Discussion: Elena's Actions on Jeremy's Memories
Warning: Spoilers from the web clips for "Founder's Day" finale.
This is a discussion over Elena's actions on having Damon erase Jeremy's memory and suffering regarding Vicki's death. This is a mature discussion. Please, no bashing and respect others opinions. Thanks.
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What Happened: Back in episode 7, "Haunted" of the Vampire Diaries, after the death of Vicki, Jeremy was a mess. As Elena put it, it was like their parents had died again. She asked Damon to erase Jeremy's memories of the event and remove his suffering. In turn, we see the boy who once was before his parents died. He was a good kid and a academic smart one, occupying his times with drawing instead of drugs as we saw in the beginning of the series. The appearance of Anna initiated his curiosity on vampires as well as the mystery surrounding Vicki's murder when her body was discovered. Elena, lets a hint slip that she knew what happened to Vicki. Jeremy hunts down Elena's journal and finds out everything that has happened in season 1.
In "Miss Mystic Falls", Jeremy tells Anna he knows about everything that has happened. He expresses that he is somewhat grateful to Elena that he doesn't have to remember Vicki as a person that would hurt him. At the same time, he told Anna that he was really angry with Elena for making such a choice for him and taking his memory and suffering away. He avoids being around her and it wasn't until "Isobel" that he revealed to her that he knew everything.
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The power to choose--freewill--is very valuable to all of us. Vampire's compulsion is a very incredible power that can control, change and influence others--good, bad or otherwise.
In the recent web clips, Jeremy continues to express his anger on both Elena and later Damon when he tries to defend Elena's actions. I know a lot of people are disagreeing with Jeremy, and while I believe he can handle it better, I believe his anger is rightfully justified. Granted, I've also watched too much Dollhouse when viewing Elena's actions for Jeremy.
Do not get me wrong. I do believe Elena had good intentions in trying to protect her younger brother. He is young and has went through a lot, especially since their parents died. Now Vicki--the one person he connected to and loved--is dead. As the elder sister, Elena just wanted what was best for Jeremy so he wouldn't hurt anymore. She had good intentions, but that does not necessarily make it right. She was the one who made the choice in erasing Jeremy's memories. She did not allow Jeremy to have any say in the matter over his memories, over his pain. She did not have the right to make those decisions like that for him even if she is his older sister. You may argue that she didn't intend to control--but ultimately she did do just that.
This isn't a decision like a parent taking away their child's car because they didn't follow the parents' rules--this about someone's memories and feelings. Memories--good or bad--are important to anyone. We may not like some of them, but it allows us to learn, grow and change. She took those away and in turn stunted his emotional growth for a while and for that moment, took away his will to choose. Elena has even questioned both Damon and Stefan on whether they have used their compulsion powers on her. In "Haunted", though she expressed that she wanted to forget everything that happened, but she didn't want to forget how she felt about Stefan. So does she have the right to make those decisions for Jeremy in what she didn't do for herself?
Despite different intentions, this situation can be similarly compared to how many other vampires treat other human beings with their compulsion powers. Damon with Caroline or more importantly, Katherine's treatment of Stefan. Unlike Elena, Katherine had more selfish intentions in compelling Stefan to drink her blood and forget it. Similarly though, both Elena and Katherine took Jeremy's and Stefan's will to choose respectfully and free will is something that is very valuable.
There are many sides to this situations and a lot of this does overlap and fall under a gray area. I would love to have a discussion over it--what do you guys think?