Final answer:
Emily starts changing her mind about liking George as she reevaluates her values, pondering the nature of heroism and her own desires for George to embody the traditional societal ideals of manhood against the backdrop of war.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emily began changing her mind about liking George due to her evolving perspective on courage and heroism. Initially, she was drawn to George's request for her love and gave it without much thought. However, as she reflected on the concept of heroism, she felt that George achieving something great, like being her hero, would make their relationship grander.
This thought was magnified by the societal pressures and her own internal conflict regarding the romantic idealization of bravery. Emily's emotions strongly influenced George, as she unknowingly pulled upon his nature and his masculinity, leading her to reconsider the qualities she truly admired in him.
Meanwhile, George's own reflections on the war and its moral implications began to shape his image in Emily's eyes. Despite George questioning the glory of war, Emily pushed her idealistic views on the nobility of fighting for a cause.
Her passion for the war and her desire for George to align with that vision caused her to reassess her feelings. The combination of Emily's desire for George to be her hero, the gravity of the societal expectations of manhood, and George’s reluctance contributed to a shift in Emily's feelings toward him.