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Look I love Pride and Prejudice for the satire that it is, written by a powerful and emotive voice from its time. Austen was an incredible woman with a sharp wit who turned the “boring” social lives of women into complex and engaging things for people in its time
BUT
BUT
Translating her witty narration for the screen is difficult. In the 2005 film adaption, Joe Wright makes sure to sprinkle it through the narrative. But without your satirical narrator framing the events it DOES turn into a straight up romance.
And damn—is it a romance
And damn—is it a romance
A lot of complaints by Austen-purists surround this idea that it SHOULDN’T be a romance, that it should be social commentary on the way marriage and money were perceived at the time. I think) this movie does a good job at both of these things)
But analyzing it as just a romance
But analyzing it as just a romance
Reveals a hell of a lot about “female fantasy” as seen through a female gaze, not the perceived version of the female fantasy that is filtered through the male gaze.
Mr. Darcy is universally hailed as a great romantic hero—but why? His muscles? His masculinity?
Mr. Darcy is universally hailed as a great romantic hero—but why? His muscles? His masculinity?
So many times I see it chalked up to “girls love the brooding, intimidating, rogue hero”
Which shows a FUNDAMENTAL misunderstanding of Pride and Prejudice. And female desire.
Which shows a FUNDAMENTAL misunderstanding of Pride and Prejudice. And female desire.
What makes Darcy so attractive to women?
1. He admits to his mistakes, and owns up to it when he is wrong. Openly and honestly. With a lot of humbleness—considering the theme of “pride” in the novel
1. He admits to his mistakes, and owns up to it when he is wrong. Openly and honestly. With a lot of humbleness—considering the theme of “pride” in the novel
2. He not only apologizes for his wrongdoings, he goes above and beyond to fix them. With absolutely NO expectations of anything in return. Simply and fully out of his love for Elizabeth, and his deep regret in what he did to hurt her
3. He respects Elizabeth's 'no'.
She unequivocally rejects the hell out of him and he immediately accepts it and removes himself from her life, no more pushing. No chasing after her. No dramatic attempts at getting her back.
She unequivocally rejects the hell out of him and he immediately accepts it and removes himself from her life, no more pushing. No chasing after her. No dramatic attempts at getting her back.
And even when he's finally given hope that maybe she's changed her mind, he utters the sexiest words ever spoken by a man on camera EVER.
"One word from you will silence me forever."
"One word from you will silence me forever."
4. It's very clear that he falls in love with Elizabeth's mind and heart, enough that he's willing to put aside his reservations just to spend any sort of time with her.
5. And finally, when all is said and done, he is at his core a kind and empathetic person. Someone who protects his sister, steps in quietly behind the scenes to save a family's reputation, and works hard to make sure everyone around him is cared for. He's solid, reliable.
Darcy doesn't possess the stereotypical qualities that you'd expect from a hero. He's not charming. Some people (with no taste I'd assume) wouldn't even describe MacFadyen's Darcy as particularly handsome in comparison to Firth's.
Although his love confessions are SUBLIME and full of beautiful language, their delivery is so passionate they come across as stilted and nervous and REAL. The female fantasy, as seen through the P&P lens, is of a man who is solid. Reliable. Kind.
Especially in the context of Austen's time, when you are married off and stuck with that person forever. What kind of husband would a woman back then hope to find? Someone kind. Easy-tempered. Patient.
But I'd argue that's still what a lot of women want.
But I'd argue that's still what a lot of women want.
The first step in really understanding what women want is respecting the Mr. Darcy fantasy for what it really is. Not writing off the relationship in this movie as simply sexual tension derived from a clash of personalities.
It's a journey of misunderstandings, and the way that two people are humbled and become better because of the things they bring out in each other. Both Elizabeth and Darcy end the film so much better than they began it, and completely on the same page. Bewitched, body and soul.
(The end.)
