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.
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.
Be Still My Beating Heart
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.
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.
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 & Prejudice - Mr. Darcy Jumps Into The Lake
From the BEAUTIFUL BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Nothing can beat it, and NOTHING can beat this scene. Mr. Darcy in the lake...yum. All copyright belongs to the BBC and Jane Austen (whoever is in charge of that estate anyways). I put this up so people will buy the DVD. So can I keep it up, Youtube?
curated content from YouTube
Pride and Prejudice DVD
Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996)
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $39.95
Used Price: $16.99
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.
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
Pride And Prejudice
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Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues
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Mr. Darcy's Diary: A Novel
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Mr. Darcy Presents His Bride: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
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Mr Darcy & Elizabeth Bennett Framed Print
Elizabeth Bennet Refuses Mr. Darcy Collections Framed Art Poster Print by Hugh Thomson, 28x28
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Some Great Articles on Mr Darcy
Free Internet Dating Services - Datepad Internet Dating
100% Free Internet Dating Services - Meet That Spe more...4 points
Oh, Mr. Darcy ... Yes, I Said Yes! - New York Times
It was perhaps a little embarrassing to learn that more...0 points
Oh, Mr. Darcy: Jane Austen P.L.C. - News Blog - Daily Brief ...
Jun 10, 2008 ... No, gentle reader, he does not re more...0 points
There's No Escaping Mr Darcy, The Independent, 9 June 2000
The "pond scene" of 1995's Pride and Pre more...0 points
Learn How To Find & Seduce Your Own Mr. Darcy
Dating Mr. Darcy: The Smart Girl's Guide to Sensible Romance
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Jane Austen's Guide to Dating
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Mr Darcy Fan? Express Your Love!
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- kimmanleyort kimmanleyort Dec 9, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
- I did not find this while making my gifts for Mr. Darcy lovers lens. I will feature it!
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- roamingrosie roamingrosie Jun 16, 2009 @ 10:26 am
- Great lens! Wonderful book and love the movies, too... definitely a fan of Mr. Darcy! :)
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- pauline60 pauline60 Jun 7, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
- Oh wow, what a great lens, you got 5 stars from me just for giving me another chance to see THAT video of him in the wet shirt..but then there was even more. I am now going back to indulge myself some more, well done Tracey. How about a sort of time share/affilate programme where we all get a couple of hours with Mr Darcey....sorry, I think I need to calm down.
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- MrDarcy MrDarcy Dec 6, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
- Great lens, Tracey!
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- EverythingMouse EverythingMouse Nov 23, 2008 @ 8:34 pm
- Has to be Colin Firth as the best Darcy.
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by Tracey_M
I'm a mother of four, kinda reclusive, slightly off the wall with a frustratingly short attention span ... which isn't such a bad thing now that I've... (more)
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