Mr. Darcy...every women's dream man

[JAustnQuilnInk]

Mr. Darcy. *sigh* There honestly is no man I would rather meet. There is something so captivating about the way Jane Austen develops her characters. She constantly introduces them one day, and by the end of the novel your heart is swarming with dozens of different emotions towards them. For example, Mr. Darcy is introduced as an arrogant, insufferable, ignorant, cheauvenistic elite. By the end of the novel, he is perfect for Elizabeth in every way possible. Why can't that happen in real life? *sigh*:(

[browneyedbailey]

Well, I guess you have to get REALLY lucky.

[sciencefan]

I found the man of my dreams 27 years ago, but I liked him right away. I think that's better that starting out hating someone. Just to let you know, "Mr. Right" is worth waiting for; don't settle for "Mr. I Guess You'll Have To Do".

[enya]

Let me start by saying I can understand why women find Darcy attractive--he's handsome, rich, thoughtful, eloquent....
But my heart belongs to Edward Rochester.
For instance, Darcy romantic statements can be easily summed up in a page--throughout the entire book. Mr. Rochester can take up 14 or 15 in a single setting.
Ex: Darcy: "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must alllow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
My darling Edward: "Then you are mistaken, and you know nothing about me, and nothing about the sort of love of which I am capable. Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still: if you raved, my arms should confine you, and not a strait waistcoat--your grasp, even in fury, would have a charm for me: if you flew at me as wildly as that woman did this morning, I should receive you in an embrace, at least as fond as it would be restrictive. I should not shrink from you with disgust as I did from her: in your quiet moments you should have no watcher and no nurse but me; and I could hang over you with untiring tenderness, though you gave me no smile in return; and never weary of gazing into your eyes, though they had no longer a ray of recognition for me.....You see now how the case stands--do you not?" he continued. "After a youth and manhood passed half in unutterable misery and half in dreary solitude, I have for the first time found what I can truly love--I have found you. You are my sympathy--my better self--my good angel. I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you, and kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one."

See? I'm not saying anything against Darcy's romantic statement, it's just that Edward's passion kind of blows him out of the water, IMO.

So, in conclusion, I would rather meet Edward Rochester (and marry him, if possible :) but Mr. Darcy is extremely attractive as well, and I hope you find him someday.

[sciencefan]

Let me start by saying I can understand why women find Darcy attractive--he's handsome, rich, thoughtful, eloquent....
But my heart belongs to Edward Rochester.
For instance, Darcy romantic statements can be easily summed up in a page--throughout the entire book. Mr. Rochester can take up 14 or 15 in a single setting.
Ex: Darcy: "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must alllow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
My darling Edward: "Then you are mistaken, and you know nothing about me, and nothing about the sort of love of which I am capable. Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still: if you raved, my arms should confine you, and not a strait waistcoat--your grasp, even in fury, would have a charm for me: if you flew at me as wildly as that woman did this morning, I should receive you in an embrace, at least as fond as it would be restrictive. I should not shrink from you with disgust as I did from her: in your quiet moments you should have no watcher and no nurse but me; and I could hang over you with untiring tenderness, though you gave me no smile in return; and never weary of gazing into your eyes, though they had no longer a ray of recognition for me.....You see now how the case stands--do you not?" he continued. "After a youth and manhood passed half in unutterable misery and half in dreary solitude, I have for the first time found what I can truly love--I have found you. You are my sympathy--my better self--my good angel. I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you, and kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one."

See? I'm not saying anything against Darcy's romantic statement, it's just that Edward's passion kind of blows him out of the water, IMO.

So, in conclusion, I would rather meet Edward Rochester (and marry him, if possible :) but Mr. Darcy is extremely attractive as well, and I hope you find him someday.I agree with you that Austen's lack of development of Darcy's feelings left much to be desired.

[jessy2792]

God, I fell in love with Mr. Darcy the first time I watched the movie (I had the book for a while but I never got around to reading it). Then I watched the new version of the movie and I completely fell in love with him ;)
He just has something about him that obviously makes women develop sympathy for him. Shortly after the movie I read the book and I also wished that Darcy's character was a little bit more developed, but what we do get to know about him I love :yawnb:

[cactus]

I agree with you that Austen's lack of development of Darcy's feelings left much to be desired.

