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Why We Still Love You, Mr Darcy!

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Why Women Are Still Lusting After Mr Darcy

He's rude, arrogant and anti-social. Yet he is one of literatures most enduring fictional romantic icons, desired by women throughout the 20th and 21st century.

Mr Darcy, who you might be forgiven for thinking is no longer 'relevant' to the modern female, continues to fascinate women despite being the archetype of male dominance. He has survived the centuries and continues to be re-invented in popular fiction and film.

Since he first appeared on the pages of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in 1812, we've seen Mr Darcy as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind and more recently as Mr Big in Sex in the City. So why is it that women still find Mr Darcy so sexy? Read on and enjoy my lens.

Contents at a Glance

Be Still My Beating Heart
For those of you not familiar with the d...
Still not getting what all the fuss is a...
Pride and Prejudice DVD
Why is Mr Darcy Still So Sexy?
Who is your favourite Mr Darcy?

Just why Mr Darcy gets me all hot and bothered.

For me Colin Firth is Mr Darcy and though I was infatuated with the character in Jane Austen's book, it didn't turn to true love until Colin Firth first appeared on the screen in 1995 wearing his seductive high collars and riding boots.

It's the armidillo effect; hard on the outside, squidgy on the inside. The promise of something softer beneath that hard austere exterior makes Mr. Darcy very hard to resist.

If anyone can woo me it's a man with pocket watch and britches. It helps too if he can recite Shakespeare with Mr Willoughby's eloquance. Yum! Hope you feel the same after reading my lens.

For those of you not familiar with the dashing Mr Darcy ...

Here's a quick insight

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters"

The handsome Fitzwilliam Darcy is the wealthy and detached bachelor depicted in Jane Austen's 1812 novel Pride and Prejudice. As a landowner of massive fortune, thought to be in excess of £10,000, he is the subject of the book's wry opening line: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

Outwardly he is arrogant and detached, though it becomes clear throughout the novel that he struggles with his conscience, emotions and reason, and is in truth a kind and good natured man. Gradually he is challenged by the novel's heroine, Elizabeth Bennet and his feelings for her. Elizabeth compels Mr Darcy to re-evaluate himeslf and how is precieved. Though he struggles to express his emotions at time, he finally reveals he is smitten with Elizabeth and proposes marriage to her.

They struggle through a series of unsettling events which threaten particularly Elizabeth's affections for Mr Darcy but the story eventually end happily.

Still not getting what all the fuss is about ...

Watch this video

Why is Mr Darcy so befuddled in this scene you ask?

Do not remove your waistcoat, Mr Darcy!

To be seen in shirtsleeves was considered positively indecent; a shirt, after all, was the man's last undergarment. Poor Mr Darcy, he completely lost all composure and control on being discovered in his undergarmets.

Pride and Prejudice DVD

Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E Miniseries)

Amazon Price: $11.69 (as of 06/03/2012)
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Why is Mr Darcy Still So Sexy?

So what is it that makes Mr. Darcy so attractive to the modern woman? Surely, it doesn't come down to the high collars and cod pieces? And let's be honest, if any of us met a real life Mr Darcy, chances are we would dump him as soon as he started to critize our skill on the pianoforte and our shoddy needlework.

I have my own theories and here are just a few of them.

1 The Fariytale Never Gets Real

"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance."

Pride and Prejudice ends with the promise of marriage but we never get to see Mr Darcy five or ten years into marriage. And probably just as well, because I'm sure if we did, he wouldn't be so alluring. Part of what we love about Fitzwilliam Darcy is the adoration he has, at first secretly and then openly, for Elizabeth. Ending the novel as she does, Austen leaves us with a Mr Darcy suspended in a perpetual state of adoration for Elizabeth. We love Mr Darcy because we want to be adored by him.

2 We want to Save Him From His Emotional Pain

We love him too, because we want to be that special woman who has the power to deliver him from his angst. We want to win the battle over his conscience. We want to be bigger than his principals, so desirable that he would sacrifice all he believes in for us. Now that would make us very special indeed!

3 He is 'Uncomplicated Manhood'

I'm almost afraid to write this one for fear of being chased and beaten by the feminists!! But I will suggest that we love Mr Darcy because he is a good old fashioned man! He is rich and successful, which helps make him even sexier! He is fabuously good looking {yes, I'm thinking of you Colin}, morally upright and would likely make a devoted husband, since his principles, at the very least, would dictate it.

Who is your favourite Mr Darcy?

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Did you know ...

Jane Austen's inspriation for the dashing Mr Darcy was an Irish gent named Tom Lefroy.

In June a miniature protrait of Lefroy went on sale and was expected to fetch upwards of £50,000. Austen was thought to have had a short but intense 'dalliance' with law student Lefroy, falling for his good looks and pleasant nature.

Recommended Books to have you Daydreaming about Mr Darcy

Why We Still Love You, Mr Darcy!

Why Women Are Still Lusting After Mr Darcy

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

Be Still My Beating Heart

Just why Mr Darcy gets me all hot and bothered.

For those of you not familiar with the dashing Mr Darcy ...

Here's a quick insight

Still not getting what all the fuss is about ...

Watch this video

Pride and Prejudice DVD

Why is Mr Darcy Still So Sexy?

Who is your favourite Mr Darcy?

Thanks for voting! Now invite your friends to vote.

Did you know ...

Recommended Books to have you Daydreaming about Mr Darcy

Mr Darcy & Elizabeth Bennett Framed Print

Mr Darcy Movie Clips

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Some Great Articles on Mr Darcy

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Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

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Learn How To Find & Seduce Your Own Mr. Darcy

Mr Darcy Fan? Express Your Love!

by Tracey_M

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