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kiki_miserychicI did an MLA Thesis paper last year and we're doing them again in this year's Honor's English class, so I decided a year is long enough to have my essay buried on the hard drive, so here it is, an essay on if Spike should go to hell:
Actions prove Spike in the Joss Whedon penned television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” to be worthy of redemption. According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, redemption is release from one’s sins (1189). In Buffyverse, the collective world created by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy, the definition of redemption is far more vague and must be hard-earned.
Someone asked Joss Whedon how he defined a "soul" and how Angel [a vampire with a soul] differed from the soulless vampires [like Spike]. Whedon posited that soulless creatures can do good and souled creatures can do evil, but that the soul-free are instinctually drawn toward doing evil while those with souls tend to instinctually want to do good. (Hercules) Spike displayed human traits that a purely evil demon would not. He brought Drusilla back to the Hellmouth, a place he hated, so she could become strong. Spike was willing to kill the Slayer to make her happy. He hated to see Drusilla ill and unable to hunt because it made her suffer. He was also hurt by the way Angel treated him. Spike was easily tamed by Drusilla, which is telling of the bond they shared. He was quick to apologize and beg for forgiveness. When she felt weak, he rushed to help her stay standing. In the episode "Surprise” Spike and Drusilla summoned The Judge and were faced with the fact that they had a loving connection. The Judge could feel the slightest bit of humanity, which was caused by the love Spike had for Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Second Season Episode Guide, 18-35). While love might not be the correct term for the emotion because they are soulless demons, the insinuation was still there (Nurss). Joyce, Buffy’s mother, was attacked by a vampire and Spike helped to slay it. Spike made a deal with Buffy in part because of his jealousy of the bond between Angel and Drusilla and in part because he did not want the world to end. In this context he was self-involved, but he was shown to be more human than most demons. Through Spike’s involvement, Angel was rightfully sent to hell. Many reasons, regardless of their implications, contributed to his turn to good from evil (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Second Season Episode Guide, 20-35). This was one of the foretelling events that show his upcoming rise to a hero (Boyette). Spike returned to Sunnydale empty and broken over Drusilla having dumped him and called a truce with Buffy. He talked with Joyce over mugs of hot chocolate about his relationships as a civil human being. He gave out relationship advice to Buffy and Angel, as well as Xander and Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Third Season Episode Guide, 12). A sensitive moment with Willow, caused Spike to be seen as an ambiguous person rather than an evil creature. He gave Willow the assurance she needed to feel better about herself.
Spike fought demons for the side of good, despite his true nature of being evil. A chip was implanted into Spike’s head, which prevented him from causing harm to humans. With his new hardware, the group of Buffy's friends known as the Scoobies refused to kill him and gave him the choice of staying in the vampire community or joining them (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fourth Season Episode Guide, 2-14). Some Scoobies gave him the suggestion that they would have accepted him, but he rejected the idea, thinking he was not worthy:
GILES: Thinking about your affliction -- as well as your newly discovered ability to fight only demons, it occurs to me - and I realize it’s against your nature - but have you considered there may be a higher purpose--
SPIKE: Aagh. Made me lose count. What are you still doing here?
