Who Knew Sarcasm had Some Meaningful Function? (Xander)

Being fairly new to the world of Whedon (especially the world of Buffy) The Character of Xander stands out in my mind; not because he is a good looking guy but because every word that comes out of his mouth is layered with a sweet coat of "smartass" that is hiding a deeper layer of concern for the wellbeing of his friends . Xander's tendency to act as if every event that happens over the hellmouth, is in my opinion, a clever coping mechanism with the world of the supernatural in opposition to the lifestyle of the average teenager. In the episode that we watched during class Xander's attitude towards the other characters, especially Giles is very show offy and to some extent even arrogant, which brings some annoyance to the other characters facial expressions. However despite his constant careless demeanor Xander is able to show an even stronger dedication to helping Buffy and the rest of the group knowing when to act seriously and having no problem lying to his own family to provide his contribution to discovering the mystery of "The Judge". The character of Xander himself is a clever tool in providing the rest of the characters with a sense of calm by using his own attitude to create an environment in which Buffy and friends can focus on the task at hand when otherwise they may be most frantic