The Prodigal

Liam's funeral is interesting because of his eulogy. The priest might speak many more words, but we hear him speak only a few phrases: "Taken too soon from the bosom of his family, a man of just 20 years and 6, Liam was well-loved by everyone he met. Receive this your humble servant. We pray that you may take his eternal soul into your care, Father." Liam was turned into vampire Angel in 1753. Not long before that, funeral orations were philosophical and theological in nature. They were often given in Latin for Catholics, in places where Latin was familiar to commoners. These eulogies said, more or less, "Now, the rest of you, try to avoid the sins of this sinner." But in the late 18th century, they began to focus on praise and memory of the departed. So the ceremony represents a transition between the old and the new traditions, just as Angel does himself.

Wesley claims to be doing a vivisection on the remains of a demon. However, a vivisection is only done on living specimens. What Wesley has done would be more aptly described as an autopsy, or a post mortem.

Features Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Becoming: Part 1 (1998)