GILES: Talking to myself, apparently. (Fossey)
Spike willingly gave Buffy helpful information about killing Dracula. Spike developed feelings for Buffy, but refused to think of them as love in the beginning. He proved that Tara is not a demon, which saved Tara and Willow, as well as Tara’s family, a lot of pain and trouble. Through talks with Buffy, he gave her advice that kept her alive. Buffy defeated an alien, which invaded her home, with the help of Spike. He went through a transition of morals that began in the name of love. He also held Buffy and her family’s happiness over his own. Spike fought the Knights of Byzantium to protect Dawn, while nearly fatally injuring himself in the process. When Dawn learned that she was the key, Spike tried to help her understand that it was for the best and that nothing would change. Spike offered to stake Drusilla, the sire he loved for more than a century, which displayed how he had evolved over time. Spike fought off Glory from taking Dawn many times, knowing that it would have hurt Buffy if something were to happen to Dawn. Spike felt a connection to Dawn that he would feel for a sister or a daughter. After Joyce’s death, he honored her with no motive and helped Buffy and Dawn deal with their emotions. Spike suffered through torture from Glory without telling that Dawn was the Key. Spike arranged for the gang to get a vehicle to transport Dawn safely. Xander and Spike got the ornate box from Doc, defeating him momentarily. Dawn was left alone at the top of the tower with Doc and Spike rushed to save her, but was thrown off. When Buffy died, Spike broke down, not caring about the sun rising (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fifth Season Episode Guide, 2-23.). Spike spent the entire summer after Buffy’s death fighting the demons that escaped from the portal. Thinking that Buffy was in Hell, a spell was cast to bring her back from the dead. In a conversation Spike says to Buffy:
Uh-I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her [Dawn]. If I'd 'A' done that, even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't have had to jump. But I want you to know I did save you, not when it counted, of course, but after that. Every night after that. I'd see it all again. I'd do something different-faster, more clever, you know. Dozens of times, lots of different ways. Every night I save you. (Wilcox)
Season Six in relation to Spike, revolved around Buffy. Their relationship becomes mutual and sexual in nature. Buffy used Spike, but he tried to help her to understand her true nature through him. Buffy rejected him and he felt scorned after all the things he had done for her, it was still not enough. Spike went to Africa to earn his soul through a series of trials and tests (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sixth Season Episode Guide, 2-9).
When Spike came back with his soul, he spent the next few months injuring himself and moaning over his past sins. Spike went against his nature of being a vampire to be good by saving his soul and sacrificing himself (Boyette). In the excellent short essay, "Spike as Shadow," Delores J. Nurss explain, “Spike has devoted a century to acting out William's shadow . . . When Buffy fears to ever fall in love again, Spike falls in love with her. In the context of [the] Shadow, Spike has not made one inconsistent move, ever.” The First had used brainwashing techniques and Buffy realized Spike was innocent, though he felt guilty. He was worried about his demon over being manipulated. Spike was worthy of Buffy saving him from The First. Spike’s chip started to send pain at times when it should not have been because of The First’s manipulation. Medical experts determined that the chip had degraded and should be taken out, which Buffy agreed to. Spike was not worried about what would happen after it was taken out because he had his soul and knew that he would not harm anyone. Spike tried to make the separation between himself with a soul and without, the way that Angel did, saying that he did not like killing demons as much as he did before he got his soul. Buffy rejected Spike because he just saved Anya from a demon by taking her to safety instead of killing the demon. At that, Spike is upset enough to go out and get rid of the evil creature to help Buffy. Despite Wood’s effort to kill Spike even when he was rendered harmless, Spike held himself back in order to not hurt Wood because Wood was human and it would upset Buffy. Spike protected himself and stopped before he killed Wood because Wood’s mother had already been killed decades earlier, his reason for going after Spike, and that was enough, acknowledging that Nikki’s life is worthy of something in his own eyes. Buffy was separated from the people she loves and was beaten by Caleb in a fight. Spike gave his unconditional love to her by saying:
When I say I love you, it’s not because I want you, or because I can’t have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I’ve seen your kindness and your strength. I’ve seen the best and the worst of you and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You are a hell of a woman. (Bradney)
Spike helped train the Slayers in Training for their battles. Buffy gave the amulet and Spike's being able to wear it proved he was worthy of being a Champion. He was not sure what it took to be a Champion, but he made the choice of going through with it because it was the right thing to do. Buffy did not want Spike to die, but he accepted his fate and died to save the world (McDonald).
