Putting it out there...

[ash48]

Pondering this lately because I've been warning to write something about this ('cause of reasons…). Are Sam and Dean actually codependent? Zachariah said they were and they are often referred to by fans as codependent (both negatively and positively). But are they?



of or relating to a relationship in which one person is physically or psychologically addicted, as to alcohol or gambling, and the other person is psychologically dependent on the first in an unhealthy way.

excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically a partner who requires support due to an illness or addiction.

1. Mutually dependent.
2. Of or relating to a relationship in which one person is psychologically dependent in an unhealthy way on someone who is addicted to a drug or self-destructive behavior, such as chronic gambling.



So is codependency the right word for their relationship? Just curious...

[Poll #2014387]

Comments

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I think they are to a certain extent codependent, but I don't think it runs to the normal descriptors of the condition. If we watch them in their day to day, they tend to grate on each other, need space from each other, and sometimes don't even like each other that much, which is normal in any sibling relationship, or indeed any relationship in general. Sometimes you just have to walk out the room in order to gather your thoughts. And especially considering the amount of time they spend with each other. To be honest, the fact that they get along as well as they do the majority of the time is a miracle.

However, where they do display extreme codependency is in their inability to *let* the other go/walk away/in some cases die.

This I think is linked heavily with John's insistence that Dean make sure he spend his entire life working to look after Sam, whether that be putting food on their table or saving him from monsters of unspeakable evil, or even himself.

They both seem to have an overwhelming need to make sure the other does not check out, and if they do, they are damned well coming back, whether they like it or not.

They can both live quite happily apart, as long as they are in fact alive!

Just my random thoughts on it ;)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for sharing those thoughts. It's the "can't let each other die" that's the most curious thing about the relationship. I agree that, at times, they can live apart and even need time apart from each other. But I think it's the lengths they are prepared to go to to keep the other from death that's fascinating. I've always thought that letting the other go would be the better option sometimes (I've often thought that about Dean bringing Sam back in S2), because each time they come back there is much suffering to be had. But the show must go on, so they must also! (yay!)

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Hee, you know how much I love your discussion and thinky thoughts posts hun, so you're welcome and thank you for making this creaking brain work ;)