What Austen's fails to express, Colin Firth makes up in his role as Mr Darcy.

I love Darcy because of his imperfection. He is proud and intolerant towards people who have no propriety. But don't we all have things we hate and cannot stand? We all have certain principles and beliefs. We feel for Darcy because we could feel the injustice towards him when the characters (especially Elizabeth) in the book cannot see past these imperfections. Below these layers is a man of noble qualities, a man who is true to his feelings, ideas and principles. There is a certain appeal in such a man.

[kellygrace]

I totally agreed. I'm hopelessly in love with Mr. Darcy. In the world of literature, he will always hold the key to my heart.

Haha, I try not to dwell on this in real life, however! I'm sure someone wonderful will come along but don't expect Mr. Darcy, darn fiction. However, I believe there are men just as amazing in real life, probably just different. :)

[cactus]

My darling Edward: "Then you are mistaken, and you know nothing about me, and nothing about the sort of love of which I am capable. Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still: if you raved, my arms should confine you, and not a strait waistcoat--your grasp, even in fury, would have a charm for me: if you flew at me as wildly as that woman did this morning, I should receive you in an embrace, at least as fond as it would be restrictive. I should not shrink from you with disgust as I did from her: in your quiet moments you should have no watcher and no nurse but me; and I could hang over you with untiring tenderness, though you gave me no smile in return; and never weary of gazing into your eyes, though they had no longer a ray of recognition for me.....You see now how the case stands--do you not?" he continued. "After a youth and manhood passed half in unutterable misery and half in dreary solitude, I have for the first time found what I can truly love--I have found you. You are my sympathy--my better self--my good angel. I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you, and kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one."


God, if any guy said this to me I would shudder..... in disgust... It seems so.... I don't know....fake... either that or he is not right in the head... especially in this line "You are my sympathy--my better self--my good angel." A guy wrote me a very long poem/letter once and.....well you could guess what happended to him!


God, if any guy said this to me I would shudder..... in disgust... It seems so.... I don't know....fake... either that or he is not right in the head... especially in this line "You are my sympathy--my better self--my good angel." A guy wrote me a very long poem/letter once and.....well you could guess what happended to him!

Just in case you might think I don't like Jane Eyre, I do. I like the novel very much, including Mr Rochester... I judge the characters and story within the parameters of the book and the historical context when it was written.

[caresscoffee]

Mr. Darcy was my dream man until I read Jane Eyre... Mr. Rochester took his place on the pedestal... Mr. Darcy is now a close second

[Vash]

Just finished reading this book, after seeing the movie/BBC series a few years ago. My 2 cents...

There's nothing so appealing to a woman as a man redeemed by love. :) After all, it was Mr.Darcy's love for Elizabeth that made him reflect on how he presented himself to the world. So while he never compromised his ideals - essentially what made him the man he is - he was willing in the end to give esteem to the fact that those ideals may be present in people he wasn't intimate with. In a sense, Elizabeth softened his hard edges, so to speak.

And as for the brevity of Mr.Darcy compared to Mr. Rochester - a thought is conveyed much better in a look or gesture than heavy handed words! As the saying goes, "Don't SAY you love me, SHOW me" :)

[mmanuelap]

I totally agreed. I'm hopelessly in love with Mr. Darcy. In the world of literature, he will always hold the key to my heart.

Haha, I try not to dwell on this in real life, however! I'm sure someone wonderful will come along but don't expect Mr. Darcy, darn fiction. However, I believe there are men just as amazing in real life, probably just different. :)

I absolutely agree! :D

[Logos]

"Mr. Darcy--Colin Firth...every women's dream man" :D

[sciencefan]

Just finished reading this book, after seeing the movie/BBC series a few years ago. My 2 cents...

There's nothing so appealing to a woman as a man redeemed by love. :) After all, it was Mr.Darcy's love for Elizabeth that made him reflect on how he presented himself to the world. So while he never compromised his ideals - essentially what made him the man he is - he was willing in the end to give esteem to the fact that those ideals may be present in people he wasn't intimate with. In a sense, Elizabeth softened his hard edges, so to speak.
Great point.

[The E in M.E.]

God, if any guy said this to me I would shudder..... in disgust... It seems so.... I don't know....fake... either that or he is not right in the head... especially in this line "You are my sympathy--my better self--my good angel." A guy wrote me a very long poem/letter once and.....well you could guess what happended to him!



