The passage being read in class is from Act 3, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'.
The scene in which Marcie watches her hand fade away was inspired by a vivid dream that Joss Whedon had as a child and also matches a similar scene in Back to the Future (1985).
Guest-star Clea DuVall says, "It was pretty early in my career. I'm almost positive we shot it before it had aired. Or maybe I just didn't know they were doing that show, and when my agent told me I had an audition for it, I was like, 'They're making a TV show of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)? That's insane.' Then I went on to also become obsessed with the show, because it's so good. But I was pretty new, and I was really young. I think I was maybe 18 or 19 when we shot it. I was nervous and very shy, but really related to that character so much because I am a shy person. I am an introvert. I was so taken with the sensitivity and the emotion in that role. When I first heard the idea they were making a show about Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I thought it was insane and then read that script and was impressed, and it's something I'm happy I was a part of."
When in class discussing Shylock, Cordelia says "That is such a Twinkie defense." She is referring to a derisive label for an improbable legal defense. It was a term coined by reporters during their coverage of the trial of defendant Dan White for the murders of San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. White's defense was that he suffered diminished capacity as a result of his depression. His change in diet from healthy food to Twinkies and other sugary food was said to be a symptom of depression. The consumption was symptomatic of his underlying depression and led to his actions resulting in the murder of Milk. White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. The story of this murder was portrayed in Milk (2008), an American biographical film based on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk.
Giles and Angel meet for the first time.