It seems popular among the less reasonable Spike fans to claim that Buffy "drove" Spike to his rape attempt through her bad treatment of him. In an attempt to be fair, even those condemning Spike admit that Buffy is not blameless, that their relationship was mutually abusive.
That may very well be, Matt, but inasmuch as Whedon claimed Spike's redemption was about Spike taking responsibility, I consider Buffy's action, contributory or not, as being largely irrelevant. What was relevant - was what was inside Spike.
Nevertheless, there are those who wish to minimize the crime by projecting blame onto Buffy. Her behavior is not model. But again, there is a much large picture to consider.
When Buffy returns from Heaven she is so crused with discomfort that she is almost completely numb. She is uncofortable around her friends, because in trying to hard to make Buffy feel okay - they aren't helping her deal with her feelings on her own terms. For example, Willow, when upset that Buffy has not adjusted, tries to use magic to make Buffy feel how Willow wants her to.
Spike, on the other hand is gentle with her, and gives her room to explore her feelings in the hopes that she "will come around", and Buffy does start to open up to Spike. However, she doesn't "come around" far enough or fast enough for Spike and he begins to abuse her trust. He tells her what he believes she is supposed to feel and tries to coerce her into expressing these feelings - thus beginning the destructive cycle that leads to the beatings and violence on both parts. Indeed Buffy tries to break out of the pattern.
But Spike, again does not trust Buffy to work out her feelings on her own, and reinitiates that phase and indeed forces himself upon her. If one wishes to sympathize primarily with Spike because of the violence done to him, one must also be aware that the circle of violence begun with Spike's breach of the tentative trust that he and Buffy were building early in the season.
If, in order to redeem Spike, he must be held accountable for his behaviors... well then, he must be held accountable for all of them.
And she starts to. But, Spike is impatient and doesn't trust Buffy to
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timeasmymeasure
Re: Blaming Buffy
That may very well be, Matt, but inasmuch as Whedon claimed Spike's redemption was about Spike taking responsibility, I consider Buffy's action, contributory or not, as being largely irrelevant. What was relevant - was what was inside Spike.
Nevertheless, there are those who wish to minimize the crime by projecting blame onto Buffy. Her behavior is not model. But again, there is a much large picture to consider.
When Buffy returns from Heaven she is so crused with discomfort that she is almost completely numb. She is uncofortable around her friends, because in trying to hard to make Buffy feel okay - they aren't helping her deal with her feelings on her own terms. For example, Willow, when upset that Buffy has not adjusted, tries to use magic to make Buffy feel how Willow wants her to.
Spike, on the other hand is gentle with her, and gives her room to explore her feelings in the hopes that she "will come around", and Buffy does start to open up to Spike. However, she doesn't "come around" far enough or fast enough for Spike and he begins to abuse her trust. He tells her what he believes she is supposed to feel and tries to coerce her into expressing these feelings - thus beginning the destructive cycle that leads to the beatings and violence on both parts. Indeed Buffy tries to break out of the pattern.
But Spike, again does not trust Buffy to work out her feelings on her own, and reinitiates that phase and indeed forces himself upon her. If one wishes to sympathize primarily with Spike because of the violence done to him, one must also be aware that the circle of violence begun with Spike's breach of the tentative trust that he and Buffy were building early in the season.
If, in order to redeem Spike, he must be held accountable for his behaviors... well then, he must be held accountable for all of them.
And she starts to. But, Spike is impatient and doesn't trust Buffy to