Following a brutal act of violence and force, a surprising psychological reversal takes place. In similar historical cases, raw lust often turns to hatred immediately after the act. Yet here, the attacker develops a strong desire to establish a permanent relationship with his victim and appease her for the pain he caused [ספורנו, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רש״ר הירש]. This shift reveals two distinct emotions. Initially, his feelings were driven purely by physical lust and a superficial attraction to her great beauty [רד״ק, העמק דבר, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר]. However, once his initial animalistic desires subsided, a deeper connection took root. He began to appreciate her wisdom, her moral grace, and her high social standing. As the prince of the land, he recognized that the daughter of the respected and prominent Jacob was an equal, fully worthy of being his wife [ספורנו, רד״ק, העמק דבר, מלבי״ם, רש״ר הירש].
Faced with Dinah's tears and her deep grief over her violation, Shechem felt genuine regret for the torment he had put her through. Realizing she was rejecting him, he approached her with words of comfort [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר, מחוקקי יהודה]. He spoke to her softly and gently, trying to soothe her heart and persuade her to marry him [אבן עזרא, שד״ל, רש״י, ביאור יש״ר].
His attempts at persuasion took several forms. One approach relied on economic and social status. He highlighted the vast difference between her father, who had to spend a large sum of money just to buy a small plot of land, and himself, the prince, who could easily gift her an entire city and its surrounding fields [רש״י, ברטנורא]. Dinah, however, reportedly rejected this offer with a sharp, witty reply. She noted that she came from the lineage of Joseph, who is compared to an ox, while Shechem came from the lineage of a donkey. Just as it is forbidden to plow with an ox and a donkey together, she argued, it would be improper to join them [הדר זקנים].
Another perspective suggests Shechem used a colder, strictly logical argument to convince her. He bluntly pointed out that because she had already been assaulted, she would never find another suitable match. Therefore, he argued, the most practical choice was to marry him, as he had the power and position to secure her future despite everything [קונטרס חיבה יתירה, העמק דבר]. This calculated persuasion may have been especially manipulative given her extreme youth, as historical calculations suggest Dinah was merely a child of about eight years and one month old at the time of the event [רבנו בחיי, צאינה וראינה, קונטרס חיבה יתירה].