Spike came to LA and “Angel” as a ghost. Pavayne, another ghost, choked Fred. Spike could have gone into the ring and gotten his body, but he saved Fred by throwing Pavayne into the ring. Fred implied that Spike was a champion, but he did not want the title. He said that there was nothing heroic about what he did. Spike distrusted Eve and believed he is trapped at Wolfram and Hart as a part of a greater purpose and she knows about it. After being given a prophecy, Spike and Angel go to Death Valley to find the Cup of Perpetual Torment, which is to give them an eternity of hell, but will save the world. Spike gets there first and drinks, taking the responsibility, but the cup is a fake. Spike was weary of "Doyle,” thinking that he was behind the false Cup of Perpetual Torment. Spike worried all his good deeds were to win the approval of Buffy, so he took the mission of the lone street hero to prove himself by saving girls in alleys. Spike found himself at the mercy of Dana, a Slayer, who thought he was the man who tortured her. Spike thought that he deserved it even though he did not hurt Dana. Despite differences, Spike still saved Angel, Eve, and Lindsay. “Doyle” tricked Spike into thinking that he was "Champion of the Powers" and was to kill Cordelia because she had been taken over by a soulless evil. He bit Cordelia, but stopped when he realized that he was lied to. Spike and Angel wanted to save Fred and Spike was committed because Fred was the first to become his friend. Angel said that Spike should leave the LA branch of Wolfram and Hart's Los Angeles Headquarters. During the episode, they worked together to defeat Illyria. Spike decided to stay, believing he could be helpful and Angel agreed (Spah).
Spike said, “wouldn’t be nearly as interesting, would it?”(Fossey), which shows that he himself was reluctant to believe that he would ever be virtuous enough to earn his redemption. Though Spike does not consider himself worthy, he is through actions, words, and thoughts. While his motivations may not have been in the right place, the actions themselves are the basis, not their intent.
Works Cited
Bradney, Anthony. “I Made a Promise to a Lady”: Law and Love in BtVS ." Slayage Number 10 (November 2003): n. pag. Online. Internet. 5 April 2004. Available: http://www.slayage.tv/essays/slayage10/Bradney.htm
Boyette, Michele. "The Comic Anti-hero in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Silly Villain: Spike is for Kicks." Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies 4 (2001): n. pag. Online. Internet. 13 April 2004. Available: http://www.slayage.tv/essays/slayage4/boyette.htm
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fifth Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #27: 2-23.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fourth Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #25.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Second Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #3: 18-35.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sixth Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #31: 2-37.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Third Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #19: 6-27.
Fossey, Claire. "Never Hurt the Feelings of a Brutal Killer": Spike and the Underground Man The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies 8 (March 2003): n. pag. Online. Internet. 10 April 2004. Available: http://www.slayage.tv/essays/slayage8/Fossey.htm
Hercules, Aint' It Cool News, March 4, 2001.
McDonald, Paul F. "Buffy and the Beast: An Analysis of Buffy and Spike's Relationship." All Thing Philosophical on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Fictionary Corner. 2001. 25 Nov. 2002: n. pag. Online. Internet. 13 April 2004. Available: http://www.hereticstudios.com/fictionary/e010830A-DED.asp
Nurss, Delores J. "Spike as Shadow." Online. Fists and Fangs. 21 April 2004. : n. pag. Available: http://ficbitch.com/fistsandfans/spikeassshadow.html
Spah, Victoria. “Ain’t Love Grand?’’ Spike and Courtly Love” Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies. Slayage 5 (March 2003): n. pag. Online. Internet. 27 April 2004. Available: www.slayage.tv/slayage/essays/slayage5/wilcox.html
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary Version. 1913, C. & G. Merriam Co. Springfield, Mass. Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.
Wilcox, Rhonda V. “‘Every Night I Save You’: Buffy, Spike, Sex and Redemption.” Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies. Slayage 5 (May 2002) n. pag. Online. Internet. 27 March 2004. Available: www.slayage.tv/slayage/essays/slayage5/wilcox.html
And, of course, my current music, "When You're Evil" by Voltaire, available off yousendit.
