I like your idea that the soul is simply a prod to conscience and that redemption is possible without it :-) - very well argued!
Good definition of the Anima - have you considered looking at the Platonic ideal as well, that the possessor of what is necessary for the divided soul of each to be complete may be of any sex, any age?
*just call me Devil's Advocate, here, because I actually agree with your definition...*
Oh wow, thanks for the compliment! You know how I was two days ago, and thinking it was due yesterday didn't help either! LOL
Well yes, I think that Spike came to change the view of what is a soul in the Buffyverse. In fact his story arc is nothing but perfection from any theorical POV we may analyse it! Angel is interesting too.
No, I hadn't know of that thing regarding the platonic ideal. I think that the fact is that most people in the world do find unity and balance in a relationship with the opposite sex so I would give more weight to Jung's idea of anima/animus.
But I got a book with many excepts from multiple philosophers -such as Plato- that I intended to read for this essay but didn't have the time cause I started a new job last week. You did a better work in researching philosophy for your essay! :D
I always thought that William/Spike was more advanced then Angel. Angel was barely into his twenties when he was turned and he was a selfish child. But Spike was a man even though he was a lost soul.
Anyway, I still think Spike is more advanced than Angel. He chose a soul and love while Angel remains afraid of both.
I haven't read the comic series continuation of the series. So who knows how Whedon will finally end this triangle.
Thanks my dear for the praise and the comment. Mm, yes in the bottom we all know this is it. It takes some marbles to love like that. I admire such determination and fearlessness. I guess only time will tell. But I doubt the comics is a place to tie up all the loose ends. Maybe a movie, and then I still doubt it. We need the series back.
This is a fascinating article, Darynthe...I find the whole question of Buffyverse souls to be one of the most interesting aspects of the shows. (I mostly write fic about this, rather than meta...but maybe for the metathon...)
However, I'm a little in the dark, as the anima is not a concept I'm deeply familiar with. It would have helped had you included a little more background information on the subject to make it clearer what kind of deficiency not having an anima would mean.
You should try writing on it for the metathon. I haven't seen much exploration regarding the christian aspects of the soul.
I will be happy to expand on the anima thing. But in general it relates to feminine qualities. I will make a post on it when I have more time and let you know if you are still interested. Thanks!
I'm actually considering that. I'm actually not all that in-the-know on classical concepts of the soul, but I do have some other ideas that might be interesting.
I have a general idea of what the anima is, just not why it's so important. I guarantee you I'll stay interested.
Great entry - and I love the idea of Spike being destiny-free and thus allowed to live an existentialist rather than a predeterminist life. That's what I always thought too, and why he so easily shrugged off not being the 'chosen' vampire in season 5 of AtS.
Very interesting essay! I love the way you pull together diverse concepts and come up with fresh interpretations of thorny issues.
Angel and Spike... also represent a lost function of the collective unconscious, an archetype.
Interesting! I'd like to hear more about this.
The BtVS series relied from its beginnings on the notion of predetermination of destiny. Starting with the curse of Buffy being the Chosen One, to the fact that she had a prophecy to fulfil.
Fascinating place to start a consideration of the soul. I love that you brought this idea into it.
As Joss Whedon said, and I agree totally here, in the Buffyverse, the soul was the moral compass. A souled individual was naturally compelled towards goodness and a soulless one compelled towards evil by their very nature.Hmm, I wonder if when he said "moral compass," he didn't mean more that a souled individual would have an innate understanding of his actions as good or evil, while an unsouled individual would not. The souled being would have the awareness of - and
( ... )
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I like your idea that the soul is simply a prod to conscience and that redemption is possible without it :-) - very well argued!
Good definition of the Anima - have you considered looking at the Platonic ideal as well, that the possessor of what is necessary for the divided soul of each to be complete may be of any sex, any age?
*just call me Devil's Advocate, here, because I actually agree with your definition...*
:-) xx
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Well yes, I think that Spike came to change the view of what is a soul in the Buffyverse. In fact his story arc is nothing but perfection from any theorical POV we may analyse it! Angel is interesting too.
No, I hadn't know of that thing regarding the platonic ideal. I think that the fact is that most people in the world do find unity and balance in a relationship with the opposite sex so I would give more weight to Jung's idea of anima/animus.
But I got a book with many excepts from multiple philosophers -such as Plato- that I intended to read for this essay but didn't have the time cause I started a new job last week. You did a better work in researching philosophy for your essay! :D
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I think this is one subject that's never going to be exhausted...
:-) xx
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Maybe you can check out when you have time. :) Yeah, I know what you mean! This topic is totally fascinating!
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I always thought that William/Spike was more advanced then Angel. Angel was barely into his twenties when he was turned and he was a selfish child. But Spike was a man even though he was a lost soul.
Anyway, I still think Spike is more advanced than Angel. He chose a soul and love while Angel remains afraid of both.
I haven't read the comic series continuation of the series. So who knows how Whedon will finally end this triangle.
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However, I'm a little in the dark, as the anima is not a concept I'm deeply familiar with. It would have helped had you included a little more background information on the subject to make it clearer what kind of deficiency not having an anima would mean.
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I will be happy to expand on the anima thing. But in general it relates to feminine qualities. I will make a post on it when I have more time and let you know if you are still interested. Thanks!
Reply
I have a general idea of what the anima is, just not why it's so important. I guarantee you I'll stay interested.
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Angel and Spike... also represent a lost function of the collective unconscious, an archetype.
Interesting! I'd like to hear more about this.
The BtVS series relied from its beginnings on the notion of predetermination of destiny. Starting with the curse of Buffy being the Chosen One, to the fact that she had a prophecy to fulfil.
Fascinating place to start a consideration of the soul. I love that you brought this idea into it.
As Joss Whedon said, and I agree totally here, in the Buffyverse, the soul was the moral compass. A souled individual was naturally compelled towards goodness and a soulless one compelled towards evil by their very nature.Hmm, I wonder if when he said "moral compass," he didn't mean more that a souled individual would have an innate understanding of his actions as good or evil, while an unsouled individual would not. The souled being would have the awareness of - and ( ... )
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