- Nov 20, 2018
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I would agree, although having something like ADHD isn't exactly the same as lack of intellect. She has the capacity to learn, understand, and deal with new information or circumstances, if it's something interesting to her. IMO she shows much more a lack of motivation (or possibly wisdom) than a lack of intelligence. I have the feeling she comes across as (or pretends to be) stupid but is probably at least decently bright.Belle is a rather complex character. The MC certainly doesn't have her figured out yet. For example, the jury is still out on how intelligent she actually is. She often shows sparks of real intelligence and insight [she immediately knew that the MC had fallen off the wagon], and yet seems to have difficulties in concentration. Is it simply ADHD? Or do other factors, including her obvious lack of self-esteem, factor into the equation. I reject out of hand that she is actually just a spoiled brat.
I'm definitely not saying she's Einstein or anything, obviously. But that scientist did do horribly in school but was exceptionally smart. It's possible she's just intelligent in a different way. Accumulating knowledge through books ≠ experiential knowledge / practical information acquisition. To me, mostly she seems just not to be driven to "apply herself", as a parent might say. As you mentioned, she can recognize things that others might not easily spot. If she were unintelligent, she'd miss something like that (she would not have learned to recognize it, understood the cause, or handled knowing that very well).
But all of this is just my own 2¢ / 2p.