Dr. Horrible's secret identity (typically thought of as superheroes and supervillains' "real" or "normal" selves) is Billy, whom Penny affectionately refers to as "Billy Buddy."
The name is far too similar to Herman Melville's famous title character of the unfinished and long-lost novella, Billy Budd. Budd is the nearly angelic "pure good" character who is executed by the good, just, yet ultimately legalistic and cowardly Captain Vere for the crime of murder. The so-called victim of the murder is the nearly demonic Claggart. Budd accepts his fate, even to the point of calling on God to bless his executioner.
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog seems to reverse the roles a little, but stays true to the themes, of Billy Budd. Billy Buddy is likeable, sweet and endearing, but he's the one with a seemingly friendly and justified demon inside (with jerks like Captain Hammer running around, isn't he allowed a little vitriol?). Captain Hammer slides almost directly into the Captain Vere role - the law-abiding, by the book, good guy who nonetheless can't transcend the letter of the law to the spirit of it: in other words, he's good and just, but also legalistic and uncaring for those whom he defends. So, in Joss Whedon's version of Melville, Billy Buddy is the one becoming an agent for the Thoroughbred of Sin, while Penny is the pure good in the Billy Budd role who is nonetheless an innocent catalyst for disaster.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Dr. Horrible, Billy Buddy and Melville
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5 comments:
I'm not familiar with Bill Budd but that's an interesting parallel you draw. Although 'Billy Buddy' is not an innocent, one of the things that makes him a sympathetic character is his wide-eyed belief that joining the Evil League of Evil will allow him to execute his plan to change the World Order and thus allow him to ascend to the role of Benign Dictator. Though just how benign he would be is a moot point.
Oh yes, and I loved Penny's hair.
I think it significant that Dr. Horrible consciously and verbally puts an end to "Billy Buddy" too, regardless of whether the moniker is a reference to the angelic "Billy Budd" or not. The term of endearment carries its own meaning that is simply intensified if the Melville reference was, indeed, intentional.
I can't help but think that even if it wasn't an intended reference, that it was a subconscious one. It just seems like there's too much there for it to be coincidental.
Another parallel that I think is significant is that Billy Budd (of Melville's story) kills Claggart when a speech impediment makes him unable to speak to defend himself. The physical act serves as his form of communication since his speech is impeded.
Dr. Horrible/Billy Buddy also has a problem expressing himself both to Penny and to Captain Hammer. And his intended act to kill Captain Hammer is done to communicate his rage. His song at the auditorium isn't sung to Captain Hammer (who is "frozen").
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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