_2_28/ai_64688900