Actions prove Spike in the Joss Whedon penned television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” to be worthy of redemption. According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, redemption is release from one’s sins (1189). In Buffyverse, the collective world created by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy, the definition of redemption is far more vague and must be hard-earned.
Someone asked Joss Whedon how he defined a "soul" and how Angel [a vampire with a soul] differed from the soulless vampires [like Spike]. Whedon posited that soulless creatures can do good and souled creatures can do evil, but that the soul-free are instinctually drawn toward doing evil while those with souls tend to instinctually want to do good. (Hercules) Spike displayed human traits that a purely evil demon would not. He brought Drusilla back to the Hellmouth, a place he hated, so she could become strong. Spike was willing to kill the Slayer to make her happy. He hated to see Drusilla ill and unable to hunt because it made her suffer. He was also hurt by the way Angel treated him. Spike was easily tamed by Drusilla, which is telling of the bond they shared. He was quick to apologize and beg for forgiveness. When she felt weak, he rushed to help her stay standing. In the episode "Surprise” Spike and Drusilla summoned The Judge and were faced with the fact that they had a loving connection. The Judge could feel the slightest bit of humanity, which was caused by the love Spike had for Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Second Season Episode Guide, 18-35). While love might not be the correct term for the emotion because they are soulless demons, the insinuation was still there (Nurss). Joyce, Buffy’s mother, was attacked by a vampire and Spike helped to slay it. Spike made a deal with Buffy in part because of his jealousy of the bond between Angel and Drusilla and in part because he did not want the world to end. In this context he was self-involved, but he was shown to be more human than most demons. Through Spike’s involvement, Angel was rightfully sent to hell. Many reasons, regardless of their implications, contributed to his turn to good from evil (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Second Season Episode Guide, 20-35). This was one of the foretelling events that show his upcoming rise to a hero (Boyette). Spike returned to Sunnydale empty and broken over Drusilla having dumped him and called a truce with Buffy. He talked with Joyce over mugs of hot chocolate about his relationships as a civil human being. He gave out relationship advice to Buffy and Angel, as well as Xander and Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Third Season Episode Guide, 12). A sensitive moment with Willow, caused Spike to be seen as an ambiguous person rather than an evil creature. He gave Willow the assurance she needed to feel better about herself.
Spike fought demons for the side of good, despite his true nature of being evil. A chip was implanted into Spike’s head, which prevented him from causing harm to humans. With his new hardware, the group of Buffy's friends known as the Scoobies refused to kill him and gave him the choice of staying in the vampire community or joining them (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fourth Season Episode Guide, 2-14). Some Scoobies gave him the suggestion that they would have accepted him, but he rejected the idea, thinking he was not worthy:
GILES: Thinking about your affliction -- as well as your newly discovered ability to fight only demons, it occurs to me - and I realize it’s against your nature - but have you considered there may be a higher purpose--
SPIKE: Aagh. Made me lose count. What are you still doing here?
