Literary Heroes: Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy

Okay, I'll be truthful. I have a tiny bit of a crush on Mr Darcy. I'm not quite sure why, but suspect it has something to do with the fact that over the course of a novel he goes from being a stuck up, miserable git to a wholly likable, albiet occasionally grumpy gentleman who has a heart of gold and a genuine affection for the leading lady in the novel, the intelligent and occasionally outspoken, Elizabeth Bennett. Anyway, today I'm devoting a post to Mr Darcy.

Mr Darcy is the kind of man who is disliked by strangers, but loved and respected by those who know him well. Twenty-eight years old, unmarried and the owner of a palatial estate named Pemberley, Mrs Bennett initially thinks that he may be a good match for one of her five daughters, but the idea is soon dismissed when the Bennetts first encounter Mr Darcy at a party. He makes a poor impression on all, particularly the second daughter, Elizabeth. Mr Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to be in one another's company several times over, until Mr Darcy eventually proposes. Elizabeth, finding despicable due to his part in separating her older sister Jane from her love interest, Mr Bingley, declines and tells Mr Darcy exactly what she thinks of him. He responds by writing a letter, in which reveals his true feelings and a number of things he is too afraid to say out loud. Elizabeth is left embarrassed and alone. Later, Mr Darcy comes to the rescue of the Bennetts after Elizabeth's youngest sister, Lydia, elopes with a roguish soldier. He reunites Jane and Mr Bingley and is revealed to be a decent man after all. He proposes a second time and naturally, Elizabeth accepts.

Although he may appear gruff, Mr Darcy is perhaps one of the most responsible and damn well decent heroes to be found in literature. He obeys his father's instructions regarding Mr Wickham, despite the fact that Mr Wickham has done nothing to deserve such kindness. He comes to the aid of the Bennetts when they need him the most--without his assistance, it is unlikely that Wickham would have married Lydia and it would have ruined the chances of the other Miss Bennetts, particularly Jane who has the eye of Mr Bingley, to marry well. It is doubtful that he did this so that he would be able to marry Elizabeth--he had already proposed once, she had turned him down and at that point, he had no reason to think that the strong-willed young lady would change her mind. Many of his actions are selfless and to help the happiness of others. Even his actions in initially separating Jane and Mr Bingley were with the best of intentions, even if they were misguided.

Who is your favourite literary hero?

Comments

Kathryn White said…
Cool. I'll see what I can do.

PS You have an awesome surname.
26 June 2012 at 20:10
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