Shy Guy: Darcy in Pride and Prejudice

I write papers, I have no blog material/time to write blogs, it only makes sense for me to post papers on here.  Right?  (If you disagree you can move along.)

Here is a response paper I wrote after rereading Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time.  

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice explores a number of themes.  Most obvious is Elizabeth’s misinterpretation of Darcy’s actions.  Along with others in the novel, Elizabeth feels Darcy is proud and cold due to his unwillingness to participate in social events.  Although the word is never used in relation to the character, “shy” is a far better descriptor of Darcy.

            Austen lures her readers into agreeing with Elizabeth by only allowing them to view Darcy through the eyes of Elizabeth and other characters.  In Darcy’s introduction, “he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased” (Austen ch. 3).  While the narrator pins Darcy this way, without the description, readers can interpret Darcy’s actions as something else entirely.  “Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party” (Austen ch. 3).  Though the narrator leads readers to believe that these are symptoms of pride, readers can indeed explain these actions in other terms, most particularly shyness.

            Darcy, even, indicates that his antisocial behavior is a result of a shy demeanor.  After Bingley encourages his friend to have a dance, Darcy refuses.  “ ‘You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner’ ” (Austen ch. 3).  His statement is further emphasized by the fact that he only dances with women he knows at this ball.  Yet, readers are deceived because Elizabeth and other characters continue to impress that Darcy is proud.  Mrs. Bennet is particularly harsh when discussing Mr. Bingley’s sociability.  “That is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter” (Austen ch. 9).  Mrs. Bennet does not suppose an disinclination to being social might be a result of shyness.  Because the idea is never directly suggested to readers, readers are willing to agree with the mistaken characters.  This ultimately assists in creating greater tension in the novel while still allowing for a reasonable and happy ending.

            Miss Darcy, meanwhile, is allowed to be shy.  The narrator openly bestows this attribute on Miss

My favorite Darcy, enacted by Matthew
Mcfadyen.

Darcy and not her older brother because as a female, it is acceptable for Miss Darcy to own shyness.  Still, Miss Darcy’s reputation is of being proud.  “[Elizabeth] had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy” (Austen ch. 44).  Elizabeth and others were clearly unwilling

reluctant to offer such an excuse for Darcy, or at the very least imagined shyness impossible in a male figure, especially in one of so high status.  This passage offers a hint to the readers, however, that their heroine has misled them.

            Darcy’s shyness is finally admitted in chapter sixty.  “ ‘What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here?’ ” (Austen) Elizabeth inquires.  Though only two instances are accounted for, the narrator finally allows readers to rest in this small suggestion that Darcy has been shy, not proud, all along.

            In relying on the opinions of other characters and the actions of Mr. Darcy alone, Austen manages to trick her readers into believing that Mr. Darcy is indeed proud.  By doing so, the readers become more engaged with Elizabeth as a character and are as blind to her faults as Elizabeth.  This carefully constructed piece of Pride and Prejudice sets up readers to be surprised by Darcy’s actual character as he acts the hero in multiple ways. 

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg, 5 Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.

Book image courtesy of Novel Reaction.

Darcy image courtesy of Tumblr.