GILES: Talking to myself, apparently. (Fossey)
Spike willingly gave Buffy helpful information about killing Dracula. Spike developed feelings for Buffy, but refused to think of them as love in the beginning. He proved that Tara is not a demon, which saved Tara and Willow, as well as Tara’s family, a lot of pain and trouble. Through talks with Buffy, he gave her advice that kept her alive. Buffy defeated an alien, which invaded her home, with the help of Spike. He went through a transition of morals that began in the name of love. He also held Buffy and her family’s happiness over his own. Spike fought the Knights of Byzantium to protect Dawn, while nearly fatally injuring himself in the process. When Dawn learned that she was the key, Spike tried to help her understand that it was for the best and that nothing would change. Spike offered to stake Drusilla, the sire he loved for more than a century, which displayed how he had evolved over time. Spike fought off Glory from taking Dawn many times, knowing that it would have hurt Buffy if something were to happen to Dawn. Spike felt a connection to Dawn that he would feel for a sister or a daughter. After Joyce’s death, he honored her with no motive and helped Buffy and Dawn deal with their emotions. Spike suffered through torture from Glory without telling that Dawn was the Key. Spike arranged for the gang to get a vehicle to transport Dawn safely. Xander and Spike got the ornate box from Doc, defeating him momentarily. Dawn was left alone at the top of the tower with Doc and Spike rushed to save her, but was thrown off. When Buffy died, Spike broke down, not caring about the sun rising (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fifth Season Episode Guide, 2-23.). Spike spent the entire summer after Buffy’s death fighting the demons that escaped from the portal. Thinking that Buffy was in Hell, a spell was cast to bring her back from the dead. In a conversation Spike says to Buffy:
Uh-I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her [Dawn]. If I'd 'A' done that, even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't have had to jump. But I want you to know I did save you, not when it counted, of course, but after that. Every night after that. I'd see it all again. I'd do something different-faster, more clever, you know. Dozens of times, lots of different ways. Every night I save you. (Wilcox)
Season Six in relation to Spike, revolved around Buffy. Their relationship becomes mutual and sexual in nature. Buffy used Spike, but he tried to help her to understand her true nature through him. Buffy rejected him and he felt scorned after all the things he had done for her, it was still not enough. Spike went to Africa to earn his soul through a series of trials and tests (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sixth Season Episode Guide, 2-9).
When Spike came back with his soul, he spent the next few months injuring himself and moaning over his past sins. Spike went against his nature of being a vampire to be good by saving his soul and sacrificing himself (Boyette). In the excellent short essay, "Spike as Shadow," Delores J. Nurss explain, “Spike has devoted a century to acting out William's shadow . . . When Buffy fears to ever fall in love again, Spike falls in love with her. In the context of [the] Shadow, Spike has not made one inconsistent move, ever.” The First had used brainwashing techniques and Buffy realized Spike was innocent, though he felt guilty. He was worried about his demon over being manipulated. Spike was worthy of Buffy saving him from The First. Spike’s chip started to send pain at times when it should not have been because of The First’s manipulation. Medical experts determined that the chip had degraded and should be taken out, which Buffy agreed to. Spike was not worried about what would happen after it was taken out because he had his soul and knew that he would not harm anyone. Spike tried to make the separation between himself with a soul and without, the way that Angel did, saying that he did not like killing demons as much as he did before he got his soul. Buffy rejected Spike because he just saved Anya from a demon by taking her to safety instead of killing the demon. At that, Spike is upset enough to go out and get rid of the evil creature to help Buffy. Despite Wood’s effort to kill Spike even when he was rendered harmless, Spike held himself back in order to not hurt Wood because Wood was human and it would upset Buffy. Spike protected himself and stopped before he killed Wood because Wood’s mother had already been killed decades earlier, his reason for going after Spike, and that was enough, acknowledging that Nikki’s life is worthy of something in his own eyes. Buffy was separated from the people she loves and was beaten by Caleb in a fight. Spike gave his unconditional love to her by saying:
When I say I love you, it’s not because I want you, or because I can’t have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I’ve seen your kindness and your strength. I’ve seen the best and the worst of you and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You are a hell of a woman. (Bradney)
Spike helped train the Slayers in Training for their battles. Buffy gave the amulet and Spike's being able to wear it proved he was worthy of being a Champion. He was not sure what it took to be a Champion, but he made the choice of going through with it because it was the right thing to do. Buffy did not want Spike to die, but he accepted his fate and died to save the world (McDonald).