Just in case you might think I don't like Jane Eyre, I do. I like the novel very much, including Mr Rochester... I judge the characters and story within the parameters of the book and the historical context when it was written.

I can understand that. I confess I've never really understood how someone could fall for Mr. Rochester anyway (please don't hurt me, anyone!). Mr. Darcy seems to be more the gentleman.

[sciencefan]

I can understand that. I confess I've never really understood how someone could fall for Mr. Rochester anyway (please don't hurt me, anyone!). Mr. Darcy seems to be more the gentleman.I agree. Rochester is too dark and depressed.

[Kiddjcjkk]

The thing is though - would you really want to meet him? Would he really be that amazing in real life? I read a book, called something like "Mr Darcy and I", can't remember who by. It was about this modern day woman, who was totally into pride and prejudice met the Mr Darcy. But it just didnt work for her; his manners were too distant and he was too 1800s-ish. Thats the problem; we all think we would love to meet Mr Darcy, but he'd be a horrible snobish, weird, posh guy from the 1800s and we're upbeat contemporary girls from a modern era... or is it post-modern now, I don't even know!
Mr Darcy represents the perfect guy - a gentleman, with a successful career, who is rich and gorgeous. But if he really existed, we wouldn't be able to handle it.

[LadyW]

The thing is though - would you really want to meet him? Would he really be that amazing in real life? I read a book, called something like "Mr Darcy and I", can't remember who by.
I've read that :)
It's by Alexandra Potter; what did you make of it?
I thought it was quite a good story.

[Kiddjcjkk]

I've read that :)
It's by Alexandra Potter; what did you make of it?
I thought it was quite a good story.

I loved it! It was kind of weird - i spent half it trying to work out how the tour lady was so omniscient, and how the co. was making Darcy appear and disappear. I thought it just came down to Austen Power!!:D
I mean, i guess it was kind of predictable what was going to happen, but you just never quite knew where Alexandra Potter was taking it - I guess very like Helen Fielding with Bridget Jones's Diary (sorry, slightly obsessed at the moment; I'm comparing Pride and Prejudice with Bridget Jones's Diary for A Level coursework!).
No, I thought it was excellent.

[LadyWentworth]

Have you ever read a book called Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field by Melissa Nathan? I read that a couple of years ago. I really enjoyed that one! If you want to read something that seems to parallel Pride and Prejudice, I think this is much better than Bridget Jones' Diary.

As for Darcy, I was thinking the other day (I am currently re-reading P&P) that he is pretty good. I have always gotten a kick out of his attitude! :p But my heart still lies with Wentworth! Well, Wentworth and Rochester. Yes, I am a fan of his and I am torn between the two men! How could I possibly resist Wentworth for Rochester, though? He is just too good! :)

[dramasnot6]

I rather preffered Mr.Bingley, myself. The "bad boys with hearts of gold" are overdone! What happened to the nice,sweet guys in the world of lit? :p

[LadyWentworth]

What happened to the nice,sweet guys in the world of lit? :p
That is why Captain Wentworth is so good! :D

[Joreads]

I also love Mr Darcy but I have to say that happened for me after i saw Colin Firth play him. I have to agree there is nothing more attractive then a man who changes for the woman that he loves.

[dramasnot6]

Yeah...but how often does that happen? :p
Men rarely change, and when they do it is usually for themselves. I hate to sound hopelessly cynical,of course...because there is beauty in the world of love, and miracles do occur within the hearts of men on very seldom occasions. That is why it is so much fun to read Austen, she gives us hope.

[sciencefan]

Yeah...but how often does that happen? :p
Men rarely change, and when they do it is usually for themselves. I hate to sound hopelessly cynical,of course...because there is beauty in the world of love, and miracles do occur within the hearts of men on very seldom occasions. That is why it is so much fun to read Austen, she gives us hope.
Reminds me of the saying of the great philosopher Red Green:
"I'm a man,
but I can change,
if I have to,
I guess." :lol:

[mahishi]

