musicandbooksmaddox

[musicandbooksmaddox]

For neurodiversity celebration week, I feel like writing a thesis (if only I had the energy) on how one of the most famous romantic leads, Mr. Darcy, is very likely neurodivergent. I realise Austen wouldn't have coded him to be on the spectrum per se — because of course, no one knew what the spectrum even was in the late 1700s — but there's theories that she based his traits on people she knew, and obviously there would have been plenty of people who were neurodivergent at the time. They just didn't have a word for it.

It's clear, though, that there's a lot more to Darcy than just being 'rude and introverted' — a common way the audience receives and critiques him, going on to celebrate the fact that he seems to 'overcome' this, which is why he and Elizabeth end up together. But does he 'overcome' it? I'd argue no, not at all, and he shouldn't have to, because he isn't merely rude and introverted (obviously introversion isn't something to be 'fixed', either).

Both Darcy and Elizabeth come together because they realise they misunderstood each other, not because he stops being himself. They realise that they both behaved differently in social settings, and the pressures of that led them to get off on the wrong foot. Darcy very likely being on the spectrum — something which obviously Elizabeth wouldn't have any contextual understanding of simply because of the era — made it difficult because he struggled to know how to converse, and this was misinterpreted as arrogance. Sure, there was some snobbery in him because of his social standing, but Austen also makes it clear that he really wasn't anywhere near as snobbish as he initially seemed. A lot of his natural traits were misinterpreted, and I personally think it goes far beyond him being shy.

For example:

He struggles to keep eye contact.

He seems to have sensory overload at parties and keeps to himself, immediately getting away from crowds.

He's also 'ruder' when he is experiencing said sensory overload, and can even be seen almost shutting down completely. Unable to express himself or process.

He says things that come across as quite blunt, and then seems perplexed as to why anyone would take offence at his honesty (so many examples of this, but the most obvious being the proposal scene).

He asks genuine questions that come across as rhetorical.

He misunderstands tone.

He is logical and literal.

He only really has a couple of close friends, despite plenty of people wanting to socialise with him.

He fidgets.

He paces.

He is very different and relaxed when in his own quiet space.

He is vastly misunderstood, and assumed by most of the characters to be a pompous git, when he's genuinely the opposite.

He often seems to be following a mental script when socially anxious.

He can't do small talk.

He expresses himself far more clearly through writing.

Not to mention:

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess, of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."

That line is such a useful summary of him as a character, and also helps make a strong case for him being on the spectrum.

He's that one character who looks, and feels, so out of place socially, and I think it's really beautiful that Austen has (perhaps inadvertently, we'll probably never know her exact intentions) written one of the most romantic leads to be someone who clearly isn't neurotypical.

[musicandbooksmaddox]

“You smell good” is in my top 5 for fav compliments

[musicandbooksmaddox]

I am grateful for headphones for allowing me to listen to songs on repeat forty times without completely maddening other people.

[musicandbooksmaddox]

coming out of my cage and

going right back in

[musicandbooksmaddox]

smh i still can’t believe darcy didn’t realise jane only seemed “"indifferent”“ bc she was shy when he was such an antisocial tower of awkwardness that lizzie straight up thought he hated her until he proposed

[musicandbooksmaddox]

*While watching bootlegs*

“Damn! Can’t you keep the camera still!?!?!”

*then remembers this person recorded this out of the goodness of their heart and risked getting kicked out of the theatre*

[musicandbooksmaddox]

How do people get so many bootlegs?!?! Is there like a secret club? A socitey of sorts? Is that it? Do I need to join a cult? I promised my mom I wouldn’t but for bootlegs SIGN ME THE FRICK UP!

[musicandbooksmaddox]

Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Sydney Lucas, Daisy Eagan, Ben Platt, Cheyenne Jackson, February 21, 2016

http://www.mediafire.com/file/j8kh3y8c8t5ylps/The+Secret+Garden+2-21-16.zip

[musicandbooksmaddox]

I don't remember the last time I saw him

I just remember wanting him to see me

[musicandbooksmaddox]

[musicandbooksmaddox]

Learning languages is all fun and games until you have to find a way to maintain and learn way too many languages at the same time.

[musicandbooksmaddox]

What a Deal 🗣

[musicandbooksmaddox]

I look at you, then I realized I love you.

[musicandbooksmaddox]

“Having feelings for you is one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with. I can’t control them. You’re all I think about. I think about you before I go to sleep, after I wake up, every second of every day you’re on my mind. You shouldn’t be, but you are and it’s killing me.”

- on my mind // 3:46pm

[musicandbooksmaddox]

“tell me that i’ve been on your mind at least once cause you’re always on mine”

— thinking of you 24/7

[musicandbooksmaddox]

my heart is furious

[musicandbooksmaddox]

It's been more than a year since I met you every time i think I'm no longer crushing on you I see you- and all those feelings i though were gone come back a hundred times stronger.

Worst thing is, if you said you wanted me I'd be yours without a second thought... And I'm afraid I'll never fall for anyone as hard as I did for you