Was Dawn ungrateful?

[Chosen Enemy]

Dawn may have not seen the good side of being the little sister of a vampire slayer. She whined a lot about it, not really seeing the things that Buffy has done for her. Buffy gave up so much for her. In the ending of season 5 she died for her, but then in season 6, again she whined and didn't quite appreciate Buffy. She had Buffy as her sister, and she didn't appreciate it enough.

Was she a little ungrateful?

 

[Cohen]

You have to take it from where she's at. In s5, she's a teenager, wanting the responsibilities of an adult, but she's still only 14. A lot of teenagers are that way at that age, I know I was like that a little bit. I wasn't even allowed to have a cell phone until high school when all my friends had one. And then in s6, she felt abandoned because her mom died, Giles and Tara left, her sister wanted little to do with her, her other "mother" figure Willow was too busy dealing with personal problems. I can understand the way she was.

 

[Cast No Shadow]

I wouldn't cast her as ungrateful, just a typical teenager. Despite what your sister does for you, if you are the sibling who is always overlooked, and who is seen as less successful, you're going to be a bit jealous, for sure.
It doesn't matter that Buffy did a lot for Dawn, to Dawn it always looked as though Buffy was the special, favourite child, and when you're 15 (or however old she was) that's got to sting.

When you get a bit older things change, and I think despite having relapses, she eventually did always want the best for her sister, and was happy for her, and also realised the struggles she faced.

 

[PassionBecoming]

I feel like she was insanely ungrateful and unwilling to meet Buffy where she was at. She never took into account anything Buffy might be going through or the responsibilities Buffy had. Now, in season 6 I can't blame her for being a little put out because Buffy was neglecting her.

I can't speak from experience, but to me it seems Dawn's contstant whining and attitude goes being normal sister issues.

 

[Summerlilly]

I thought most of the time Dawn was a spoiled brat. But, she was a teenager and lets face it she didn't exactly have a normal life. I think she was ungrateful at times and very annoying, especially in the beginning. But honestly, somehow she grew to be one of my favorite characters.....

 

[Kairos]

I kind of feel like basic care and attention from one's immediate family and legal guardians shouldn't automatically elicit feelings of gratitude from a minor. When you have a child, you take care of that child, whether or not she thanks you for it.

 

[Skytteflickan88]

I agree with most things said above. She was a teenager, had a hard life, lost her mother and sister. Makes sense that she would be whiney at times (not before Joyce's desease though, that was just uncalled. But typical little sister stuff, I guess). Actually, in season 6, from what I recall, she was relatively mature, and she didn't drive me crazy. She had some insightful moments, and were there for the other people in a way I wasn't at that age.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I wouldn't cast her as ungrateful, just a typical teenager. Despite what your sister does for you, if you are the sibling who is always overlooked, and who is seen as less successful, you're going to be a bit jealous, for sure.
It doesn't matter that Buffy did a lot for Dawn, to Dawn it always looked as though Buffy was the special, favourite child, and when you're 15 (or however old she was) that's got to sting.

This, definitely. I don't think Dawn was ungrateful. I think maybe she needed to try to look at things from a more positive angle, but I wouldn't say she was ungrateful; just a little bit jealous.