Mr. Darcy. *sigh* There honestly is no man I would rather meet. There is something so captivating about the way Jane Austen develops her characters. She constantly introduces them one day, and by the end of the novel your heart is swarming with dozens of different emotions towards them. For example, Mr. Darcy is introduced as an arrogant, insufferable, ignorant, cheauvenistic elite. By the end of the novel, he is perfect for Elizabeth in every way possible. Why can't that happen in real life? *sigh*:(

sure he is leading towards the intellectual love with eliza.Everlasting one.Evry intelletual women should deserve a husband like Darcy

[SarahBeth]

I feel the same way about Mr. Darcy (number 1 on my list of literary characters i would like to meet) as i do about Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibilty. They both are so caring towards the women they love! SIGH

[amanda_isabel]

I liked Mr. Darcy while reading about him, but the movie, the one starring Keira Knightley, came on before I finished the book and I decided to watch it.

I not only fell in love with the cinematography, but with Mr. Darcy (Matthew McFadyen).. :D He is my dream man!

Now all that's left to do is wait for him to come along....

[Gladys]

Adopting a more pessimistic outlook: Rochester's rash, Darcy's dreadful but Wentworth's still wonderful.

[laura_nicolle]

after i saw the BBC version i liked Darcy, but when i read the book i absolutly felt in love with him...i love him just because he isn't perfect...he's the only character in the world of literature whitch i really love...i'm still waiting for my Mr Darcy and i really hope that a man like him exist in teal world too. Mr. Darcy will always hold the key of my heart...

[sciencefan]

after i saw the BBC version i liked Darcy, but when i read the book i absolutly felt in love with him...i love him just because he isn't perfect...he's the only character in the world of literature whitch i really love...i'm still waiting for my Mr Darcy and i really hope that a man like him exist in real world too. Mr. Darcy will always hold the key of my heart...I think - in MY opinion anyway - what makes Mr. Darcy so "desireable" is the way he demonstrates unconditional love for Elizabeth. He was willing to "mortify" as Jane Austen calls it, every prejudice he had toward her family... even the hatred he had for Wickham!... since marrying her meant becoming a RELATIVE of Wickham's! He was willing to do ANYTHING for Elizabeth's good... he looked out for HER interests first, before his own. It's no wonder he is a premier romantic character.

I will have you know that other men like him DO exist. I married one.

[ryse]

Let me start by saying I can understand why women find Darcy attractive--he's handsome, rich, thoughtful, eloquent....
But my heart belongs to Edward Rochester.
For instance, Darcy romantic statements can be easily summed up in a page--throughout the entire book. Mr. Rochester can take up 14 or 15 in a single setting.
Ex: Darcy: "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must alllow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
My darling Edward: "Then you are mistaken, and you know nothing about me, and nothing about the sort of love of which I am capable. Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still: if you raved, my arms should confine you, and not a strait waistcoat--your grasp, even in fury, would have a charm for me: if you flew at me as wildly as that woman did this morning, I should receive you in an embrace, at least as fond as it would be restrictive. I should not shrink from you with disgust as I did from her: in your quiet moments you should have no watcher and no nurse but me; and I could hang over you with untiring tenderness, though you gave me no smile in return; and never weary of gazing into your eyes, though they had no longer a ray of recognition for me.....You see now how the case stands--do you not?" he continued. "After a youth and manhood passed half in unutterable misery and half in dreary solitude, I have for the first time found what I can truly love--I have found you. You are my sympathy--my better self--my good angel. I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wraps my existence about you, and kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one."

See? I'm not saying anything against Darcy's romantic statement, it's just that Edward's passion kind of blows him out of the water, IMO.

So, in conclusion, I would rather meet Edward Rochester (and marry him, if possible :) but Mr. Darcy is extremely attractive as well, and I hope you find him someday.

Wow..

I mean, yes, Darcy is so ideal I would want my own perfect (for me) Mr Darcy but wow...Edward Rochester ...
I started reading Jane Eyre earlier this year but I suppose it will be on my to-read list right after I finish other classics. But honestly, I could probably read P&P over and over again.

[Cultivated]

Oh gosh! You've just summed it all up for me. I found him insufferable at the beginning but as the novel developed I started to take a liking to him. Now that I've read Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester in comparison seems better and has taken his place :blush:

[clareyeahh]

hmmm i must say i find edward rochester very loveable, but my heart does belong to mr darcy.
i read a book about a year back, called Me and Mr Darcy, and my love deepened.
Although i must say, if i met a guy now, who acted in the same way Darcy does at first, i would do a lot to distance myself!

