#I mean I do think pre-first proposal Darcy has an idealised version of Elizabeth in his head that he’s in love with but the emphasis is

[ellynneversweet]

A modest proposal: the first proposal in P&P is indicative as much of Darcy’s respect for Elizabeth as his disdain for her circumstances, and foretells their eventual functional relationship, despite being so insulting Elizabeth would have been justified in shoving him out the window as a response.

Blather below cut, because this is long and it isn’t really a properly cited argument (it’s late, I’m lazy)

Why do I think this about The Worst Proposal in literary history, frequently compared both to Mr Collin’s no-means-yes proposal and Darcy’s later I’ll Shut Up If You Want Me To Really Just Say The Word proposal? Because Darcy doesn’t explain himself to anyone else in the book, but he does explain himself — fairly constantly — to Elizabeth. He starts early on, with their argument at Netherfield where he points out that Elizabeth is asking him to explain opinions she has attributed to him but that he has never expressed, goes on with the proposal and the succeeding letter, and, concludes when Elizabeth brings up the topic of his intervening in the Lydia Incident and he explains his reasoning and intention.

Now, Darcy is rarely asked to explain himself — I don’t think anyone except Elizabeth dares to do so in the text, and between the reactions of Mr Bingley (cheerfully admits to being intimidated into going along with whatever Darcy thinks is a good idea), Mr Gardiner (suspects Darcy of being eccentric and high-handed in his initial welcoming behaviour at Pemberley) and Mr Bennet (says Darcy is the sort of man he wouldn’t dare to refuse) it’s reasonable to infer that Darcy’s general social situation is that he makes decisions according to whatever esoteric reasoning appeals to him, and other people are just expected to go along with it. It suits his station in life, but it also suits his age — Darcy inherits exceptional wealth and influence at a very young age, and is simply used to being treated like and thinking of himself as a person with the inherent right to Have His Way in a way that someone who inherited with an older and less pliable sense of self might be. He doesn’t feel the need to ask even his family’s opinions or permission on his actions, although we know from what he tells Elizabeth that he takes what he assumes to be their opinions into account when making a decision (I’m inclined to think this is an age-at-inheritance thing, in that I suspect young Darcy felt obliged to make it clear to his older and higher ranking relatives that he and Pemberley weren’t extensions of their own estates).

The point of this is that practically nobody would have expected him to actually explain why he had chosen to marry Elizabeth, including Elizabeth herself. He could have just asked her, without elaboration, because he had the resources and this was a thing that he had decided to do, for reasons apparent only to himself, and no one would have asked him to explain his reasoning. He would probably have been thought to be acting rashly/overwhelmed by emotion/behaving in an extremely surprising and unexpected way/being a very disobliging nephew, but, well, Great Men Have Their Reasons, and apparently he’s into that sort of thing Elizabeth.

But what does this wealthy and influential man who expects everyone to fall in line do, when proposing? He explains himself. Elizabeth gets the (unwelcome at the time) privilege of hearing his reasoning process, his uncertainty and worry, his various unguarded thoughts, his plans for their/his future. Unfortunately, they’re mostly thoughts about how she’s going to make his life harder in ways that she can’t change (her family’s situation) and didn’t initiate (proposal that he blindsided her with), and she’s rightly insulted. But. Consider this honest presentation of problems and solutions in contrast to, say, Mr Bennet, who never explains anything to his wife and keeps important information from her, or Mr Collins, who expects his wife to follow along in his unswerving deference to Lady Catherine’s wishes. IMO, the laying out of insulting detail is, slightly perversely, an indication of Darcy’s respect for Elizabeth’s intellect and opinion, and her right to an explanation and input. That he listens to her tear his careful examination of the facts into tiny pieces, and then takes steps to explain and apologise, is another.

Consider, too, Mr Bennet’s later concern about Elizabeth finding herself in an unequal match in terms of ‘talents’ (ie intellect). Darcy treats Elizabeth like his intellectual equal, if not his social equal, and, I would argue, indicates an expectation of a companionate marriage wherein both partners respect each other’s thoughts and opinions and are privy to each other’s concerns. (He’s obviously jumped the gun in assuming he has the right to ask Elizabeth to hear his concerns, and seriously misjudged the wisdom of asking her to reassure him as to his worries about her embarrassing family/private sore spot, but I digress. I think he’s talking more to the Elizabeth in his head than the Elizabeth in front of him at that point.) And Elizabeth comes around eventually — consider that they ‘decide between themselves’ that they are to be the happiest couples in the world.

Anyway, TLDR post-canon Darcy definitely runs everything past his wife and they have problem-solving/budget planning/social plotting tête-à-têtes on the regular.

[regina-del-cielo]

#it’s largely headcanon but I read Darcy as someone who really really wants someone to talk to who can keep up with him but isn’t going to#try to overrule him#or take advantage of him#he’s got a lot of responsibilities! who does he talk to about his doubts when he’s trying to figure out what to do?#enter fiercely loyal and clever Elizabeth#is it any wonder he goes all heart-eyes at her?#I mean I do think pre-first proposal Darcy has an idealised version of Elizabeth in his head that he’s in love with but the emphasis is#as much on her mind as on her Fine Eyes @ellynneversweet

A modest proposal: the first proposal in P&P is indicative as much of Darcy’s respect for Elizabeth as his disdain for her circumstances, and foretells their eventual functional relationship, despite being so insulting Elizabeth would have been justified in shoving him out the window as a response.

Blather below cut, because this is long and it isn’t really a properly cited argument (it’s late, I’m lazy)

Continua a leggere