Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a Christ figure

She saved the world, a lot.

Buffy as Christ figure

• Buffy character has parallels to Christ…– Spoken of in prophesy– Special, chosen nature – Casting out demons– Sacrifice – Death– Descent into Hell– Resurrection

• But Buffy story placed in naturalized, non-theological frame

Prophesy

• Like Christ, Buffy’s coming was prophesied.

• Like Christ, Buffy’s death was prophesied.

• Also like Christ, prophesy open to multiple interpretations.

• Episodes: voice over from all episodes; “Prophesy Girl” (1997)

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Jesus as the Chosen One

• In Christian teachings, Christ is only one able to save us - no other has the power.

• Divine plan - his presence, existence, is not an accident.

• Human salvation comes via his suffering, death.

• Jesus’ conception - divine power infused in young girl (Mary) - voluntary?

• Need for Christ = fallen nature of mankind - we can’t redeem ourselves, only divine power can do so.

Buffy as the Chosen One

• Buffy is the only one able to save us - “she alone can stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness.”

• Destiny - her selection as Slayer, her role, not an accident.

• Suffering, death are prices Buffy pays to fulfill her destiny.

• Episodes: “Prophesy Girl” (1997); “Becoming, I & II” (1998); “ The Gift” (2001), etc.

Buffy as the Chosen One

• Slayer’s “birth” out of darkness; - demon power infused in young girl against her will by men.

• Source of power = darkness, exploitation.

• Non-theological - no divine plan, only human plan

• Humans not “fallen” (but can be evil) - must redeem themselves. Buffy makes world safe for them to do so.

Casting out demons

• Casting out demons was one of the miracles credited to Jesus.• Example, Matthew 8:28-33”…There met Him two demon-possessed men,

coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way….  And He said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. 

• “Weapon” = words - Jesus tells them to go, and they go…

Buffy “takes out” demons…

• As slayer, every vampire slain is the “casting out” of a demon from our world.

• Other demons also “cast out” - Acathla, The Judge, etc.

• Buffy’s weapons range from wooden stakes to rocket launchers… she also uses words, but as precursor to slaying in a more physical sense.

• Episode: “Innocence” (1998)

Death of Christ

• In Christian teachings, death of Christ necessary for redemption of mankind. Death of Christ is part of divine plan.

• Without death, humans are not saved - no entry into heaven.

• Death of Christ defeats evil, sin, death.

• Only via Christ’s death can heaven be attained.

Death is her gift - Buffy’s deaths

• Buffy dies twice - each time prevents “an apocalypse.”

• Buffy’s death necessary - prophesied, needed to stop evil of The Master from taking over the world.

• Returns stronger than ever - evil defeats itself through death of Buffy.

• Episode: “Prophecy Girl” (1997);

Death is her gift - Buffy’s deaths

• Buffy’s second death - closes portal to Hell, saves the world.

• Told, “death is her gift” - giving her life is her gift to mankind.

• Heaven must be attained via own actions, if at all (unclear) - Buffy is not gateway to heaven.

• Episode: “The Gift” (2001)

Christ’s Sacrifice

• Only Christ’s willing sacrifice will save world, redeem mankind.

• Gethsemane moment - Jesus asks ‘take this cup away’ - but obeys God, and sacrifices self anyway…

• Divine plan

Buffy’s Sacrifice(s)

• Buffy has a Gethsemane moment in “Prophesy Girl” - but sacrifices self anyway.

• Love of friends, family, humanity motivates self-sacrifice

• Sacrifice of others, also - Angel’s death

• Others also willing to die - not exclusive to Buffy - Dawn’s death would also serve purpose

• Buffy’s plan, not divine plan

Christ’s Descent into Hell

• “The harrowing of hell,” Christian doctrine elaborated in Middle Ages, drawn from Apostle’s Creed: at death, Christ descended into hell, broke down the gates, lead Adam, Eve, Abraham, etc. out of Hell and up to Heaven.

• 1 Peter 3:19-20: Jesus "went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah..."

• Rescued the righteous, those who lived before Christ, and so could not get into heaven (since doorway to heaven is through Jesus alone.

Buffy’s Descent into Hell

• Buffy - sacrifices the love of her life - Angel - flees her “life” by running away to LA.

• Descends to hell not on death, but on return to “life” (emotional health).

• She leads not saints, patriarchs, etc. from Hell, but the homeless, runaway teenagers, the abused, the exploited, sinners…

• Episode “Anne” (1998)

Christ’s Resurrection

• Christ’s resurrection after 3 days - divine causation.

• Anonymous - followers failed to recognize him at first.

• Died, went to hell, returned to earth, went to heaven.

Buffy’s Resurrection(s)

• Buffy’s 1st resurrection - love, loyalty of friend (Xander) - mouth to mouth resuscitation (no divine interference)

• Buffy’s 2nd resurrection - after several months - loyalty, love of friends, misguided? - magic spell, Egyptian divine aid

• Friends fail to recognize her at first (mistaken for Buffybot…)

• Died, went to heaven, pulled back to earth - earth is hell? Earth is heaven?

• Episodes: “Bargaining I & II” (2001)

Buffy as a feminist Christ?• Final sacrifice - “chosen” stature -

she shares her power with women all over the world…

• Shared power = multiplied power.• Women’s power breaks male

exploitation pattern (first slayer chained by men; power shared through women’s magic)

• Women’s power defeats First Evil - this-worldly salvation.

• Saves all women to be strong• Allows every person to save

themselves, others

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