[Dipen Guha]

" You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled".---Here Mr. Darcy means that he might have continued to be proud and conceited man if he had not come into contact with her(Elizabeth) and had not been rebuked and rebuffed by her. Mr Darcy also means and refers to his first proposal of marriage to Elizabeth, and its rejection by her. While making his first proposal, he had felt absolutely sure and certain that Elizabeth would accept it most readily and promptly. However, by rejecting that proposal she had humbled him and made him realise that he was not worthy of her as long as he remained a proud and conceited man.
Of all, Darcy's character undergoes a great change. Darcy, a proud egoist changed into a humble modest gentleman in his attitude to others. When Elizabeth rejected Darcy's first proposal he was shocked and this shock proved to be a curative "punishment" which was necessary for Darcy's pride. This is the turning point in his character.
Darcy's pride leads to prejudice and Elizabeth's prejudice stems from her pride in her own perceptions.
Jane Austen has portrayed the character of Darcy as a woman looks upon a man. That female race develops an inexplicable fascination for Darcy is as a result of an indomitable longing for making "her dear one" stand bow and scrape. There is an "Elizabeth" in every woman who is agog to bring about a change in her proud "Darcy".

[jadrianne]

I would like to say something concerning this subject : Let's not forget that Jane Austen remained single . That puzzled me : a woman that has dedicated her life in writing novels concerning marriage and love has never found her true love .
These novels about marriage and love ( let's not forget that in those days most of the people were married and stayed married sometimes till one of the partners died) were ment in my opinion to give a ray of light to the people that had never found happiness in real life ( and why not in their own marriage ) .
It is very hard to find nowadays a man that resembles even a bit to Mr Darcy ( in the good sense ; not in the sense of pride :smilielol5: ) .
Let's not forget that Mr Darcy is an exception too among the members of the high class : he appreciates a girl that likes to read and who can approach a wider variety of topics without being boring or annoying .
He also has a sense of decency and honour that can rarely be found nowadays in society .
So, in my opinion, I think that Miss Austen has created the man that she would have wanted to marry and I'm very happy that she shared her dream with all her faithful readers .

[sciencefan]

I would like to say something concerning this subject : Let's not forget that Jane Austen remained single . That puzzled me : a woman that has dedicated her life in writing novels concerning marriage and love has never found her true love .
These novels about marriage and love ( let's not forget that in those days most of the people were married and stayed married sometimes till one of the partners died) were ment in my opinion to give a ray of light to the people that had never found happiness in real life ( and why not in their own marriage ) .
It is very hard to find nowadays a man that resembles even a bit to Mr Darcy ( in the good sense ; not in the sense of pride :smilielol5: ) .
Let's not forget that Mr Darcy is an exception too among the members of the high class : he appreciates a girl that likes to read and who can approach a wider variety of topics without being boring or annoying .
He also has a sense of decency and honour that can rarely be found nowadays in society .
So, in my opinion, I think that Miss Austen has created the man that she would have wanted to marry and I'm very happy that she shared her dream with all her faithful readers .

I agree with you. Mr. Darcy is a bit of an "ideal" person... a sort of "superman" much in the same way Sherlock Holmes was a rather ideal man. Yet she didn't make him SO ideal as to be impossible to believe... since he did have his faults.

Just an aside: I am of the opinion, that what Darcy appreciated about Elizabeth - which was different from other "accomplished" women he knew of - was that she loved the outdoors. The fact that she had walked from Longbourne rendering her hem "six inches deep in mud" did not affect him the same way it affected Bingley's sisters.

chapter 8 -
"``Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.''

``Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,'' said Bingley; ``but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well, when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.''

``You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,'' said Miss Bingley, ``and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.''

``Certainly not.''

``To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ancles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she mean by it? It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country town indifference to decorum.''

``It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,'' said Bingley.

``I am afraid, Mr. Darcy,'' observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, ``that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.''

