Tumblr crosspost (24 January 2021)
Apr. 20th, 2024 10:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anghraineAn anon asked:
Do you think Darcy's shy? I see a lot on tumblr about it but I've never been completely convinced. I don't see him as being particularly shy or embarrassed until after Elizabeth has rejected him. I'd love to know your thoughts
I replied:
I don’t think Austen’s Darcy is shy as such (though the reading goes back a long ways), but I do think he is quite genuinely uncomfortable in a broad range of social situations.
I don’t think he’s manufacturing or exaggerating his discomfort and difficulties with people when he discusses them at Rosings, say. And I think we see it pretty early on when (as one instance) he has to come up with an intermediary step to work himself up to talking to Elizabeth when he’s only just become interested in her.
And while it’s later, I think the efforts that Elizabeth goes to during their engagement to shield him from situations he finds difficult make a lot more sense (and are much more satisfying, character-wise) if there’s a real inherent discomfort she’s trying to ameliorate. IMO the dynamic there at the end is an “answer” of sorts to the discussion at Rosings, when Darcy didn’t see the need to put in any effort, and Elizabeth was completely dismissive of his difficulties; in the end, Darcy puts in effort and Elizabeth tries to help him.
That all said, discomfort is not the same as shyness—I don’t think he’s at all insecure or timid the way that some people suggest, or the way Georgiana is. He’s introverted, but he’s also straightforward and confident. He just has some people issues.
Do you think Darcy's shy? I see a lot on tumblr about it but I've never been completely convinced. I don't see him as being particularly shy or embarrassed until after Elizabeth has rejected him. I'd love to know your thoughts
I replied:
I don’t think Austen’s Darcy is shy as such (though the reading goes back a long ways), but I do think he is quite genuinely uncomfortable in a broad range of social situations.
I don’t think he’s manufacturing or exaggerating his discomfort and difficulties with people when he discusses them at Rosings, say. And I think we see it pretty early on when (as one instance) he has to come up with an intermediary step to work himself up to talking to Elizabeth when he’s only just become interested in her.
And while it’s later, I think the efforts that Elizabeth goes to during their engagement to shield him from situations he finds difficult make a lot more sense (and are much more satisfying, character-wise) if there’s a real inherent discomfort she’s trying to ameliorate. IMO the dynamic there at the end is an “answer” of sorts to the discussion at Rosings, when Darcy didn’t see the need to put in any effort, and Elizabeth was completely dismissive of his difficulties; in the end, Darcy puts in effort and Elizabeth tries to help him.
That all said, discomfort is not the same as shyness—I don’t think he’s at all insecure or timid the way that some people suggest, or the way Georgiana is. He’s introverted, but he’s also straightforward and confident. He just has some people issues.