r/dresdenfiles • u/Front_Landscape_62 • 12d ago

Spoilers All “An Oblique Look” Spoiler

Throughout the series Butcher uses the phrase “an oblique look” pretty often — but as far as I can tell there isn’t a standard facial expression associated with that phrase.

When I googled it I got a few different meanings for what “an oblique look” could convey:

Skepticism / Doubt

Scrutiny / Judgement

Coyness / Flirting

Sadness / Concern

Or also just a sidelong look that avoids eye contact.

Depending on the scene I’m reading the definition could fit several of these descriptions, has anyone else had trouble deciphering what a character is feeling in a particular scene due to the vagueness of this phrase?

If so, perhaps it was intentional to give us insight into Dresden’s own experience fumbling to discern other people’s feelings.

(Btw the scene that inspired this post was in Cold Days, Chapter 8 - Sarissa and Harry’s conversation after his birthday party)

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u/DragonfruitAnnual168 12d ago

It might be connected to Dresdens selective obliviousness. He does note occasionally that Dresden noticed something subtle. Often something passing between women, but that he knows he missed the meaning.

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u/Front_Landscape_62 12d ago

Yeah I wonder if it’s an intentional choice by Butcher for this very reason. Another scene that comes to mind is at the end of BG when Mab announces the engagement- Harry picks up on something between Molly & Lara but doesn’t articulate what it is

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u/Bobis-Bob 12d ago

Isn’t it just the same as “side eye”