It is also a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good library must be in want of a Mr. Darcy. Fitzwilliam Darcy must be, hands down, the ultimate romantic hero of classic literature, simply because he is so attractive to women from any era, age in life, class, nationality, etc. To put it shortly, we love Mr. Darcy. What is it about him that is so perfectly wonderful? From the beginning of the book, I am swept away by his mysterious charm. As I was last re-reading the book, I found myself pondering exactly what makes up a Darcy. Here is what I came up with. To become a Darcy, one must:
1. Be good-natured as a child. As Mr. Darcy's housekeeper tells Elizabeth, his being a pleasant child helps ensure his being a pleasant adult.
2. Own an estate like Pemberly. Elizabeth herself nearly admits to marrying him for his estate. And when you have a place like this (Photo courtesy of http://janeausteninvermont.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/pemberley-photo.jpg), what girl could resist?
Seeing how inheriting an estate is a bit out of the question for most would-be Darcys, the best one can do is make one's dwelling place as much of a Pemberly as possible.3. Always follow "The Code". Darcy is moved by a high sense of honor that is what endears him most to Elizabeth. Set your standards high, then stick to 'em.
4. Invest in a Darcy wardrobe. Now, I'm not saying wear cravats and waistcoats all day, but definitely nix the baggy pants and the punk hipster look. Go for classy, whenever possible. In fact, buying a Victorian riding cape is always a good idea.
5. Write long letters. Those of us who are obsessed with Pride and Prejudice simply cannot resist a good letter writer. Darcy, by the way, is noted as a long letter writer in the book. Not only is it an excellent literary technique for the author to use, letters are just more romantic.
6. Learn to work well with animals and children. Darcy is an excellent horse rider, probably owns a few good hunting dogs, and is the perfect older brother to his sister, Georgianna. On a side note, being able to swim through a lake after riding twenty or so miles on horseback is an added bonus, particularly if you happen to look like Colin Firth.
7. Secretly be a good dancer. Of course, Mr. Darcy would never admit it, but he is usually the finest dancer at any ball, though perhaps his public manners leave a bit to be desired.
8. Don't give up easily. Remember, Elizabeth said no the first time Darcy proposed. He never is clingy, desperate, or mopey, but he certainly never completely gives up on Elizabeth. His secret: always being there in the right place at the right time. As a side note, I love watching the 6 hour BBC series just to watch him watch her. He spends a good hour's worth of the series just staring at her from the corner of the screen. This would probably really creepy, were the part not played by Colin Firth.
9. Don't give your respect too freely. Darcy's self-declared vice is that his good opinion, once lost, is not easily regained. This, as Elizabeth so properly says, is fault indeed, but not one that could be laughed at. Darcy, while being able to bite his tongue, is obviously not the type of person that could be friends with a Wickham or a Lydia. While this proves some embarrassment to Elizabeth at times, it makes his respect for her all the more precious.
10. Fall in love with an Elizabeth. Too often, those who are Darcy-material fall for girls who are less than Elizabeth. This leaves the Elizabeths of the world to be paired with Mr. Collins figures. There are Elizabeth Bennets out there! Go find them!
Finally, anyone aspiring to the role of a Darcy simply must read the book, Pride and Prejudice. There are very few books out there that will give you a better insight into the female mind. This is how we think! It's like getting a guided tour. It's really worth the investment.
And, if Mr. Darcy is not really your thing, you could always try being a Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman as a role model is a must), or my personal favorite, a Mr. Knightly.
It's really no wonder that I'm still single...
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