The Monomythology of Buffy

[lostboy_lj]

I've been having lots of thoughts lately about the mythology of the Buffyverse, particularly in relation to Joseph Campbell's theory of the "monomyth" - a detectable pattern of the hero's journey that seems to crop up across many cultures and eras.  The theory holds that, when deconstructed, most stories about mythological and religious heroes

Comments

[shapinglight]

This is nifty, and way too clever for me.

I do feel having the Buffy/Riley pic illustrating temptation is a little hard on Riley. Did you choose it because he represents (is that even the right word?) not so much physical/sexual temptation but more the temptation to abandon the journey and live a 'normal' life?

I love the way Spike's and Willow's hero's journeys are woven into Buffy's, btw. Which is not to say they were the only other characters apart from her to make that journey, but I do see how theirs tie in more closely with hers than the others (possibly because they all ended at the same time).

[lostboy_lj]

I do feel having the Buffy/Riley pic illustrating temptation is a little hard on Riley.

Really? If a picture of me illustrated "temptation", I think I'd be a bit flattered. :D

Did you choose it because he represents (is that even the right word?) not so much physical/sexual temptation but more the temptation to abandon the journey and live a 'normal' life?

It's a bit of both, actually. Riley (and later, though less directly, Ben) represents something more this-worldly and solid than the world of magic and monsters offers, and the chance to have something approaching a normal life, including a normal love life (which she could never have with Angel).

I love the way Spike's and Willow's hero's journeys are woven into Buffy's, btw. Which is not to say they were the only other characters apart from her to make that journey, but I do see how theirs tie in more closely with hers than the others (possibly because they all ended at the same time).Yes, as Buffy's supernatural helpers, they often integrate into the stages of the journey

[shapinglight]

If a picture of me illustrated "temptation", I think I'd be a bit flattered. :D

:) I'm not sure Riley would agree with you, though. It was thinking he was just a distraction that drove the poor bloke away. But yes, I take your point- especially about how in this case 'temptation' isn't necessarily a bad thing (it can, in fact, be a good thing), but incompatible with the overall journey. At least, that's what I think you're saying.

ETA: I think the inclusion of Angel and Spike with Dawn at the Meeting With the Immortal stage works well, as long as it's arrange the way you have it - ie. with Dawn's picture being the biggest to show how much more important she is.

[lostboy_lj]

ETA: I think the inclusion of Angel and Spike with Dawn at the Meeting With the Immortal stage works well, as long as it's arrange the way you have it - ie. with Dawn's picture being the biggest to show how much more important she is.

Right, that's sort of the point of the different scales. Dawn is the Immortal Love -- the one that Campbell likened to a mother's unconditional, pure, and total love. She is also representative of Buffy's quest for self-love (and self-actualization), since Dawn is essentially sister, daughter, mother and twin all wrapped into one.

Angel and Spike warrant their additional placements on that step mainly because we do see strong echoes of that immortal love in their own arcs with Buffy. The love they each share with Buffy is both romantic and platonic love, but not transcendent love of the sort that Campbell discerned in this step. In fact, I sometimes think the later reveal in AtS of Buffy's new cozy relationship with "The Immortal" was a sort of highbrow fart joke about their love's failure (and

[shapinglight]

Heh! You could certainly interpret it that way, right down to Angel's and Spike's gloomy acceptance that they can never measure up to the Immortal's unattainable fabulousness.