Agnes is learning how to develop a feminine persona (doe-eyes) that has power over another by feigning empathy.
Trout must need this type of felt-sense of empathy, but despite it being over the top, still she feels it as friendship. She is trying to give Agnes advice.
Agnes is not aware of her own experiments with persona and misses Trout’s point that a persona protects oneself as well as promotes human interactions. She over-reacts with touchiness. Trout’s answer shows herself to be wiser than one would think.
Here’s some psychological comments:
Agnes is learning how to develop a feminine persona (doe-eyes) that has power over another by feigning empathy.
Trout must need this type of felt-sense of empathy, but despite it being over the top, still she feels it as friendship. She is trying to give Agnes advice.
Agnes is not aware of her own experiments with persona and misses Trout’s point that a persona protects oneself as well as promotes human interactions. She over-reacts with touchiness. Trout’s answer shows herself to be wiser than one would think.