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Date Posted: 10:04:31 04/09/02 Tue
Author: Dichotomy
Subject: I don't know what the answer is (confused rambling follows)
In reply to: 110v3w1110w 's message, "Why shouldn't willow kill warren ?" on 21:13:07 04/07/02 Sun

There are so many ways to look at the killings that happen on Buffy as a whole and after reading all these posts (especially those by Earl Allison, Vickie, and 110v) it seems that the justification can be looked at in the following ways:

1) Killing demons is okay because they killed or will kill humans if left undead and there is no place for their punishment in the human justice system. (Buffy kills vampires who are just emerging from their coffins before they even have a chance to hurt anyone because it's her job to protect humanity.) Killing humans is wrong, unless it's in self-defense (Giles killing Ben is defense against hell on earth and the certain death of multitudes, but Willow killing Warren is wrong because she takes the time to hunt him down expressly to kill him instead of letting the human justice system punish him)

2. Killing demons AND dangerous humans with access to magic is OK because of the aforementioned threat. Willow and Giles are both justified because both Ben (by virtue of hosting and helping Glory) and Warren (who has utilized magic in his evil deeds and gains powers from Rack) are especially dangerous because of their access to supernatural powers and may be able to escape punishment by the justice system.

3. Killing demons and humans is only justifiable in self-defense, in which case Buffy is not justified in killing all those who are freshly vamped or just hanging out in a lair after all. Willow is not justified in killing Warren, and Giles' killing of Ben is perhaps excusable.

In the Buffyverse, which seems more likely? Maybe none of the above. Perhaps ME is forcing us to rethink the rules. Maybe right and wrong constantly shift and metamorphose depending on the situation. But then, how do inhabitants in the Buffyverse function in such a reality? How do they know how to react?

I dunno. Fire bad. Tree Pretty. Help!

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Replies:

  • I don't know what the answer is (confused rambling follows) -- Dichotomy, 10:36:59 04/09/02 Tue
  • Re: I don't know what the answer is (confused rambling follows) -- Earl Allison, 12:01:31 04/09/02 Tue
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