Is there fault with Dawn?

[Buffy Summers]

In The Gift, when Buffy decides to jump, Dawn allows her to take her place. Was Dawn's decision morally wrong? Should she have fought Buffy more?

 

[msfantastico87]

You know, I thought the exact thing the first time I watched it. It's like

Buffy: "I'll jump for you"
Dawn: "No! You'll die!"
Buffy: "Better than the world ending"
Dawn: "In that case knock yourself out"

I think she should have fought it more. I mean I'm sure that if she did jump instead of Buffy, the scoobies could have found another way to save the world, (at Dawns expense obviously).

I know if it had been me, and my older sister offered to jump, I would have pushed her out of the way and attempted to jump, but since she's the slayer she'll beat me to it anyways. But it's the thought that counts right? =/

 

[BuffyElevated]

I do think Dawn should have tried harder to keep Buffy from jumping. But at the same time, I think Dawn was just emotionally broken, and in shock. She'd been through so much and I don't think she could really wrap her brain around what was going on.

 

[xfivebyfive]

What was Dawn supposed to do? Fight her lol they start fighting the whole thing collapses and they both die lol

No but seriously, I dont think Dawn could have done anything to stop Buffy, She was devastated that Buffy was going to do this. She didnt want Buffy to die, but Buffy had made up her mind. Plus Dawn is a little kid and that's a really scary situation.

 

[MandaMeena]

Agreed. Dawn had just been kidnapped, traumatized and been sliced open... plus, she was how old, 15? I don't think it's fair to accuse her of not trying harder to jump instead of Buffy. Having an older sister who I look up to myself, I can see how it would be difficult to go against her wishes after giving me a speech like Buffy gave Dawn... to live... for her. One of the most interesting family bonds is between sisters. It's different than a brother/brother relationship, different than a brother/sister. I would jump to save my sister's life in a heart beat, and I know she'd do the same for me. However, since she's always been the faster one (we've had many races to the bathroom), I don't think she'd ever give me the chance.

 

[Marisa]

I think the first reaction is yes Dawn should have fought a little harder but then again it was in the moment she was shocked, scared probably a mix of emotions. Her sister is telling her she will take the jump I can't say I just wouldn't be speechless or act like Dawn. So I am going to say for that moment no she wasn't wrong and in season 6 premiere Dawn fought harder so it makes up for it.

 

[zobothehobo]

Dawn couldn't have stopped Buffy... I think she knew that. If she had fought harder, she would have just let the portal be open for longer... I'm pretty sure she and all the other Scoobies knew that.

 

[MinwaraYana]

Dawn was gonna run into the portal, but Buffy stopped her, remember?

Dawn tries to run past Buffy but Buffy grabs her.

BUFFY: What are you doing?
DAWN: I have to jump. The energy.
BUFFY: It'll kill you.
DAWN: (softly) I know. (Buffy staring at her) Buffy, I know about the ritual. I have to stop it.
BUFFY: No.

The tower shakes underneath them, making them both stumble.

DAWN: I have to. Look at what's happening.

More lightning crackles, even larger than before. Buffy looks up. A huge dragon flies out of the portal and buzzes the tower, flying away as they watch.

DAWN: Buffy, you have to let me go. Blood starts it, and until the blood stops flowing, it'll never stop.

Buffy stares at Dawn in anguish.

DAWN: (tearfully) You know you have to let me. It has to have the blood.

So I think Dawn did her best. She really wanted to jump, but her sister told her to live for her. And after the speech, if I were her, I would be speechless and stay still just like she did.

 

[TaylorSwift]

I agree with the others here. Dawn tried the best she could and she knew that physically, she could have been able to stop Buffy. Poor kid, she was traumatized and completely exhausted, mentally and physically. I don't blame her on this.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

You know, I've been thinking about that few days ago, while rewatching. And I can honestly tell you, as much as I hate Dawn in that season, I don't think there was much to do. Buffy calmed her down and explained her things we heard leater, when she already jumped. She said goodbye to her.. I think it all happened so fast, but in the future, in the beginning of season 6, I think that Dawn felt some guilt.

 

[Natasha1988]

It would have made the 2 series following it so much more bearable if she just jumped instead of Buffy lol!

 

[Kean]

Dawn was gonna run into the portal, but Buffy stopped her, remember?



