Buffy: Uberman or Everyman?

[TheCheese]

There is a lot of talk in literature about the "hero" protagonist and the "everyman" protagonist.

This is an emotional and not a physical distinction.

The hero is a character who is capable of dealing with situations without batting an eye in which a human of normal emotional composure would break down. He/she does not have many of the doubts and insecurities we all share, or at least they are not apparent, and he/she always seems to know the right way to handle a situation. Quintessential example: Superman.

The everyman is a protagonist we are meant to sympathize with. He/she has the same problems as everyone else, in addition to the problems of a hero. The everyman is plagued by their own doubts, weaknesses, and insecurities, just like you and I, to get across the idea that anyone can be a "hero", even you and me, because nobody is a natural born hero, we are all just people. Quintessential example: Henry Fleming (The red badge of courage).

My question is this: Which of these literary types is Buffy supposed to be? Because I think she has aspects of both. But if this is the case, which of the two is more appropriate?

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

There is a lot of talk in literature about the "hero" protagonist and the "everyman" protagonist.

This is an emotional and not a physical distinction.

The hero is a character who is capable of dealing with situations without batting an eye in which a human of normal emotional composure would break down. He/she does not have many of the doubts and insecurities we all share, or at least they are not apparent, and he/she always seems to know the right way to handle a situation. Quintessential example: Superman.

I don't agree with that... While my frame of reference is mostly the DCAU/Timmverse, everything I've seen points to Superman being pretty normal. In the DCAU we saw that while outsiders theorized that Superman's deepest darkest fantasy was to rule over the universe, we the viewers saw that his most base fantasy was to be a middle-class farmer with a normal family and absolutely no super powers.

We also saw that his greatest fear was of his own powers. He feared them more than the criminals did.

Then we look at the DCAU Batman, and while he was probably the most powerful and brilliant mere-mortal in the universe, he was extremely fragile. He longed to be a recluse, and eventually became one for well over a decade. As the Joker said upon finding out Batman's identity, in many ways, Bruce Wayne has always remained that 8-year old boy.

The everyman is a protagonist we are meant to sympathize with. He/she has the same problems as everyone else, in addition to the problems of a hero. The everyman is plagued by their own doubts, weaknesses, and insecurities, just like you and I, to get across the idea that anyone can be a "hero", even you and me, because nobody is a natural born hero, we are all just people. Quintessential example: Henry Fleming (The red badge of courage).

My question is this: Which of these literary types is Buffy supposed to be? Because I think she has aspects of both. But if this is the case, which of the two is more appropriate?

I'm not sure where these definitions are coming from... Buffy's neither, certainly not at this point (S8). In terms of the Everyman Protagonist, Xander, Wes, Giles and Gunn are the only ones that come to mind from the Buffyverse.

 

[owa]

Using Literary terms to discuss a television series is not fair, but I digress...

Using your definition of an "everyman" there's no way Buffy can be anything but that. There isn't even a discussion. It's like asking:

Apple: Orange or Apple?

Orange: must peel skin to eat. The actual edible part breaks apart in sequences. Is a fruit.

Apple: Generally eaten with the skin, has seeds in the middle and is not sequenced. Is a fruit.

Conclusion: "Well the apple has spects of both, but which is it exactly?"

The everyman is supposed to have aspects of a hero, but the point is that there's supposed to be a distinct difference between the two that makes it an everyman and not a hero (as your definition coins).

With that little rant over with, literary terms are generally useless to the average person. A hero is a hero, even if they deal with everyday issues and stress. Buffy is a hero; whether or not you want to put her in an 'everyman' category, that's fine, but she's still heroic in her own fictional universe.

 

[MergedLoki]

Definently more of an 'everyman' type of hero.

As sure she doesn't bat an eye at pant shittingly terrifying danger like the rest of us would.

BUT there's so many times throughout the various seasons where she worries about.. hell.. School, romantic life, insecurities we all worry about (her future, will she HAVE a future, is she doing the right thing w/her life etc.)

definently makes her much more human seeming than like a 'yep im a slayer i rock nothing can stop me lets go kick ass' type of hero.