Some of you know that I've been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on-line recently. I'm watching Buffy because 1) it suddenly became available to me, 2) I just about adore Joss Whedon, especially his series Firefly, and 3) I've always had a thing for vampire stories. This last reveals a deep seated interest in evil, which is related to an overwhelming sense of gratitude when I consider what dark possibilities I have been rescued from. Anyway, back to the point of the post.
It struck me as I watched the first season's finale how much Buffy's character resembles Mina Harker of Bram Stoker's novel. Here's why. In Bram Stoker's novel, Mina is surrounded by men who love her, who would do anything to rescue her from the evil for which she has become prey. It is a sacrificial love, not merely a romantic one as defined by our contemporary culture (though sacrifice is certainly a romantic ideal). The scene that brought on the comparison?
Angel: Are you in love with her?
Xander: Aren't you?
Okay, to give you a bit of context, these two men who love Buffy are underground, rushing to the scene of potential torment to save her, though we know going in that Buffy herself will do the bulk of the saving. They both certainly have romantic feelings for the girl, but I interpret these two lines rhetorically rather than literally. It is as though Xander were saying, you and I know her, therefore we have no choice but to love her. The same would seem to have been true of Mina Harker.
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