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Date Posted: 16:47:25 05/02/03 Fri
Author: Horty
Author Host/IP: 62.253.32.6
Subject: Yep thought so............
In reply to: Horty *crosses fingers and hopes for the best* : ) 's message, "Just testing this essay for HTML glitches" on 16:32:44 05/02/03 Fri



Shanshu

A few days ago I did a post about Kokopelli the statue of the fertility God in Gone. A fertility symbol and rain priest in Pueblo myth, who seduces maidens and carries songs, seeds and blankets with him. He also plays the flute. Info at

http://www.acaciart.com/stories/archive10.html


In response, glimmer wrote that Andrew has a pan pipe. Which made me think about Satyrs

Reference material about Satyrs

at http://monsters.monstrous.com/satyrs.htm
and at http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/satyrs.html



A Satyr is half human and half beast in Greek mythology. They have a goat's tail, flanks and hooves but the upper part of the body is that of a human. Although they have the horns of a goat, (Parallels with rams and representation of evil in myth and the Jossverse e.g. Wolfram and Hart on AtS). Satyrs are the companions of the God Dionysus and spend their time drinking and dancing. They chase after the wood nymphs and play nasty tricks on men, (Parallels with Puck in Midsummer Nights Dream). Satyrs are often depicted with pan pipes.

One of the most famous Satyrs was Pan. The word "panic" may originate from his name. He held a seven reed shepherd's pipe. (Parallels with the Pied Piper of Hameln). Pan was always in pursuit of nymphs but was always rejected because he is ugly. (Rejection parallels with Spike).

Side note for anyone who reads the articles at the links above: Apollo gave Midas donkey ears (Parallels A Midsummer Nights Dream methinks)

The article about Dionysus is at

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/dionysus.html



Dionysus is the Ancient Greek god of wine, agriculture, and fertility of nature, and the patron god of the Greek stage. But Dionysus also represents aspects of mysterious Ancient Greek religions. Rites of ecstasy and personal delivery from the daily world through physical or spiritual intoxication. Also like the bit in the article about Dionysus being called "twice born." Just like Osiris and Christ. Theology is all very connected.

A nice list of word associations from the above info that connect themes in BtVS S6 / S7 with Dionysus and Satyrs:

S6
Ecstasy
Addiction
Desire
Escapism
Indulgence

S7
Wine
Agriculture
Vineyard
Fertility of nature
The First
Caleb
Greek tragedy (hubris)?

Both S6 and S7
Greek stage
Music
Dance
Pan pipes
Lure
Sweet
The First

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Andrew Wells

The other day, Rosalind wrote: ‘Tara McClay, daughter of the earth and Andrew Wells, the source of the vital liquid without which the earth will remain hard infertile clay.’

And in response I wrote: ‘Now that I did not think of. I did not know the surnames for these 2 characters. Something new to think about. An original and important addition to all the things I had thought about before. Big clue in those names. Earth and water. Both are needed for regeneration. Rebirth of life. But earth may represent Gaia and water is often symbolic of evil or darkness in BtVS. Like the thing about stains that don’t wash out. Rain in Hells Bells. Shower or Bidet of evil comment by Buffy in First Date, I think it was. So. . .2 things on either side of the equation are needed to make a whole. Buffy and Spike?’

But perhaps Andrew reflects Spike. He is like Spike but on a lesser scale. He is shown in a similar coat. Which S7 ep where the Scoobies tied him to a chair? Reminds me of Something Blue when Spike is tied to a chair. He struggles between good and evil. He is tempted by power and used by the First. If Warren was ‘evil’ and Jonathan was ‘good’ then Andrew could have gone either way. He was the one in the middle and neither good nor evil. He eventually chose the side of good. . .(but in fact that seems to be the lesson. . .that there are no sides, he is forgiven and has the opportunity to learn from his mistakes. . .no either/or, black/white but shades of grey.)

Andrew burns a Funnel cake. The word funnel reminds me of rabbit holes and Alice in Wonderland. His surname, Wells reminds me that in Something Blue, Spike said: "Passions" is on! Timmy's down the bloody well. . .’ Wells. . .falling down underground and being trapped in water. Liquid down a tunnel. Water deep within the earth. An analogy for evil being beneath the surface. Or the liquid that is needed to bring life to the earth. Water represents evil but it fertilizes the earth to create new life. Wine can be associated with addiction and lust but it also represents life blood and fertility of the earth.

When I look at the word association lists above, at first sight it seems like it is the ‘subversive’ side of Dionysus (or BtVS S6) versus the other side of Dionysus (or BtVS S6). But it is actually a mixture of both that make the whole picture. No either/or, good/evil, earth/water but a mixture of both to make a complete entity.

I appears that Buffy/The First is really one entity. It seems like The First is the demon within Buffy. The demon she rejected because it was beneath her. In fact there is another ‘demon’ she rejected because she felt he was beneath her. Immense parallels between Smashed and Get it Done. Spike beneath her and from beneath you it devours may sum it up.

Finally: Satyrs are half human and half beast. In Smashed Buffy says, ‘Me? I'm lost? Look at you, you idiot! Poor Spikey. Can't be a human, can't be a vampire. Where the hell do you fit in?’

Does Shanshu mean that Spike is half human and half beast? Or rather, a mixture of both. . .shades of Grey. . .

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