She thought back to what he had said. /I could make you very happy./ It was something men said then, when they were trying to persuade you, and that was what they meant. It seemed rash and sweeping to her, dazzling but *presumptuous*. She had to try to see herself, then, as somebody who could be /made happy/. The whole worrying, striving, complicated bundle of her -- was that something that could just be picked up and /made happy/?
In this passage, the protagonist reflects on a statement made by a man, implying he could bring her happiness. This sentiment resonates with her, highlighting the common tactic men used to woo women by promising joy and contentment. However, she perceives this assertion as overreaching and simplistic, questioning the feasibility of being made happy so easily.
Her contemplation leads her to reconsider her own identity and worthiness of happiness. She grapples with the complexities of her life, wondering if her intricate nature can truly be transformed or simplified into happiness. The internal struggle illustrates the contrast between external promises and the internal reality of self-acceptance and fulfillment.
