Pemberley in the 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice
It’s funny how often I read people online treating this line from Elizabeth seriously, “I believe I must date it (my love for Darcy) from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley” and thinking that she was swayed by the size of Darcy’s house or his wealth. This is always surprising because in context, it’s very, very clearly a joke:
“Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid you will be angry.”
“My dearest sister, now be, be serious. I want to talk very seriously. Let me know everything that I am to know without delay. Will you tell me how long you have loved him?”
“It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began; but I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley.”
Another entreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the desired effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances of attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennet had nothing further to wish. (italics author’s, bold mine)
Additionally, Elizabeth proved twice that she wasn’t mercenary when she rejected both Collins and Darcy. Seeing his house wouldn’t suddenly turn her into a gold digger!
However, the trip to Pemberley was a vital part of Elizabeth’s falling in love with Darcy because it was a character reference. Everything, from Mrs. Reynolds testimony to Darcy’s obvious care for his sister to the preservation of the natural beauty of the grounds says something about what kind of person Darcy really is, and it’s a person that Elizabeth likes!
Pride & Prejudice 2005
One very vital piece of information that may be overlooked is that Darcy has left his father’s study in its original state including a miniature of Wickham. As Mrs. Reynolds says,
“This room was my late master’s favourite room, and these miniatures are just as they used to be then. He was very fond of them.”
An example of a miniature, a small portrait that could be worn as jewelry, usually painted on ivory
The miniature is not just there so that Mrs. Reynolds can tell us that Wickham turned out wild, it is a strong proof that Wickham was lying, something that Elizabeth is mostly convinced of already. This is from Ch 14:
“But what,” said she, after a pause, “can have been his motive? what can have induced him to behave so cruelly?”
“A thorough, determined dislike of me—a dislike which I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me better; but his father’s uncommon attachment to me irritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood—the sort of preference which was often given me.”
Pemberley in the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice
If Darcy actually resented his father’s love of Wickham to this extent, he would have probably destroyed the miniature. He also may not have even preserved the study as a memorial to his father (though he might have out of family pride). Darcy preserving the miniature proves that he loved his father more than he hated Wickham and that he respected his father’s wishes. He keeps his father’s favourite paintings even after Wickham attempted to elope with Georgiana.
There is absolutely no way that a man who kept Wickham’s miniature in honour of his father would have shirked his father’s favourite out of his inheritance nor would a man who is so respected by his long term servants have done such a thing!
It is about Pemberley, but it’s not about the wealth.
To be continued next month…
More:
How well could Caroline Bingley expect to marry?
Could Mr. Bennet have Saved Enough for Decent Fortunes on his Income?
Austen Quotes and the Problem with Wit
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