causing her to fall madly in love with a man to whom she gives hardly any attention.
As Alan seeks to be the object of Diana’s devotion,
so the old man’s offer becomes attractive: “
Using a love potion seems to indicate
that Alan is willing to do anything to meet his own desires,
regardless of whether or not Diana’s desires conflict with his.
True love is concerned for the desires of others rather than focusing on the desires of self.
An individual who has love for someone else is willing to sacrifice for that other person,
but an individual
who has a self-centered love is willing to sacrifice that other person for his or her own self.
Austen chooses to sacrifice Diana and her desires rather than sacrifice for her desires,
clearly revealing his self-love.
He actualizes this self-love in his willingness to pursue love through trickery.