Summary:
There’s virtually no disagreement in the comments on this one. Key examples seem to be Cordelia and Anya’s conversion narratives...
Anya: The rapid reproductive rate of our rabbits has given me an idea. I can give the excess out to the townspeople, exchanging them not for goods or services, but for goodwill and the sense of accomplishment that stems from selflessly giving of yourself to others.
Olaf: Ha, ha, ha. Sweet Aud! Your logic is insane and happenstance, like that of a troll.
and Buffy’s unrecognized labor...
… until this moment, at least. [screencap credit: buffyworld.com]
Myself, I’d include Joyce, whose labor to make a functional home for Buffy goes unrecognized until after her death.
Your Comments:
Although occasionally begrudgingly. Why should one person shoulder all of the burden and responsibility? A major theme/idea that Buffy is constantly struggling with. Why me? Why can't I just have a normal life? That is the beauty of friends and family, you don't have to go it alone! Although, at times it still might suck, at least you are not going it alone!
This was key to the show. And not even just helpful. Selfless (which of course, was very tiring for Buffy, in particular).
Yes, but not to the exclusion of your own individual well-being. In other words, not complete selflessness.
Compassion, love, understanding, respect and willingness to intervene when a person is ruining a life is a central theme in Buffy.
Although it's not always the easiest to help others, the scoobies learn that it is for the better in the long run, and they will be rewarded if they do a good deed for another.
The biggest and most relevant theme of the entire series was the importance of helping others. Buffy, a girl who just wanted to be a normal girl, sacrificed that desire specifically so that she might help others. More than that, she helped others who would have no idea they were ever being helped, despite being ridiculed because of it (or, rather, because of the fallout of it, but the likes of Cordelia). The fact that Willow and Xander (and later many others) chose to help in the fight, even though they were never made to, just underscores how important helping others truly was to the show.
Everyone does their bit
Scoobies were helpful to one another most of the time. Of course, saving the world was Buffy's mission.
"You've only lasted this long because you have ties to the world." …Buffy risks her life every day for the welfare of others and pays very dearly when she has selfish moments.
The show dealt more with the balance between helping others and living one's own life, between taking care of others and taking care of one's self.
This is the nature of Buffy's calling, and I'd argue that she adheres to it throughout almost the complete series. However, by seasons 6 & 7 her interest in working for the welfare of others has significantly waned.
The self-centred might as well be vampires or demons - they either learn or suffer - or both. (Cordy, for example. Anya too, in some ways.) Vampires are the ultimate antithesis to this, and are routinely dusted.
Buffy's full-time job was helping people & she never got paid for it! Angel sought redemption through helping people. Spike's actions were never seen as heroic until he earned his soul & could finally do the right things for the right reasons.
the prom episode - where Buffy is elected the class protectorate…I think it is more an underlying aspect rather than in Angel where it is very front forward.
They always work for the welfare of others, that's what the scooby-gang is all about.
Buffy was committed; she just wasn't happy about it. Mixed message.
Yep
I think this theme is more fully explored in Season 8, but even within the first 7 seasons the series often forces characters to distinguish between what is personally desirable and what is good for the world (Giles killing Ben; Buffy refusing to kill Dawn; Buffy accepting her role as a slayer; even the humor of Anya's suggestion that Buffy charge for her services).
Buffy's friends were often vital to her success!
The good guys were all very helpful, so....
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