@itspileofgoodthings, I think it’s because this is the first time we see him completely overwhelmed and undone by his own emotions.
Yes, we can see throughout the film how in love he is with Marianne, but here, you can see the cracks in his normally reserved and pleasantly formal being — in his face and in the way he looks.
His jacket is nowhere to be seen, his waistcoat is unbuttoned, his cravat is untied, his collar is loose, and he is so wracked with emotion he has to hold onto and lean on the wall for support.
Finally, he is totally that guy whose love language is acts of service. So his slightly trembling voice as he asks for an “occupation” so he doesn’t lose it entirely is just the cherry on top.
