Something Strange and Deadly Discussion #3

And we're back for week three!

This week's discussion question is:

Eleanor finds herself more and more intrigued by (perhaps even attracted to) Daniel Sheridan, the inventor of the Spirit-Hunters. What is it about him that appeals to her? And vice versa, what do you think attracts Daniel to Eleanor? Then there’s Clarence Wilcox, the seemingly perfect eligible bachelor. Why do you think Eleanor doesn’t like Clarence?

Before I start, you should know that I am a HUGE Eleanor/Daniel shipper (but come on, who isn't?).

Okay. So why do I think Eleanor is so attracted to Daniel?
There are so many reasons why, but I think a large part of it is his bluntness. He's not afraid to say what's on his mind. He doesn't care if he says the wrong thing. He doesn't treat her like "a proper lady." He knows that that's not what she wants, and he knows that that's not the person that she is. He may seem like he's often disrespecting her or making fun of her, but he's also acknowledging that she's not the girl that she's labeled as because of her background. He might call her Empress or whatever, but he doesn't treat her as such. He won't hide things from her just because society says that a girl or woman shouldn't know about it.

He gives her an escape from the world of her mother and of the Wilcoxes. She doesn't have to think about whether or not she looks good enough or if she's deemed approachable or worthy of marriage. She clearly doesn't want the life that her mother wants for her, and Daniel is the exact opposite of what her mother expects.

Now, that's the most basic reason why I think Daniel appeals to her, but I need to get on to Clarence, so.

The answer to this is actually pretty much explained above. Clarence is the epitome of the life her mother wants for her. She always has to act a certain way around him, and she can't be the person she actually is. Yeah, maybe he has a lot of money and status, but that's not what she cares about. Clarence doesn't understand her, and he doesn't appreciate the girl/woman that she wants to be/is.

It's also about how he treats her. He treats her as if she's a delicate little girl, and he thinks that shouldn't be in the loop on certain things simply because she's a girl. This is the exact opposite of Daniel, who isn't afraid to say whatever he wants, even if it might hurt her/her feelings. Where Daniel is blunt, Clarence is tactful. Maybe for all the other girls of high society that's for the better, but for Eleanor, who wants to have the freedoms that she can't get because of her status and who wants to help the Spirit-Hunters, that's not what she wants. She wants someone who's going to be honest with her and will treat her as an equal.

All in all, my point is that Clarence and Daniel are polar opposites, and Daniel is the one that allows her to be herself and actually treats her with more respect.
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