Understanding “name of a person＋をして”


> 何の躊躇いもなく晒された令音の裸体は、同性である **琴里をして** 息を呑んでしまうほどに美しかった。

What is the usage of the bold part (i.e. name of a person＋をする)? Does it mean
琴里として?




That をして indicates the agent of a verb in a causative construction. It is an
old form and should actually be paired with an old causative form, 〜しむ or
〜しめる. 琴里をして息を呑ましめる would mean the same as 琴里に息を呑ませる. In modern usage, it is
often used with the normal causative form 〜せる, as in 琴里をして息を呑ませる, and somehow
tends to carry a sense of emphasis as if the agent is hard to make perform the
action of the verb. It’s like saying 琴里にさえ／すら息を呑ませる.

Now, in your example, the verb is not even causative. Though it seems a misuse
to me, it still retains the emphasizing effect as the author probably
intended. It’s like saying 琴里（で）さえ／すら息を呑んでしまう

This sense of emphasis may be because it is confused with を[以]{も}ってしても. I’m
not sure.




That をして indicates the agent of a verb in a causative construction. It is an
old form and should actually be paired with an old causative form, 〜しむ or
〜しめる. 琴里をして息を呑ましめる would mean the same as 琴里に息を呑ませる. In modern usage, it is
often used with the normal causative form 〜せる, as in 琴里をして息を呑ませる, and somehow
tends to carry a sense of emphasis as if the agent is hard to make perform the
action of the verb. It’s like saying 琴里にさえ／すら息を呑ませる.

Now, in your example, the verb is not even causative. Though it seems a misuse
to me, it still retains the emphasizing effect as the author probably
intended. It’s like saying 琴里（で）さえ／すら息を呑んでしまう

This sense of emphasis may be because it is confused with を[以]{も}ってしても. I’m
not sure.

