IN WHICH The Girl Remembers a Hero

It’s Thursday, and that means throwback pictures of childhood adventures are circulating social media by the dozen. I have decided to take a slightly different track: throwback television. Today, we will discuss Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Everyone has comfort foods. Well, my television comfort food is Buffy. She’s a kick-ass girly-girl fighting Big Bads with an odd assortment of friends. Love it.

The focus today, however, will be on Buffy’s heroic journey. You may have studied the hero’s journey, developed by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1973), back in grade school. Campbell developed a monomyth of the hero – the idea that heroes from every era and culture share similar characteristics and develop their greatness though a series of parallel stages. The usual class will follow the path of Moses or Prometheus (or even Star Wars), but I always choose Buffy. I have done this presentation in class before with varied results (heavily influenced by this article). Most of my students are too young to really remember Buffy (“Wasn’t that on in like the 90’s??”), but there are always a few who have watched it on Netflix and enjoy it. They ALL think I’m a dork, and it’s true. But she's a hero, you see.

Stage 1: Separation/Departure

      The hero starts in an ordinary world, say a nice normal high school. The hero is called to become a hero, but he or she usually resists the call at first. Buffy’s first call actually happens in the 1992 movie with Luke Perry (I thought he was so dreamy as a child). 

Let’s focus on the television show though. Buffy receives the call again when she arrives in Sunnydale. She's just as unhappy about it the second time around.

Eventually the chosen one gives in, and receives some form of aid from a mentor. Buffy has a Watcher, named Giles, who serves as her mentor throughout the series. He’s part of the Watcher’s Council, a group that has trained and assisted slayers throughout history, though both him and Buffy eventually break away from the stuffy old council. He’s a lovable British dude who tries to keep Buffy and her Scooby Gang - her other helpers Xander and Willow - focused on the task at hand.

The chosen one crosses the first threshold, which is the first task of the hero, taking him or her from the normal world to the unknown land of danger and adventure. There could be a number of first tasks for Buffy, such as first killing a vampire in the movie, but for the show her first Big Bad is the Master, a very old and gross vampire who wants to open the Hellmouth below Sunnydale and take over the world. He’s also, incidentally, prophesied to kill Buffy.

Lastly in Stage 1, the chosen one must enter the belly of the whale, in which he or she usually faces an abyss – a dark night of the soul – and then a rebirth as a full blown hero. Buffy, understandably, quails at the idea of dying at 16, her abyss. She fights the Master, who actually does kill her, but Xander brings her back to life through CPR, the first of several rebirths for Buffy. Buffy, of course, then goes on to kick the Master’s ass. After this experience, Buffy becomes a little darker but more dedicated to her mission.

Stage 2: Initiation

The hero embarks on his or her quest, enduring many trials. I.e. Buffy fights a lot of vampires, demons, robots and even other slayers to protect us poor, vulnerable humans. Hiyahh!

The male hero usually meets the goddess who fosters love and inspiration in the hero. He also faces a woman who tempts him with lust and is a dangerous shadow figure. But Joss Whedon doesn't stick with those stuffy, old archetypes and flips everything around. Angel, Buffy’s vampire-with-a-soul boyfriend, fulfills all of these roles for our hero. She falls in love with Angel, but when they have sex for the first time, he loses his soul and becomes evil. Now if that’s not a lesson to all young girls about men, then I don’t know what is. Sadly, Buffy must kill Angel, performing a hero’s sacrifice for the good of the world. Don’t worry, he comes back later though. This is a supernatural world, after all.

Next comes atonement with a father figure or powerful force of life and death. There are a few possible options here. Buffy’s mother dies during this period, forcing Buffy to make peace with both her mother and her death. Giles also feels out of place as Buffy ages, sometimes feeling unnecessary and at other times feeling like she depends on him too much. Most of this tension comes in the next stage of the story, however. My choice of “father figure” is the First Slayer, who gives birth to Buffy’s superhuman qualities. In addition, she inspires Buffy to learn about the slayer’s history and forces Buffy to re-examine her role as a hero. She explains to our weary hero that she is still capable of love: "Love is pain, and the Slayer forges strength from pain. Love, give, forgive. Risk the pain; it is your nature. Love will bring you your gift." Oh and what is that gift? “Death is your gift.” Cheery.

At the end of this stage, the hero faces his or her ultimate challenge, usually victory over death. As a result, he or she is awarded some form of apotheosis – a heroic vacation where the he or she can rest in peace - and a reward. At the end of Season 5, Buffy fights an actual god, Glory, who opens a portal to a hell dimension that will bring all sorts of beasties into the world. Only one thing will close the dimension: Summers’ blood, meaning either Buffy or her sister must die. Buffy makes the ultimate sacrifice and gives up her life for the sake of humanity – death really is her gift. As a reward, Buffy goes to heaven. Now, if only her friends knew that.

Stage 3: The Return

After a nice rest, the hero returns home from the apotheosis and vanquishes evil. Most heroes resist the return, wanting to stay in their peaceful place forever, because who wouldn't? He or she is pursued by enemies on the return who must be killed. Thinking Buffy has ended up in a hell dimension, her friends bring her back to life with magic. Obviously, she is a little confused by the circumstances and wishes to be back in heaven. A demon also hitches a ride on her return, and Buffy must defeat it in her perplexed state.

After his or her return, the hero needs help adjusting to the new world and facing reality. Knowing the Scooby Gang brought her back out of love, Buffy refuses to tell them about her sojourn into heaven. She feels isolated from her besties and some resentment as well. Therefore, Buffy turns to Spike, a previous Big Bad who has become a reluctant ally to the slayer. He helps her in all sorts of ways - boom chica wah wah – starting a fairly messed up but entertaining relationship of fighting and sex. Eventually, the hero comes to terms with the return and becomes a master of two worlds, stronger than ever. Despite Season 6’s depressing tone, Buffy does eventually adjust to reality, accepting that she’s not entirely human any more, and continues to fight the good fight.

Ultimately, the hero ends his or her quest and obtains the freedom to live a peaceful life. Buffy fights one last apocalyptic Big Bad by creating more vampire slayers. After the slayers defeat the “first evil,” Buffy is no longer solely responsible for protecting the world and can do as she pleases. The series ends with Buffy smiling as the Scooby Gang discusses all the things they don't need to do tomorrow.

For anyone who is paying attention to details, this was a simplified and not necessarily perfect version of the hero’s journey. For more accurate descriptions, try this thing called a library.