Over the course of the film, Jefferies makes a few comparisons between Lisa and his ballet dancer neighbor, Ms. Torso. However, not once does he draw a comparison between Lisa and his neighbor Ms. Lonelyhearts, whom Lisa herself seems to relate throughout the film. The first scene we get focusing on Ms. Lonelyhearts is the one where she is getting ready for a date. It is soon revealed that Ms. Lonelyhearts’ suitor is an imaginary one and while she tries to pretend to have a romantic dinner with said suitor, she ends up breaking down at the table. At the close of the scene, we see Lisa looking at Ms. Lonelyhearts just before Jefferies compares her to Ms. Torso.
The scene may only last a few minutes, but it gives the audience a clear picture of Ms. Lonelyhearts’ loneliness and longing for love as she fantasizes about sharing a romantic dinner with a lover. As Lisa watches Ms. Lonelyhearts, her eyes soften and she is not quite frowning, making the expression seem empathetic. Seconds later, Jefferies comments that Lisa will never be like Ms. Lonelyhearts and after a brief hesitation, Lisa questions him. Lisa’s voice, witch at her arrival was upbeat and enthusiastic, now becomes soft and sad as she doubts Jefferies’ judgement. Both the look she casts at Ms. Lonelyhearts and her saddened tone help highlight how Lisa relates to Ms. Lonelyhearts.
These similarities between the two women help highlight Lisa’s own feelings of longing and loneliness in her relationship with Jefferies as he tries to push her away while she just wants to be with him. The song, To See You Is to Love You (performed by Bing Crosby), which plays throughout the scene further highlights this idea. During the song we hear the line “To see you is to love you” twice and the line “To see you is to want you” once. Over the course of this song, Jefferies is watching Ms. Lonelyhearts, not Lisa, which helps emphasize Lisa’s feeling of loneliness in their relationship.
I think you’re spot on in your assessment of Lisa identifying with Ms. Lonelyhearts. Her and Jeff clearly see her very differently. Due to his own insecurities about her status and beauty, Jeff sees her as someone able to handle multiple suitors, but Lisa knows that she longs only for one man and will feel that sense of longing until they make progress in their relationship. I think that’s their biggest problem—Jeff has an idealized version of Lisa in his mind that seems unattainable, but in reality Lisa is a lonely woman who wants the man she loves to marry her.