Buffy the Vampire Slayer as aFeminist 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 innaturalized, non-theological, feministframe

Prophesy• Like Christ, Buffy’s

coming was prophesied.• Like Christ, Buffy’s death

was prophesied.• Also like Christ, prophesy

open to multipleinterpretations.

• Episodes: voice over fromall episodes; “ProphesyGirl” (1997)

“In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and theforces of darkness. She is the Slayer.”

– Opening narration in seasons 1 and 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy as the Chosen One• Like Christ, Buffy is the

supposed to be the only oneable to save us - “she alone canstand against the vampires, thedemons, and the forces ofdarkness.”– But, unlike Christ, Buffy relies on

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

Buffy as the Chosen One

• Slayer’s “birth” out ofdarkness; - demon powerinfused in young girl againsther will by men. Hmm…commentary on Mary’sconception of Jesus?

• Source of power = darkness,exploitation.

• Non-theological - no divineplan, only human plan

• Humans not “fallen” (but canbe evil) - must redeemthemselves. Buffy makesworld 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 thatway….  And He said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they wentinto the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violentlydown 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 ademon from our world.

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

• Buffy’s weapons range fromwooden stakes to rocketlaunchers… she also useswords, but as precursor toslaying in a more physicalsense.

• Episode: “Innocence” (1998)

Buffy’s Sacrifice(s)• Buffy’s Gethsemane

moment in “Prophesy Girl” -like Christ, sacrifices selfanyway.

• Love of friends, family,humanity motivates self-sacrifice (not love of God)

• Sacrifice of others, also -Angel’s death

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

• Buffy’s plan, not divine plan

Death of Christ

• In Christian teachings, death ofChrist necessary for redemptionof mankind. Death of Christ ispart of divine plan.

• Without death, humans are notsaved - no entry into heaven.

• Death of Christ defeats evil, sin,death.

• Only via Christ’s death canheaven be attained.

Death is her gift - Buffy’s deaths• Buffy dies twice - each

time prevents “anapocalypse.”

• Buffy’s death necessary -prophesied, needed to stopevil of The Master fromtaking over the world.

• Returns stronger than ever- evil defeats itselfthrough 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 tomankind.

• Heaven must be attained viaown actions, if at all - Buffy isnot gateway to heaven - she isgateway to life in the world -this-worldly focus.

• “The hardest thing in this worldis to live in it. Be brave.Live.”

• Episode: “The Gift” (2001)

Christ’s Descent intoHell

• “The harrowing of hell,” Christian doctrineelaborated in Middle Ages, drawn fromApostle’s Creed: at death, Christ descendedinto hell, broke down the gates, lead Adam,Eve, Abraham, etc. out of Hell and up toHeaven.

• 1 Peter 3:19-20: Jesus "went and made aproclamation to the spirits in prison, who informer times did not obey, when God waitedpatiently in the days of Noah..."

• Rescued the righteous, those who livedbefore Christ, and so could not get intoheaven (since doorway to heaven is throughJesus alone.)

Buffy’s Descent into Hell• Buffy - sacrifices the love of

her life - Angel - flees her“life” by running away toLA.

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

• She leads not saints,patriarchs, etc. from Hell,but the homeless, runawayteenagers, the abused, theexploited, sinners…

• Episode “Anne” (1998)

Buffy’s Resurrection(s)• Buffy’s 1st resurrection - love,

loyalty of friend (Xander) - mouthto mouth resuscitation (no divineinterference)

• Buffy’s 2nd resurrection - afterseveral months - loyalty, love offriends, misguided? - magic spell.

• Like Christ, friends fail torecognize her at first (mistaken forBuffybot…)

• Died, went to heaven, pulled backto Earth - Earth is hell? Earth isheaven? Musical episode: “I livein Hell / ‘cause I’ve been expelled/ from Heaven.” But Buffy isreminded - this-worldly emphasisis what is important.

• Episodes: “Bargaining I & II;”“Once More with Feeling” (2001)

Buffy as a feminist Christ?• Final sacrifice = her “chosen”

stature - she shares her powerwith women all over the world…

• Shared power = multipliedpower.

• Women’s power breaks maleexploitation pattern (first slayerchained by men; power sharedthrough women’s magic)

• Women’s power defeats FirstEvil = this-worldly salvation.

• Saves all women to be strong• Salvation through empowerment,

social engagement, community.