“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!” said the head. For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m a part of you?”

William Golding – Lord of the Flies

Cordelia: It must be hard when all your friends have, like, superpowers. Slayers and werewolves and witches and vampires and you’re like this little nothing.

From “The Zeppo” (3013)

The paper explores human cruelty in Buffy, and the knock-on effect of intimidation.

Malice develops, for example, through Cordelia’s vanity and insecurity, Warren’s pathological hunger for power, or Principal Snyder’s sadism. Vulnerable and unconventional individuals are targeted.

Internalising invalidation, Jonathan becomes both victim and dangerous pawn. However, negative energy can be transmuted. Willow’s low self-esteem leads her to rely on increasingly destructive magic, but when she re-channels that power as positive magic she discovers her true worth. Buffy turns her own pain from invalidation into positive, active defiance.

Buffy needs to taste Dracula’s blood to defeat him. Similarly, when victims fathom the aggressor’s strength, they realise their own. Xander deals successfully with Cordelia at the end of “The Zeppo.” He has found courage that exceeds that of the bully, Jack.

United, the Scoobies are a potent match for any kind of intimidation. This is powerfully symbolised in the group-being they form in “Primeval” (4021). In Buffy reality inter-plays with the metaphorical elements, highlighting the psychological undercurrents.

Buffy gives a strong message of encouragement to victims of intimidation.

The paper includes examples from scholarship, literature, film and real-life situations.

Scholarship sources:

From Fighting the Forces edited by R.V. Wilcox and D. Lavery:

“Buffy’s Mary Sue is Jonathan” by J. Larbalestier.

“Darkness Falls on the Endless Summer” by C. Siemann.

“Staking in Tongues” by K.E. Overbey and L. Preston-Matto.

“Surpassing the Love of Vampires” by F. Mendlesohn

“My Emotions Give Me Power” by E.R. Helford.

“Who Died and Made Her the Boss” by R.V. Wilcox.

From Reading the Vampire Slayer edited by R. Kaveney:

“They always mistake me for the character I play!” by I. Shuttleworth.

From Slayage no. 2:

“There Will Never be a Very Special Buffy” by R.V. Wilcox.

“Vampires and School Girls” by G. Wisker.

From Slayage no. 8:

“She’s Not All Grown Yet” by J. Battis.