David did many things to provoke Alexandra, he pushed her to break from the childish snobbery or selfishness that he felt her family possessed, which he feared was rubbing off on her.
When they are picking crab apples he suggests she go far away, and she becomes infurirated. But there was a subtext: he wants her to grow up, to realize, as her father has also said, that she must learn to consider others' feelings and views into consideration.
Even if David were at dinner with a 'date,' no matter how indignant she may feel, is it her right to insult the other woman? To pout and act like a child? She is rude and wrong to react as she did, particularly when she is unfamiliar with the arrangement between them. I agree that she was most likely a fellow journalist or pamphlet writer (it wasn't that improbable, there were ladies journals and a few budding investigative journalists like Ida R. Tarbell).
After the party David tells Alexandria that she needs to figure things out for herself, it won't be the same if she is 'told' what to think. I believe he is extremely fond of her, but wants to keep her guessing (as you said) because he wants to make sure she has the character, the personality to be worth pursuing. She proves herself, slowly. Nevertheless, David does seem to leave her in suspense, hoping she will develop the poise to interact with other people, not simply demand things (like her family).
Frankly, it's not that unreasonable.
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Pearl_Jade
14 years ago
About that date, IIRC her back is always to the camera and we never see her face. What did the filmmakers have in mind by doing that?
Imagine this actress being cast in a William Wyler movie starring Bette Davis; and none of her family, friends, or acting colleagues can actually get a glimpse of her.
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