Can’t argue with “a vampire is a demon-animated corpse,” who “possesses the memories and personality of the dead human.” Although I think it is only the vestige of the human personality left inside the corpse that “spices” the personality the demon subsequently develops. I suppose some people might argue that the human personality, if permitted to mature without any societal mores or governors, might be quite similar to that of a demon’s, but then that sticky soul thing comes back into play.
“Personality is sourced in the human brain and nervous system and is much influenced by hormones.” Can’t argue with that either, except you seem to have left one personality source off of your list - the soul; if you believe in the soul, that is, which I do. (And by the way, if the “hormones” comment was a subtly snide assessment of the Spuffies, all I can say is: Water off a duck’s back, buddy.)
“…the soul exists apart from the personality. Does the Buffyverse soul have awareness? …does the infecting demon have awareness? Is the infecting demon a sentient being in need of a vehicle?” You seem to imply here that awareness - or the birth of the vampire - only occurs when the demon is wed to the personality remaining in the human corpse after the soul has departed. Interesting concept. As is your question about the Buffyverse soul having awareness. Prior to Season 6, I would have said we have no proof either way, but now we know that Buffy remembered her sojourn in heaven, so I would have to say, Yes, the Buffyverse soul is aware.
“…if Spike were replaced in any past scene by William the human, how would he have felt, thought or acted? The personality is the similar.” I don’t think that’s a fair question, as you yourself inferred in your footnote. The William who existed in 1880 is, for all intents and purposes, forever dead.
We’re going to have a Spike who is reunited with William’s soul. We proved soul awareness, above, but where has William’s soul been lo these past 122 years? Did it go to heaven because William was essentially an innocent at the time of his death, or did it go to hell because William acquiesced to becoming a demon? Are we going to see a “Spilliam” confused and repulsed by the harsh brightness and violence of the human world, as Buffy was, or tormented by the memory of his years in hell and the crimes committed by Spike, as Angel was? How would either of these soul experiences mix with the personality and experiences of Spike to create a new character? I think it’s important to remember that Spike has less to regret than Angel…he’s spent the last several years helping humans because the demon inside him fell in love with Buffy. I know it’s trite and all that, but love does conquer all. Because of that love, Spike the demon underwent death-defying trials in order to obtain a soul so that he would be worthy of gaining Buffy’s love. Angelus had his soul unwillingly thrust upon him, and immediately upon its departure, the demon hated Buffy. I suppose it would be ironic if the ensouled Spike didn’t love Buffy because it was only the demon inside of him who loved her. (Yuck, I hope they don’t take that story track next year.)
I have to disagree with you about Spike “never wishing to be good” and “was never in conflict with himself.” While he may have always reveled in his perceived evilness, the truth is once he fell in love with Buffy, some of that evilness slipped away. Maybe he acted for the good only to get what he wanted so badly - Buffy - but in the end it was his regret for his own actions, disgust at what he’d become - neither demon nor human and hence something Buffy would never love - that drove him to seek the return of his soul. To me that screams conflict with himself.
“He was always in conflict with the world.” I think a degree of conflict with the world will remain in the ensouled Spike. I think, much as there was a vestige of the human personality left in the corpse, so too will there be a vestige of the demon left in the newly-ensouled corpse, and that will create conflict with the world (and a dollop of Bad Bay in his personality). Plus there’s the whole can’t get a suntan thing cause he is, after all, still possessed of all the physical attributes of a vampire.
“Now he’ll be in conflict with himself.” Other than a newly-acquired conscience-driven regret for his sins as a vampire, I don’t think the ensouled Spike will be in conflict with himself. I’m hoping that he’s going to like himself better, be more emotionally mature, and will still be motivated in his actions by his love for Buffy and the goal of being loved by her in return. I think that story arc will leave lots of room for drama, misunderstanding, angst, and funny dialogue.
But then I’m a romantic sap, so who can say what kind of personality ensouled Spike will have? The only thing we can say for sure is that we won’t be seeing the same old Spike - he’ll be different - and James will have an acting challenge in shaping the new character.
©Bufidiot2002 Used with permission
