Tumblr crosspost (26 May 2020)

[anghraine]

A (possible?) parallel I’ve always found interesting—

Darcy, recalling his upbringing:

I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing—to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own.

Darcy, recalling dealings with Wickham:

He had some intention, he added, of studying the law, and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be a very insufficient support therein. I rather wished than believed him to be sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal.
 

IMO an aspect of his character that tends to go unexplored is the extent to which his thoughts are influenced by what he wants to think, for his own varied reasons. He wanted (in a Jane kind of way) to believe the best of Wickham, but at some level, he knew better. He wanted to think himself more intelligent and worthwhile than other people, but the people he most values are notably unlike him. He knows better, and yet he doesn’t.