So I think Dawn did her best. She really wanted to jump, but her sister told her to live for her. And after the speech, if I were her, I would be speechless and stay still just like she did.

I'm not particularly fond of Dawn but I have to agree with this post. She was 14 years old, she had been through a truly horrific experience, I think she did everything she could in that moment. Short of pushing Buffy off the tower, what else could she have done? As well as that I think the fact that Buffy was her guardian, for all intents and purposes she was her mother. When you are a kid you expect your parents to look after you, to take the blows for you. I think Dawn was brave for how willing she was to jump.

Although, I will concede that her attitude after Buffy returned was, at times, appalling.

 

[sylvanscribe]

Dawn should have offed herself the minute she first appeared in the show and started whining.

But that's my opinion.

But more seriously, there was nothing she could have done. Buffy wanted to die .... as Season 5 made clear all Slayers have a death wish, the need to end the never ending burden of slayage. And after her mother died, Buffy didn't want to be forced to be Dawn's mother.

 

[TheVoid68]

I think Dawn could see that Buffy simply was not going to let her jump.

 

[Buffy Summers]

Dawn was gonna run into the portal, but Buffy stopped her, remember?

Yeah I do remember, but she goes to do it, then Buffy says no, and THEN Buffy decides she's going to jump instead. And Dawn doesn't really do anything after that. Even before Buffy gives her the speech. I don't know, just seems like she should have put up a little fight there. Instead of basically just letting her sister kill herself, when she could do something about that.

 

[MinwaraYana]

Yeah I do remember, but she goes to do it, then Buffy says no, and THEN Buffy decides she's going to jump instead. And Dawn doesn't really do anything after that. Even before Buffy gives her the speech. I don't know, just seems like she should have put up a little fight there. Instead of basically just letting her sister kill herself, when she could do something about that.

I remember Buffy hasn't realized what she'll have to do until Dawn mentions things about blood. Then the flashbacks. Then Buffy realized. Then Dawn and she said "Buffy, no". And the speech starts immediately and Buffy starts it with "Dawn. Listen to me. Listen." I would definitely listen if I were her.

 

[kristin1105]

the fact is she is The Slayer's sister. no matter how much she may have wanted to have jump she must have know that buffy would prevent it at all cost.

if that was my sister id let her go. mostly cause i dont like my sister

 

[DanAngelus]

As much as I hate the way Dawn is sometimes I think that under the circumstances in that situation she did her best. Maybe some part of her, just for a second, saw the possibility of Buffy dying instead of her and it made her pause just as Buffy did in "The Weight Of The World". Everyone has their own survival instinct. Or maybe she was just in shock and knew she couldn't get past, either way, I say she did her best.

 

[saturn5]

No, Dawn is the littlelest Summers, she is supposed to outlive her mother and big sister, that's the way of the world. If Dawn had killed herself Buffy probably would too, she wouldn't have been able live without her. By contrast Dawn may be heartbroken by losing Buffy and Joyce but she copes. Buffy needs Dawn a lot more than Dawn needs Buffy

The whole reason the monks made Dawn into the little sister in the first place was because they're valued beyond all else, Buffy, the Scoobs and everyone else were just falling over one another to protect her

 

[msfantastico87]

If Dawn had killed herself Buffy probably would too, she wouldn't have been able live without her. By contrast Dawn may be heartbroken by losing Buffy and Joyce but she copes. Buffy needs Dawn a lot more than Dawn needs Buffy

This is where I'd have to disagree. Yeah, if Dawn jumped, Buffy might have tried to jump in after her. But I think that instead of doing that, Buffy would have tried to devise a plan to try and get her back somehow. If it was impossible to bring her back, then I think that Buffy would have continued with her duty as the Chosen one and kick some major evil-butt. Which would work out well since she can blame all the evil in the world and she would be more determined to avenge her death.

Now Buffy jumped. We don't really see Dawn having this major negative change, but it's definitely there. I mean, she becomes a klepto and she is way too young to have her entire family gone. Eventually, the weight of both her mother and her sister's death would have gotten to her, to the point where she would have gone crazy or even try to bring Buffy back like she tried with Joyce. But because Buffy was brought back, we don't really get to see what really goes on through Dawns head after Buffy's death.

In conclusion...Dawn should have jumped 🙂