I have just spent the last hour writing a essay comparing Mercutio to Romeo and it hit me how much these two have in common with Angel and Spike. Mercutio is the loveable rogue who sticks out in his scenes and doesn't really fit (like Spike). While Romeo is the romantic guy with a good heart and takes action when needed (like Angel). You could even compare Bangle to Romeo and Juliet (with the whole Vampire thing taking the place of the two waring families). I'm not sure if this makes sense but thought I'd just put it out there.
Similarities To Shakespearean Characters?
- Thread starter No Angel
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nerd4hire
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I agree. In fact it sounds pretty bang on the mark to me, although I don't think there was necessarily any copying of characters. I think it's more probably just something that happened.
I heard Joss was a Shakespeare fanatic, and he used to invite friends (including Buffy cast members) over to his place to do Shakespearean readings.
I heard Joss was a Shakespeare fanatic, and he used to invite friends (including Buffy cast members) over to his place to do Shakespearean readings.
Xander
You Can Call Me Ash
He is a shakespear fan, he used to do shakespear readings at his house. But anyway yeah probably subconscious inspiration.
killerdwarf
Scooby
AshSan said:
Yup, and one of those readings lead to "Once More, With Feeling" when a couple of the cast members started to sing along with someone else who was playing the piano...sorry, I don't know names, but JM and Amber Benson were there for sure!
The characters you identified with Spike and Angel are right on, as n4h said. And really, they are archetypes for heroes...we've seen the "unwilling buddy movie" scenario lotsa times. Like the first "Lethal Weapon", and many others, the good guys grudgingly work together and solve the problems...the twist for Joss's characters is that they already did this, but when they were playing for the other side! Makes Buffy and Angel much more compelling and rich as tv shows, don't you think?
xtrustno1x
Kinky.
There's a lot of characters within the verse that have Shakespearen undertones, to me at least. Illyria, Wesley, Angel, Spike...
BillieHunter
~**Hillbilly Hunter**~
Because I hate Shakespeare...and I love buffy and Angel...i'm going to block out everything you said and pretend I never read it....although you make valid points and what you said is very true, and I would have to agree.....ok...let's start blocking it out....now....