I'm a bit confused about Angel characterization in the first seasons of BtVS and his concept of family. I really believe in what you say in this essay, but I think that Angel as a character was suppose to be just a Buffy's boyfriend, so he doesn't display this strong bond with his childes/sire that we saw in Ats.
Oh everything totally evolved - a lot my meta is about trying to tie everything together, even if it wasn't done purposefully by the writers.

Buffy is now is moral guide and the pourpose of his un-life, so he kills Darla, her previous guide, because he dooesn't need her anymore.
This is a very good point.

It's very complex the bond between A/D and, in so many ways, is a bond between mother and child than lovers. With Cordy, Angel is really a "manpire" in love with a woman, I don't know if you understand what I'm trying to say here. :)
I think so, and his love for Cordy was in many ways much more tempered than his love for Buffy. Both Darla and Buffy got that complete obsessiveness, but with Cordy he was able to moderate and try to understand what love *was*.

This, I think, is the prove that the first Angel is a very self-centered character.
Heh. You're not wrong. :)

In this prospective I think that even is previous love for Buffy was self-centred and idealized.
Mmmmmm, very much so.

If he really wants to love her, I have to start post NFA, and maybe along with the love for Spike *TOTALLY SPUFFEL FAN NOW*
\o/

For Angel, trying to find a pourpose of life apart Buffy, trying to do the right thing in LA means also discover the love for other people.
So much word.