"This is the story of the wrath of Achilles." (Spoilers for myth, S6, future) -- Buffy Trollop Central

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Date Posted: 18:41:54 05/11/02 Sat
Author: Fred, the obvious pseudonym
Subject: "This is the story of the wrath of Achilles." (Spoilers for myth, S6, future)
In reply to: Dochawk 's message, "Willow's Revenge" on 00:58:52 05/10/02 Fri

Combination of two submissions on the other board.

End of season six: "This is the story of the wrath of Willow."

It's been a while since I read the "Iliad," but there are parallels that I find interesting. Achilles, the greatest warrior (the "big gun")of the Greek forces, is sitting out the combat -- long story but basically he felt he was dissed by the other Greek leaders. So he lurks in his tent and passes the time pleasantly with his same-sex lover, Patrocles.

[Willow, for different and better reasons, is sitting out her use of magic; she, now reunited with her same-sex lover, is passing time pleasantly.]

With Achilles out of the game, Hector, the Trojan's "big gun" (let's leave the Freudian implacations alone) is ripping through the Greeks like a wolf in the sheepfold. The Greeks beg Achilles to intervene; he refuses. Patrocles, moved by sympathy for the beleaguered Greeks, volunteers to put on Achilles' armor and pretend to be that hero to try to deter Hector. He knows full well that he is not as powerful a warrior as Achilles, but hopes things will work out.

[Tara, although a witch, is less powerful than Willow; she remains engaged with her friends and their concerns.]

Hector kills Patrocles. Achilles, who is, in part, responsible for the tragedy due to his inaction, mourns, gets new armor, and comes out after Hector like the wrath of God.

[Warren kills Tara. While we don't know exactly what Willow will do, it is a likely prospect that by the time she's done with Warren, his remains will fit into a matchbox with room left over for a Russian microchip and a fortune cookie.]

The analogy may collapse here; Achilles destroys Hector and dishonors his body. King Priam of Troy, Hector's father, goes to Achilles to beg the return of the body of his son. Achilles relents. There is a set of funeral games, parallels, between the rituals for Patrocles and Hector.

We'll see.

I think Willow's wrath will be gigantic and unconstrained. Part of the reason is guilt; there is no question but that Willow's resurrection of Buffy was the cause of Tara's death. Price for price.

1.) Willow resurrects Buffy.

2.) Some months after resurrection, Warren shoots at (now-living) Buffy.

3.) Stray bullet hits Tara. Tara dies.

4.) Without a living Buffy, Warren would have had no reason to arm himself or fire wildly, certainly not at that address.

5.) The price is paid; the circle is closed.

This was really well none, in my opinion. No contrivance or obvious supernatural involvement necessary past the original
resurrection. The Powers that Be have spoken; Tara's death was a logical, ordered consequence of Willow's act in Bargaining.

Willow is intelligent. Whether she admits it or not she will figure it out. So what will she do with her awareness of her own guilt? Will she admit it or will she lash out at everything BUT herself to try to deceive herself about her own culpability.

If she does not stop with the destruction of Warren, if, as some have opined, she continues her career of destruction with attacks on innocent people, what will Buffy and the other Scoobies do?

This was my reference to the Field of Camlann. In this battle Camelot's Round Table, divided between the forces of Mordred and Arthur, destroys itself in civil war, leaving Albion to the forces of chaos. In so doing they have betrayed their trust to those whom they have been defending.

In Sunnydale, will the Scoobies divide? Have they not already divided -- Spike from Buffy, Anya from Xander, Willow from civilization? How will this internal conflict play out, and what price will each individual, the Scooby Gang, or even Sunnydale itself pay for this disunity?

Another parallel; in the Odyssey, we learn the fate of Achilles. He was brought down by a shot in his only vulnerable point by a pathetic Trojan coward, Paris. Consider Warren, the bullet, and Tara.

"This is the story of the wrath of Achilles."

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Replies:

Re: "This is the story of the wrath of Achilles." (Spoilers for myth, S6, future) -- zooey, 11:52:33 05/12/02 Sun
- Re: "This is the story of the wrath of Achilles." (Spoilers for myth, S6, future) -- catwitch, 07:39:24 05/15/02 Wed
  - "This is the story of the wrath of Achilles." (Spoilers for myth, S6, future) -- Fred, the obvious pseudonym, 13:08:57 05/17/02 Fri
  - Interesting! Never heard the bit about him hanging out in drag... -- belle, 12:03:31 05/19/02 Sun