Willoughby's Confession
Posted by Barry on August 25, 1998 at 23:17:15:
In response to Melodrama , thoughts on the confession and the effect on Elinor, written by Barbara on August 23, 1998 at 13:34:11
Barbara, You (and other postings on the subject I have read) have given me much food for thought, especially how Elinor is affected, even temporarily brought slightly out of balance, by the two confessions she hears. As I read on, I noticed that in the second paragraph of Chapter 47, it says that "Reflection had given calmness to her judgments, and sobered her own opinion of Willoughby's deserts," indicating that part of Elinor's empathy was based on the undue influence of the moment, and, yes, her own sensibility (as you noted), thus temporarily unbalancing her usually strongly controlled perceptions. It also of course is partially a reflection of the force and charismatic power of Willoughby's personality.
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