Crushworthy Characters: Mr. Darcy

The fandom surrounding the books by Jane Austen is huge. There are still movies and books about her characters being made each year. I admit to being a huge fan. I like her style of writing. She was a funny lady. Austen created one of the most iconic and romanticized male characters in the literature world in Pride and Prejudice. Prepare your fainting couch and smelling salts — Mr. Darcy is here.

Stats:

Full Name: Fitzwilliam Darcy
Age: 28
Occupation: Gentleman

Who is He?

I think many people know who Mr. Darcy is. He is the main male protagonist of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. He is the pride to Lizzie Bennet’s prejudice. He starts out as a real jerk but he shows himself to be a real hero. He has been played by many actors in various adaptations. One of newest is Daniel Vincent Gordh in the YouTube hit The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. And no one can forget Colin Firth’s excellent performance.

Fun Facts:

1. Several different houses have been used to portray Pemberley on film. In the 1995 version, it was Lyme Park.
2. In The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Pemberley Digital is the name of Darcy’s company.
3. Mr. Darcy only danced with two ladies during the first ball mentioned in P&P. That’s a lot for someone who hates dancing.
4. On television and in movies, Darcy has been played by 21 actors.
5. In 2013, a large fiberglass statue of Darcy was placed in Lyme Park — in the pond.

Why So Crushworthy?

Mr. Darcy is just the man. If GQ had been around in the early 1800s, he would have been on the cover. Mr. Darcy appeared just as the Romanticism movement was beginning to gain speed. He was definitely a character to define the era. Mr. Darcy is first introduced to us as a stuck up jerk. You really want to slap hiim in the face. He snubs Lizzie, interferes with her sister’s romance, and is accused of ill treatment of Mr. Wickham. It turns out he is a stand up guy. He falls in love with Lizzie, breaking all his ironclad rules of social convention. He helps fix that elopement situation with her sister, no questions asked. He tells Bingley to once again court Jane. He continues to love Lizzie throughout the novel even after his first rejection. Ladies everywhere swoon.

Mr. Darcy is on so many lists for best literary male. I love Mr. Darcy, too. He acts stoic in public but he’s really fiery in private. He loves and protects his family. He strips down and swims almost naked in semi-public. His proposals might be a little blunt but they are sincerely meant. He will help your family out of a disastrous scandal. He will fall in love with the person you are on the inside, guaranteed. I am not sure even Jane Austen anticipated the reaction to her manly and handsome creation. She spent a good deal of time making fun of the aristocracy. Creating a sex symbol probably never entered her mind. A good portion of ladies dream of having their own Mr. Darcy.