Week.10

In what way is Buffy influenced by the romantic gothic tradition? Yet how does Buffy also provide a contemporary critique of this tradition?



It is obvious that Buffy follow the romantic gothic tradition and renew the narrative in this genre. Especially the homage for that tradition is clear in series of episodes about Adam in 1999 – 2000 which means there are significant connections between this series and Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. For example, the characters has similar tendency. Victor Frankenstein and Maggie Walsh are both scientist who made creature and monster of Frankenstein and Adam are monster who exploring himself. The suffering of Adam and monster is directly links to the theme and narrative of these story that” industrialization and science and their effects on morality” (Rose, 2002). The future of these creature becomes different because Buffy refashioning the tradition. However there are same themes in these stories, Buffy presents’ anti patriarchal and post feminist solution. In other words Buffy refashioning the roman gothic tradition and it comes from the difference between the romantic heroes in these stories. Victor Frankenstein as a hero blind belief for science and disregard the force of nature and refuse the monster despite of he created it. Rose (2002) suggests his malice is a direct result of human community’s rejection to his scientific creation which means he is solitary. He finally could not defeat the monster and lost everything. In contrast of that, Buffy defeat and solved problem with her friends, community and the author of Adam continued to carry on her scientific work. It might be Buffy’s critique or answer for original ideology that solitary romantic hero cannot defeat the evil from social order. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer gives hopeful answer that to deal with community then the evil can defeat by ties. I think it is a crituque or challenge for tradegic tradtion by the author of Buffy

references

Braum, B. (2000) The X-files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The ambiguity of evil in supernatural representations. from:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0412/is_2_28/ai_64688900

Rose, A (2002) Of creatures and creators: Buffy does Frankenstein, in R.

Wilcox & D. Lavery (eds) Fighting the forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the vampire slayer.

Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.