3. Class
Class is another ongoing issue in
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In its early days, the subject off class was obviously an issue in the relationship between Xander Harris and Cordelia Chase. Xander and, in particular, his family, were depicted as being working class people with a less than ideal home-life, while Cordelia is depicted as the stereotypical spoilt brat coming from an upper class, well-to-do family. Consequently, Xander would often look at Cordelia with a 'la-de-da!' attitude, while Cordela was reluctant to be seen with Xander and would even mock him with her friends with comments about his appearance, social standing and clothes. Xander's standing in terms of class would continue as a theme in the later seasons. While the majority of the Sunnydale alumni graduated and went on to study at university, Xander would follow his working class roots and become a construction worker. As a result, his life experiences were dramatically different from the likes of Buffy, Willow and Riley. But, of course, his continued close friendship with the group was testament to the notion that class really doesn't matter in that sense. The complete difference in their class of upbringing was also a key part of the conflict between Buffy and the rogue slayer Faith - in fact it could be said that Faith's disliking of Buffy was rooted in class. Faith was brought up in a working-class area of South Boston, which meant that Buffy's upbringing in a middle-class Los Angeles (and then Sunnydale) family home was relatively luxurious to her. Faith does, at certain points, openly express her contempt and jealousy towards Buffy's life and in the episode
This Year's Girl, Faith uses a device called the Draconian Katra to swap bodies with Buffy and immediately relishes the simple luxuries in Buffy's life, like her wardrobe, a warm bath and her make-up.