Ah, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. So proud, so prejudiced. Also, he’s attractively rich. Portrayed on screen by a succession of handsome actors (most famously Laurence Olivier, Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen), Mr Darcy has become an iconic romantic hero. It’s difficult to pinpoint what his appeal is. If you ignore the films, TV and chick lit novels, focusing on the character in Jane Austen’s book (first published in 1813), he does not seem a particularly likeable character. The romantic tension comes from the conflict between him and Elizabeth Bennet. At first she really dislikes him because he won’t dance with her at a country ball: ‘she is tolerable, but not pretty enough to tempt me.’ He’s a snob, albeit under the influence of his aunt, the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and his best friend’s sister, Caroline Bingley.
During the course of the novel, various obstacles are in the way of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth, until they finally forgive each other and recognise their love. Elizabeth is lucky to marry for love and money. She’s won the lottery, as it were. All the power rests on Mr Darcy, however. He’s the one with the ancestral seat, the income of £10,000 a year, the connections, while Elizabeth has a small dowry and ‘fine eyes’. It’s a version of the classic fairytale trope of a Prince Charming sweeping a pretty but penniless girl off her feet and riding off into the sunset.
Mr Darcy is a more interesting character than his best mate, the jolly and simplistic Mr Bingley. There are mysteries going on inside Mr Darcy’s head. He’s an intellectual by comparison. That’s something he has in common with Elizabeth. They both have the same kind of brainpower, which makes them equals and explains why they have the potential to clash. The novel of course does not go beyond their marriage (although there have been various sequels by other authors) but you can imagine that the relationship would be happy – the couple actually being in love – although rocky because of their temperaments.
Are you a Darcy devotee? Or are you fed up of the Darcy domination?
I love Colin Firth as Mr Darcy ?
Me too! ♥
I’m not a Darcy fan, but with Colin Firth as Mr Darcy I almost could be 🙂
Ha ha… I think Mr Darcy is basically Colin Firth to us all, I wonder how the original readers pictured the character and whether he was a romantic hero back then!
Can you believe I’ve never met Mr Darcy? You’ve reminded me to add the book to my holiday list!
I hope you enjoy making his acquaintance! ?
I know I’ve been liking under a rock for most of my life: I’ve not read the book. Another one to add to my ever growing reading list 🙂
living under a rock! Still sleepy lol
I’ve watched the tv series more times than I’ve read the book!
Austen is not everyone’s cup of tea and of course there are so many other authors to try, so I’m not judging anyone who has not read P and P 😉
I guess I am a Darcy devotee. But then what makes a character interesting for me is often their air of mystery and a touch of darkness to them, maybe. I love misunderstood characters. That is also what makes fiction so exciting. Who wants to read about someone who is simple and cheerful all the time? Darcy from the start is pretty much like Rowling’s Professor Snape – complicated – outward hatefulness and arrogance and self-sufficiency but some warmth inside to be seen only on rare occasions. Those rare occasions are worth waiting for.
That’s a great point about misunderstood characters – and an interesting parallel with Snape! I agree that the mystery of Mr Darcy makes him an intriguing character. I would say he is my favourite Austen male. Thanks for your comment!