Poll
(Love and Semantics) In the movie Splash!, there are several relevant incidents. Near the beginning, Tom Hanks is having a fraught telephone conversation with his girlfriend Victoria. “What do you mean, do I love you?” he asks. He’s clearly been put on the spot. “Well, do you love me? Huh? Huh? Well, there you go then!” But this doesn’t work out well, and shortly afterwards we find she’s left him.
Later, after Hanks has met Daryl Hannah, she unexpectedly gives him an enormous fountain as a present. “Why did you do that?” he asks, bemused. “Because I love you,” she answers. Hanks is taken aback by this forthright declaration. “I love… this present!” he stammers, as usual avoiding the fatal words. Then he reconsiders. “I love you, Madison!” He’s surprised he wants to say it.
When Tom Hanks's character told Daryl Hannah's character that he loved her, was he promising something or asking for some kind of promise from her?
Later, after Hanks has met Daryl Hannah, she unexpectedly gives him an enormous fountain as a present. “Why did you do that?” he asks, bemused. “Because I love you,” she answers. Hanks is taken aback by this forthright declaration. “I love… this present!” he stammers, as usual avoiding the fatal words. Then he reconsiders. “I love you, Madison!” He’s surprised he wants to say it.
When Tom Hanks's character told Daryl Hannah's character that he loved her, was he promising something or asking for some kind of promise from her?
Yes, he was making a promise to her. For example, he was promising that her well-being was important to him, and that he would always, or for a long time, care about her.
As immediately above, but he also wants her to promise not to make the same offer to anyone else.
He wasn’t promising anything or asking for any kind of promise.
As immediately above, and he is also promising not to make the same offer to anyone else.
Yes, he was asking for a promise from her. For example, he wanted an assurance from her that his well-being was important to her, and that she would always, or for a long time, care about him.
Yes, he was offering a reciprocal arrangement. For example, he promises to care about her if she feels the same way about him, or something like that.
As immediately above, but both sides must promise not to make the same offer to anyone else.
Yes, he was promising something more complicated that doesn’t fit any of the above.
He was promising something, but he was lying.
Poll added by: Manny
