- He doesn’t write swoon-worthy letters (needs Captain Wentworth’s online course): www.howtowooawomanonemail.com
- He doesn’t have the advantage of having been loved and esteemed by his bridal choice basically since her birth.
See Knightley’s podcast on “How to get the woman who loves you like a brother to fall for you” – top-rated on Spotify!!!
- He doesn’t have Tilney’s winning and stylish wit.
To connect with Tilney, check out his webpage on www.winningwithstyleandwit.com!
- Both Colonel Brandon and Colonel Fitzwilliam are more reliable – not to mention Edmund Bertram of Mansfield Park and – arguably – Edward Ferrars, of Sense and Sensibility, despite Lucy Steele.
- And, as Regina Jeffers only recently proved on these pages, most of the “pride” in Pride and Prejudice is on Darcy’s side, though there’s no shortage of pride and prejudice to go around.
So – what’s so great about Darcy? Well, since nobody asked, here’s my take.
- Willingness to learn and change.
Nine out of ten Regency billionaires, having been insulted by their crush, would have vowed never to think of her again – and kept their vow.
Darcy takes a long look at what she said and why she might have said it, writes a dignified letter of rebuttal, and moves on.
But… he doesn’t move on regardless.
Though not shown in the original Pride and Prejudice, in my “take” – Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation – now on pre-order and due for release on Friday – I show the stages he goes through, in terms of anger, denial, acceptance and added humility, even growth.
With me, there’s no guesswork… you get the lot.
- Honesty.
Darcy has integrity. He doesn’t pretend he’s crazy about the idea of marrying into a family of giggling younger sisters, people in trade, and rather careless parents. Instead, he admits that he isn’t. (An error, no question. But even Lizzy can’t deny his honesty.)
This is only one example of his integrity. In my new novel, he is notably honest with Wickham, for example, when confronting him (over Georgiana) in Weymouth.
- Intelligence.
Austen takes all the guesswork out of this one: “Though Bingley was by no means deficient, Darcy was clever.”
I’ve been married for over 35 years, and to an Englishman too – a Professor at the University of London who attended a famous boarding school and got a First at Oxford. His brilliance was definitely what attracted me to him – though he’s too gentlemanly to mention, with all his degrees, that the only one I have is – ahem – only in cello performance.
Basically, while I am not deficient, my husband is clever.
Elizabeth, clearly, is also clever. Her brilliant wit speaks for itself – and certainly spoke to Darcy – and she is extremely well-read.
Once she has finally accepted his hand, she asks him, “Did you admire me for my impertinence?”
“For your liveliness of mind, I did,” he returns. Outside of her famously fine eyes, it’s the first thing he notices, in fact.
In other words, in terms of wits, the Darcys’ marriage is a marriage of equals. And Darcy’s intelligence – even had Austen not, quite literally, spelled that out for us – is clearly attractive to Elizabeth.
- Looks. Say no more.
- Millions. OK, these days, as Bethany Delleman has proved both on Facebook and here, in today’s terms, BILLIONS.
Elizabeth tells Jane that she first learned to appreciate Darcy upon seeing Pemberley – and yes, I know it was a joke – but a place like Pemberley might well have rocked many a young lady’s convictions of its owner’s unworthiness. There’s a difference between hearing at a ball that some guy has got squillions in the bank – and between seeing his stately home, in all its glory.
Some have objected – and with reason – that Darcy’s not as witty as Tilney or as sunny as Bingley or as confident as Knightley – but comparisons are called odious for a reason.
He’s a great, great character – he comes through when challenged – and he’s perfect for the irresistible Elizabeth.
Of course, this is only my own “take” on “What’s so special about Darcy?” Feel free to tell me yours, here or on social media:
All the best,
Alice
https://www.linktr.ee/ASTMcVeigh
And here are a couple of links to my new DARCY:
US: https://www.amazon.com/Darcy-Prejudice-Variation-Warleigh-Austen-ebook/dp/B0C96CN716
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Darcy-Prejudice-Variation-Warleigh-Austen-ebook/dp/B0C96CN716
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