I never wrote the paper, but the main point is how an obsessive drive to defeat Death destroys the Hero, who began with great potential for good.
Very true and awesome potential paper! I don't think Voldemort fits into that narrative, but you could always keep him in the title and use Harry as the counter-example of a hero who DOESN'T try to defeat death and remains a hero. Though, not sure if that would fit either. Good thing you're not actually writing the paper! :P
In SPN, the definition of monster is "it wants to eat us" so if it doesn't eat us, it isn't a monster. Because spa lady was still technically feeding on human, Dean still checked her as a monster -- just like with the Amy Pond monster.
Good point.
Is it even possible for him to change that without breaking completely? Like, (and I AM the huge Braeden fan) could Dean have ever survived with Lisa *as himself* not as a mournful shell??? What will it take to rewire Dean to regard Sam as someone who has (not should have, but ACTUALLY HAS) full autonomy??
All very good questions and why I'm eager to see what happens with this storyline. When you have a character who is defined around another character as much as Dean is - who is he without that? He was never completely happy at Lisa's but that's because he was a broken mournful shell, as you say... would he have eventually moved past Sam's death and lived a fully realized independent life?
Because that's the thing with Dean - he doesn't see Sam as having independent will, because DEAN'S not independent. What's interesting about this story line is that by claiming his own autonomy, Sam's basically forcing independence upon Dean.
What Dean heard was "I wouldn't save you" which is a HUGE kick in the balls to Dean. When what I think Sam meant was "if the situation were reversed, I would abide by your wishes." Of course, Dean has a bit of a deathwish. He's always kind of longed to give his last breath to Sammy, to go out in a blaze of glory defending his Brother, so Sammy can live and Dean can be finally justified. I (selfishly?!?!) hope we don't ever get that.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-02-05 08:56 pm (UTC)Very true and awesome potential paper! I don't think Voldemort fits into that narrative, but you could always keep him in the title and use Harry as the counter-example of a hero who DOESN'T try to defeat death and remains a hero. Though, not sure if that would fit either. Good thing you're not actually writing the paper! :P
In SPN, the definition of monster is "it wants to eat us" so if it doesn't eat us, it isn't a monster. Because spa lady was still technically feeding on human, Dean still checked her as a monster -- just like with the Amy Pond monster.
Good point.
Is it even possible for him to change that without breaking completely? Like, (and I AM the huge Braeden fan) could Dean have ever survived with Lisa *as himself* not as a mournful shell??? What will it take to rewire Dean to regard Sam as someone who has (not should have, but ACTUALLY HAS) full autonomy??
All very good questions and why I'm eager to see what happens with this storyline. When you have a character who is defined around another character as much as Dean is - who is he without that? He was never completely happy at Lisa's but that's because he was a broken mournful shell, as you say... would he have eventually moved past Sam's death and lived a fully realized independent life?
Because that's the thing with Dean - he doesn't see Sam as having independent will, because DEAN'S not independent. What's interesting about this story line is that by claiming his own autonomy, Sam's basically forcing independence upon Dean.
What Dean heard was "I wouldn't save you" which is a HUGE kick in the balls to Dean. When what I think Sam meant was "if the situation were reversed, I would abide by your wishes." Of course, Dean has a bit of a deathwish. He's always kind of longed to give his last breath to Sammy, to go out in a blaze of glory defending his Brother, so Sammy can live and Dean can be finally justified. I (selfishly?!?!) hope we don't ever get that.
Agreed 100%