``Not at all,'' he replied; ``they were brightened by the exercise.'' "

[jadrianne]

We sometimes forget that sometimes characters are born due to the imagination of the writer .The writer has got to make them as credible as he or she can . You've mentioned Sherlock Holmes: let's remember what happened when Arthur Conan Doyle ,, murdered" Sherlock ? Well that happens when you're a great writer .That is also the case in our disscution : Mr Darcy is sought in the real life .And of course let's not forget that this happened with the help of the movies (that didn't existed when Jane lived ) especially with the one made in 1995: it was a crucial moment when Mr Darcy received a face and a body Colin Firth .

[sciencefan]

We sometimes forget that sometimes characters are born due to the imagination of the writer .The writer has got to make them as credible as he or she can . You've mentioned Sherlock Holmes: let's remember what happened when Arthur Conan Doyle ,, murdered" Sherlock ? Well that happens when you're a great writer .That is also the case in our disscution : Mr Darcy is sought in the real life .And of course let's not forget that this happened with the help of the movies (that didn't existed when Jane lived ) especially with the one made in 1995: it was a crucial moment when Mr Darcy received a face and a body Colin Firth .
Actually, I am unfamiliar with what you are refering to about Doyle murdering Sherlock Holmes. I guess I didn't read that book.

I know that a lot of women found Colin Firth "desireable" but I didn't find him particularly handsome or sexy.

But I agree with what you say about characters being the figment of somebody's imagination.

[jadrianne]

that Arthur Conan Doyle didn't want anymore to hear about Sherlock Holmes and so he wrote a story in which Sherlock Holmes dies .It became a huge scandal because a lot of people loved Sherlock and I'm not sure but it seems he received some menacing letters that threatened him with death in case he wouldn't write a new story in which Sherlock was alive . And so he did ......

And that was the case when the character comes to life and becomes sometimes even more popular than the author himself .

In Mr Darcy's case he became associated with a living and breathing creature such as Colin Firth . And as we look at a another movie such as ,,Bridget Jones" ( where Renee is supposed to be a sort of Elizabeth ) Colin again is another Mr Darcy . But in this movie the girl is not so smart as Elizabeth ( she looks a little bit too much like Lydia ) but she is trying her best to become someone else .

[Tournesol]

I found the man of my dreams 27 years ago, but I liked him right away. I think that's better that starting out hating someone. Just to let you know, "Mr. Right" is worth waiting for; don't settle for "Mr. I Guess You'll Have To Do".

I too love Darcy for all his charming and admirable qualities.

Miraculously, I met someone who, as sciencefan said, I loved right away, and he is so right for me.

It IS worth waiting for Mr Right.

There ARE real Darcys...

[jadrianne]

the true issue of the novel is in fact that it's not good to judge by appearances . Because Mr Darcy 's qualities appeared only when Elizabeth's family was in an extreme situation ;without this situation Mr Darcy' s bright side so to speak would have remained unknown .

By the way I'm very happy to read here that there are people who have found true love in real life ;but I'm also sad because I'm wishing only so that I could find myself this wonderful gift of life:sad:

[sciencefan]

...
It IS worth waiting for Mr Right.
Yes it is.



There ARE real Darcys...
I was married to the man of my dreams for almost 27 years.

[MrMrsDarcy]

"...dearest, lovliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased."-Mr. Darcy

Personally I love the strong and silent type who comes to ardently love you in the end.

[Mudkip]

I can relate to the Darcy/Elizabeth dynamic. My only real relationship was with someone I strongly disliked when I first met him... but by the time we started dating we were best friends.

[MANICHAEAN]

Come on ladies, admit it.
You like a man that is a challenge!
Darcy as portrayed is arrogant, rude, & shake your boots up, interesting?

Get a man like that under some semblence of marital control & there is no such thing as a boring relationship!

[BookWorm_x]

With the risk of upsetting so many fan girls, I have never been a fan of Mr Darcy. He is arrogant, I mean, the way he treats Lizzie at the beginning of the novel is awful. He is definitely a snob, I mean it's just unforgivable the way he tells Lizzie he loves her despite his better judgement. And then the way he insults Lizzie's family. He also tears Jane Bingley apart, which I, being a huge fan of a the Bingley's, find irreconcilably terrible. Yes, to a certain extent, he redeems himself, but his behaviour and attitude should not be the kind of man a woman should aspire to find. But I really can not see what women see in him, and I don't think, realistically, women would want to marry someone like him. He is very cold and distant, even by the end of the novel, he hardly makes a huge declaration of true emotion.

