In the first season finale, Buffy learns that it has been prophesied that she must face the infamous Master, whose ascension would mean the opening of the Hellmouth, and she will unfortunately perish in the battle. Initially, she decides that she quits and refuses to battle in the Master in fear of dying at the age of 16. However, after consideration of what’s at stake, she assumes her role as the slayer and takes the fight to the Master. Buffy dies, yes, but Xander is able to (literally) breathe life back into her, and Buffy is able to defeat the Master once and for all. His demonic facade disappears after she slays him, and he becomes a mere skeleton.
Throughout the course of the episode, there were a few references to the “double life” that Buffy (and all the other characters, as well) leads. After a night of slaying and no recognition from Giles, Buffy disgustedly states, “I broke a nail, alright. I’m wearing a press on!” While her priorities at this moment in time are amusing, they are understandable from the perspective of a high school girl in the 90s. Towards the end of the episode, Buffy slays the Master (and some of his minions that have escaped the Hellmouth) in her flowing spring fling dress. This mashup of her typical high school life with her unbelievable slaying life couldn’t be less pronounced during these scenes.
After Willow and Cordelia happen upon a classroom of murdered Sunnydale students, Willow freaks out because the classroom and students were so familiar to her. In reference to the Master’s minions, she painfully states, “They made it theirs. And they had fun.” Her disgust with the actions of these supernatural beings is similar to the hatred held by many members of medieval European communities plagued by witch trials towards the supposed witches. Despite the very little incriminating evidence towards the witches in the latter scenario, people’s attitudes were still remarkably similar to Willow’s in this case.