Spike came to LA and “Angel” as a ghost. Pavayne, another ghost, choked Fred. Spike could have gone into the ring and gotten his body, but he saved Fred by throwing Pavayne into the ring. Fred implied that Spike was a champion, but he did not want the title. He said that there was nothing heroic about what he did. Spike distrusted Eve and believed he is trapped at Wolfram and Hart as a part of a greater purpose and she knows about it. After being given a prophecy, Spike and Angel go to Death Valley to find the Cup of Perpetual Torment, which is to give them an eternity of hell, but will save the world. Spike gets there first and drinks, taking the responsibility, but the cup is a fake. Spike was weary of "Doyle,” thinking that he was behind the false Cup of Perpetual Torment. Spike worried all his good deeds were to win the approval of Buffy, so he took the mission of the lone street hero to prove himself by saving girls in alleys. Spike found himself at the mercy of Dana, a Slayer, who thought he was the man who tortured her. Spike thought that he deserved it even though he did not hurt Dana. Despite differences, Spike still saved Angel, Eve, and Lindsay. “Doyle” tricked Spike into thinking that he was "Champion of the Powers" and was to kill Cordelia because she had been taken over by a soulless evil. He bit Cordelia, but stopped when he realized that he was lied to. Spike and Angel wanted to save Fred and Spike was committed because Fred was the first to become his friend. Angel said that Spike should leave the LA branch of Wolfram and Hart's Los Angeles Headquarters. During the episode, they worked together to defeat Illyria. Spike decided to stay, believing he could be helpful and Angel agreed (Spah).
Spike said, “wouldn’t be nearly as interesting, would it?”(Fossey), which shows that he himself was reluctant to believe that he would ever be virtuous enough to earn his redemption. Though Spike does not consider himself worthy, he is through actions, words, and thoughts. While his motivations may not have been in the right place, the actions themselves are the basis, not their intent.
Works Cited
Bradney, Anthony. “I Made a Promise to a Lady”: Law and Love in BtVS ." Slayage Number 10 (November 2003): n. pag. Online. Internet. 5 April 2004. Available: http://www.slayage.tv/essays/slayage10/Bradney.htm
Boyette, Michele. "The Comic Anti-hero in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Silly Villain: Spike is for Kicks." Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies 4 (2001): n. pag. Online. Internet. 13 April 2004. Available: http://www.slayage.tv/essays/slayage4/boyette.htm
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fifth Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #27: 2-23.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fourth Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #25.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Second Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #3: 18-35.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sixth Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #31: 2-37.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Third Season Episode Guide. Spectrum Vol. 1, #19: 6-27.
Fossey, Claire. "Never Hurt the Feelings of a Brutal Killer": Spike and the Underground Man The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies 8 (March 2003): n. pag. Online. Internet. 10 April 2004. Available: http://www.slayage.tv/essays/slayage8/Fossey.htm
Hercules, Aint' It Cool News, March 4, 2001.
McDonald, Paul F. "Buffy and the Beast: An Analysis of Buffy and Spike's Relationship." All Thing Philosophical on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Fictionary Corner. 2001. 25 Nov. 2002: n. pag. Online. Internet. 13 April 2004. Available: http://www.hereticstudios.com/fictionary/e010830A-DED.asp
Nurss, Delores J. "Spike as Shadow." Online. Fists and Fangs. 21 April 2004. : n. pag. Available: http://ficbitch.com/fistsandfans/spikeassshadow.html
Spah, Victoria. “Ain’t Love Grand?’’ Spike and Courtly Love” Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies. Slayage 5 (March 2003): n. pag. Online. Internet. 27 April 2004. Available: www.slayage.tv/slayage/essays/slayage5/wilcox.html
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary Version. 1913, C. & G. Merriam Co. Springfield, Mass. Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D.
Wilcox, Rhonda V. “‘Every Night I Save You’: Buffy, Spike, Sex and Redemption.” Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies. Slayage 5 (May 2002) n. pag. Online. Internet. 27 March 2004. Available: www.slayage.tv/slayage/essays/slayage5/wilcox.html
And, of course, my current music, "When You're Evil" by Voltaire, available off yousendit.
