Question- Sketch the character of Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Or
Give a character-sketch of Darcy. Or
Discuss the character of Darcy.

Answer-

Though Jane Austen is not good creator of male characters, yet Darcy is one of the best creations of her. He has following characteristics in his character -

1. Physical Personality : Fitzwilliam Darcy is a tall, handsome young bachelor of 27 years. He is a rich man with annual income of ten thousand pounds per annum. His family place is Pemberley House and his estate has extensive grounds with some of the finest woods in the country. Darcy is shown to be haughty and exclusive sort of person who creates a very bad impression by his lack of good manners. He disdains acquaintance with other members at the ball and rejects his friend's suggestion to dance with Elizabeth and what is worse, is the contempluous comments against Elizabeth making her heared. His pride gives a way to rise prejudice against him in Elizabeth's mind.

2. Temperament : Darcy is conscious of his superiority over others. He has a class prejudice against the low, landed gentry of Longbourn neighbourhood and he makes no secret of his feelings. He is a man of reserved and refined nature. Because of his intellectual superiority over his friend he is a man of dominating personality. He is proved superior to Bingley in judgement and understanding.

3. Keen observer : His several confrontations, discussions and wordly duels with Elizabeth inspire him to know and admire Elizabeth and also to discover himself. He admits that he has pride and no talent to impress the strangers. He criticizes others for those follies, which he himself has. On his own admission, his temperament is resentful. Despite of these, he is not mean or secretive. He starts admiring Elizabeth and has no hesitation to accept it before Caroline.

4. Honest and Frank : He is frank and honest. His honesty and frankness is admirable. He admits, without any hesitation, that his widom and dicretion advise him against such a step but he still finds himself helpless to check himself because he loves Elizabeth so much that he is compelled to propse her for marriage. He gives various reasons against such a marriage. He feels deeply hurt at her refusal but takes it with goods grace when she gives her reasons for her blunt refusal. He later admits that she has caused him to rediscover himself and he confesses his various failings. It is on account of his culture and refinement that he is so sane and sanguine.

5. Shy and Sober : Darcy is a shy, sober and reserve person. He is neither frivolous nor demonstrative. He has great regard for social propriety. He is greatly impressed with Elizabeth's resolve to leave Netherfield because he feels that Jane and Elizabeth have stayed there for too long and also because caroline and her sister have been rude to Elizabeth. He does not like looseness in any one and that is the reason why he is against Jane-Bingley alliance. Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest daughters Catherine and Lydia are indiscreet in their speech and action. Similarly, he feels uneasy when Lady Catherine tries to humiliate Elizabeth at Rosings.

6. Noble Character : He emerges as a noble character for whom no sacrifice is too great for a person who has won his good opinion, admiration and love. He goes out of his way not only to trace out Lydia and Wickham but also to bring about their marriage in order to save the honour of the Bennet family. He does this at a time when he has no hope of winning Elizabeth's good opinion and change of heart because he does everything in the name of Mr. Gardiner, keeping his identity hidden and concealed. It is alo significant to note that he repaid the debts of Wickham after he left Lambton after misdeed.

7. Conclusion : Summing up it may be said that he is a changed person at Pemberley. His true character and personality are reflected in his letter of explanations. Darcy, like Elizabeth, is unsentimental and unromantic in his early moods of snobbish pride and rudeness. Like Elizabeth, he also learns to understand her and himself, to penetrate beneath the surface at which first impressions operate. Like Elizabeth again, he also is a complex character who changes with the changing scenes and circumstances.

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