Nostalgia Nook: The Lovers Part IV

And we bring February to a close with Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” In a few incarnations as the Jane Austen classic is beloved to this day.

So, even though it is over 200 years old—SPOILERS below!


It is not love at first sight for Elizabeth and Darcy. Far from it, in fact. He was not pleased to be out in the country and Elizabeth picked up on that. It made her dislike him immediately. He also acted aloof and reinforced her opinion of him. So she was prone to think the worst of him, no matter what.

His opinion of her is unknown. Austen tells the story from Elizabeth’s perspective. We only know what she thinks, feels and learns. It is possible that Darcy loved her from the get go. It’s also possible he grew to love her like Elizabeth grew to love him. There have been many books written speculating about that. Darcy’s side fascinates us because it is unknown.

Let me turn briefly to another incarnation. The web series “The Lizzie Bennett Diaries,” a modern incarnation of Pride and Prejudice. Once again, it is told mostly through Lizzie’s perspective and we don’t see Darcy for several episodes. But we get hints about Darcy’s feelings for Lizzie through her sisters and friends. They seem to pick up on things Lizzie’s prejudice prevents her from seeing. Like how Darcy seems interested in her opinion and her tastes. So we know Darcy is attracted to Lizzie almost from the start.

So we follow Elizabeth’s progression in her feelings for Darcy. Which for the first part, is just her sinking further and further into hatred. She learns things about Darcy (without getting the whole story) that put her off him even more. Because she was willing to believe them due to her low opinions of him. And how charming Wickham was. He was the opposite of Darcy, so Elizabeth was bound to believe him. She also figured she wouldn’t see him again.

But Darcy and Elizabeth were thrust back into each other’s lives. Elizabeth visited her friend Charlotte who lived with her husband on lands owned by Darcy’s aunt at the same time Darcy was visiting his relation. So they have to interact. And Elizabeth sees a different side to Darcy. One she starts to like.

Then he proposes. And it goes over like a sack of bricks. Why? Mostly because Darcy focused on how he and Elizabeth weren’t compatible. Just what any girl wants to hear: a list of reasons why a boy shouldn’t marry her. And then insults her favorite sister. While revealing he orchestrated said favorite sister’s heartbreak. It was doomed.

Elizabeth’s spite for him is reinforced. But it doesn’t last long. Darcy writes her a letter, explaining his side of the Wickham story. It paints him in a whole new light for Elizabeth. Her original opinion is thrown into question and she doubts her instincts. She questions a lot. Well, not her decision to turn down his proposal. It really was that bad.

But she’s now more open to learning more about Mr. Darcy. Into looking past her prejudices. She gets a chance when she visits his house, Pemberly, and gets a glimpse into his private life. She sees him interact with his staff and his sister, Georgiana. Sees how they adore him. He’s not so aloof anymore. And Elizabeth knows she’s blown her chance. Even more so when her sister runs off to elope. No way Darcy would marry someone from a tainted family like hers.

Darcy surprises her though. She learns, after a slip up by her sister Lydia, that Darcy was responsible for helping to restore her sister’s honor—and therefore the Bennett family’s. Her aunt told her the whole story and then Mr. Darcy returns to right the slight he made to Jane, Elizabeth’s beloved sister. Then he proposes again. She accepts this time. And they pretty much live happily ever after.

Or at least that’s what we hope, though it’s implied by Austen. So why do Elizabeth and Darcy still speak to readers years later? Many reasons, I believe. It’s their slow burn. It’s their banter. They are equals in wit. And maybe that’s another reason we like them so much—they are an intellectual couple. They fall in love with each other’s minds and personalities.

Darcy is a gentleman. And willing to help out a man he hates and a girl he barely knows, all for Elizabeth’s sake. Some may complain about the man coming to the woman’s aid, but think about it: Pride and Prejudice takes place in the early 19th century. Women had very few rights. Elizabeth wouldn’t have been able to do much. Darcy used his gender (and money) to get something done. Not because Elizabeth asked him to. He did it for her without expecting anything in return. It’s love.

I could probably go on forever about them. So I’ll end it here. Thanks for sticking around for my lovers series! I hope you enjoyed them. Perhaps you thought of your favorite lovers as well.

Next time (on March 17th): “Luck of the Irish”