Rousseau can't help but notice all the pretty ladies around him. Seriously, he spends pages upon pages describing every physical attribute of the women he meets. We'd say he's not just into beauty, though. Rousseau appreciates the human form. Remember, his two biggest interests are art and flawed humans. When those two interests collide, we get a long description of an interesting-looking face.
Rousseau's second-favorite topic has to do with the laws of attraction, so you can bet your behind that he's going to spout off on what makes him attracted to somebody. Although that might seem pretty straightforward, Rousseau tells us he's attracted to things that aren't conventionally aesthetically pleasing. A quick wit will always make someone more physically attractive, he says. We'll buy that one, Rousseau.
Questions About Appearances
- Why does Rousseau obsessively describe all the women he meets?
- We never hear much about the big guy. Why doesn't Rousseau dedicate much time to describing his own physical appearance?
- What does Rousseau value in terms of appearances?
- Does Fanny make more of an impression, appearances-wise, than Joseph? How can you tell?
Chew on This
Good personality? It's not just a polite put-down. Rousseau complicates traditional views of beauty because he's more invested in human character than outward appearance.
The appearances that Rousseau seems to value in his youth change significantly as he ages.