It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in.

[Professor Walsh]

Walking home from a talk on the Israel/Palestine conflict yesterday, I found myself thinking about the various reasons people can have for joining a battle (both in the less and more literal senses of the word). When Willow decided to stay in Sunnydale rather than going away to a prestigious university, what do you think was her motivation? A clean-cut drive to fight evil? The feeling of identity that her role as The Witch gave her? Staying with her friends?

 

[BuffyElevated]

I think that Willow liked the feeling of being able to use her magical abilities to help Buffy, and she was also a little scared of leaving her friends. Before she met Buffy, she didn't really have a best friend other than Xander. After meeting Buffy, she became a part of a group of people where she truly belonged, and I think she was reluctant to leave all that.

 

[SupportOGal]

When Willow made that statement, I really don't think she had magic in mind. At that point, I think she was still pretty innocent (for lack of a better word) and really just wanted to help.

I mean, once you know that monsters exist and that the world could end at any moment due to the evil in world, what else can you do but fight them? I'm sure working at a shop or becoming an accountant don't feel nearly as meaningful as saving the world. I think it'd be important to feel like you're doing all you can.

This feeling has to be amplified by the fact that your best friend is going to be up against this stuff night after night no matter what you choose to do. Do you just go away to college and pretend that this stuff isn't going on? To me, and I think to Willow, that would be pretty difficult. Also, world savage in general (helping Buffy) does give Wilow a place, importance, and meaning.

 

[brinkster130]

Willow had finally found a group she was a part of; Buffy, Xander and Giles were her family. She knew she could stay in Sunnydale with them, still get a higher education and still do meaningful work ie: helping fight evil.

Plus, knowing what she does about the world, I imagine it would be difficult for her to walk away knowing Buffy, Xander and Giles would still be risking their lives for humanity just about every night.

 

[The Unspoken]

Well, Willow already choose to fight since the start of the show. Here, she makes her first real sacrifice by not going to a better university, to continue fighting that fight. I don't think it's much different from a job like a firefighter in which you help people that gives you fulfillment.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

All of it.

She probably wanted to stay with her friends. They were in so many situations together, and they had an amazing bond. She had all she needed in Sunnydale. Also, the knowledge she's making a difference in the world was probably more satasfying than any prestigous college degree.

 

[Kean]

I think she wanted to be part of something that truly mattered. When she made that choice, Good vs. Evil was a very simple idea in her mind. Having been kidnapped by the Mayor it established her as a "Player" within the Scooby gang. She had been acknowledged as an important part in the fight against Good and Evil. I think she was wooed by that. All the Ivy Leagues in the world couldn't contend with that. Without ever stepping foot in Harvard, Yale, Oxford or Cambridge she was already an important person to the world.

At this point in time Willow had remained essentially unscathed in Buffy's fight. And that is the important point here. When Willow makes this decision the fight had always been Buffy's (on a much lesser scale Giles'), and because of this Willow had emerged from 3 years on a Hellmouth without suffering any lasting physical or emotional trauma. However, once she made the decision to stay, the fight became hers and it was only then that Willow realised the full price of being an important person in the struggle against Good and Evil.

 

[Willow My Love]

Because Wil had a heart of gold. Knowing what she did, she wanted to help. She thought it was an admirable battle, and she wanted to help. (see what I did there? 😉 )

Plus, what would the show be without Willow? Certainly not as amazing.