[kiki1982]

I think people mainly misperceive Darcy as arrogant. I have the impression that Austen always made doubles of her characters.
And yes, Darcy was a bit of a snob with the same principles as his aunt, but his reserved nature wasn't pride, it was rather shyness. Hence his sister's shyness and his lack of true emotion when he declares his love for Lizzie. He wasn't able to socialise, because he did not know how. That is different to not wanting to out of pride. Do not forget that that theory was actually put forward partly by Mrs Bennet herself who quickly changed her bad opinion of him hen Lizzie was engaged to him. Her bad opinion was only founded upon ane and Lizzie getting no attention whatsoever as most beautiful girls in Meriton. That was a personal offense no doubt.

Bingley is easy going, but nothing much in the head. He needs to be lucky to find his big love, otherwise he'll end up like his youngest sister, Mrs Hurt (?). She went for the outside and ended up the wife of a drunkard. Caroline only wants Darcy because of his money. She couldn't care less about his principles.

I think, on balance, Darcy could be more elligible than Bingley, if only for his mind. Imagine the topics of conversation between Bingley and Jane... They are also too nice, too complying with everyone to actually take matters in their own hands. Darcy at least knows what he thinks and believes in himself. And that is of much greater value than be attractive on the outside alone.

[RintoulFan]

I want Mr. Darcy too. A David Rintoul Darcy <3

[Aurora7]

Yes, this is true, especially the fact that he was willing to change. It was so funny that in the book, he thought she would be flattered and automatically say yes, and even thought that she was anxiously waiting to hear his proposal, which explains his agitation just before he did... and then his shock that she refused, not out of pride from his insult, but out of repugnance since the day they had met! It must have been horrifying. I must admit, I always thought love should come softly, and not so dramatically, but this is also how I met a Darcy. Men rarely change when a woman judges them (who likes to be judged afterall, or who changes their ways after a harsh, critical tongue snaps at them?), but when they realize it's merely an innocent misconception, and that it's possible to change her mind (well, men are proud, so he must be really in love with her to humble himself). I thought that part of Mr. Darcy was so noble- and that even though he might not ever see her again, or win her, he went out of his way to become a better man, and gave Elizabeth a second chance. <3

[kiki1982]

Actually just thinking about that awful first proposal of Darcy. He's so sweet when he pulls out all the stops at Pemberley :D, but in view of what he says later, I think the key thing in his first proposal is not only that he presumes she will be honoured and flattered and of course accept (that was the pride and conceit he talked about), but that he expressed himself badly as so many shy people blurt out the wrong stuff, in spite of themselves. He just wanted to tell her he loved her ardently, despite all the prejudices in his mind and what he was taught, he can't help himself. That's quite nice, but he tells her in such a horrible way that it sounds almost as if she can be grateful that he deigns her good enough to bear his children, so to say. It's such a typical moment where you know you are digging a hole for yourself to fall into, and you know you are going to fall into it, and yet you also know that you can't stop it.

As he finds her in his grounds, he is determined to see how the ground lies. Let's face it, he's a peacock with his tail permanently in the air: he's got his vast income, he's got his looks, he's got his house, he's got his mother who was of good breeding, he's got his house in town etc. Surely she can't ignore all of it, just because he is odious :D. If he can just... do his best. And then he turns into the most charming man! Maybe it is because he sees that the Gardiners are not people who marvel at him like Caroline Bingley, but who are genuine and honest people who are interested in the man Darcy, not in the man-who-lives-at-Pemberley Darcy. SO he can be relaxed, they will not judge him like Mrs Bennet. And then he tries out his sister. I always imagine that they go home together and he asks her what she, Eleanor, finds of Miss Bennet. His sister is an advantage, because, as a woman, she can talk more to Lizzie than Darcy can as he is a man. When he has tried that, he can propose again, but then the disaster with Lydia happens.
The moment where Lizzie stays behind to read Jane's letter and Darcy comes to see her alone, you can sense what he is planning to do. He becomes more agitated as time draws on and this time he can't mess up like that first time, but then it is evident that this man Wickham stands in his way again. It is immediately clear what he needs to do: if her family is disgraced he can forget it.

This is why we remember Darcy: he's the valliant knight who disinterestedly comes to the Bennets' rescue. Well, not totally disinterestedly :D.