I think the way that Jane Austen uses names has always had two purposes, one to show the nature of the relationship and two to demonstrate manners when a relationship doesn't have the intimacy of allowing informal address (and even when it does.)
Examples. Charlotte Lucas vs. Caroline Bingley in using "Eliza." Charlotte has the right as a close friend to address Elizabeth with a nickname, and her shortened version is as testament to their closeness. Caroline Bingley as a casual acquaintance uses Eliza as an insult to show disrespect. Which makes me wonder of Charlotte not calling her "Lizzy", maybe that is reserved for family only.
Mr.& Mrs. Bennett always use the full formal address, this demonstrates their lack of mutual intimacy despite being long married.
Whereas with Emma, I think her sticking with Mr. Knightly shows both her respect for him as both a person and one much older. She adds in the "my" to make it a more intimate address.
Mrs. Elton is vulgar to say Knightly, she lacks a friendship with him, whereas Marianne obviously has become an intimate of Willoghby, admittedly hastily.
Lydia refers to her "dear Wickham", but again I can't see using her as a model for appropriate manners.
So there are many options to look at when choosing a form of address. First is manners, two is relationship, and last confusion when the name applies to others, and lastly when using the name when talking about the person.
As for Darcy and Elizabeth, I take my cue from the 2nd proposal, when he calls her "dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth." He is addressing her in his new intimacy with her first name and not a nickname.
I believe that to each other they will be Fitzwiam and Elizabeth based on this, but refer to each other as Mr. & Mrs. Darcy to others.
I just can't see her using just "Darcy" to him or about him. It seems a masculine form of address and too formal for their love, yet too informal to display their deep respect for each other.
I can tolerate Fitz, William a bit less but it's not offensive, and detest those who shorten it to Will. I can't see Mr. Darcy calling her Beth either.
Those are my feelings, but it's up to each author to determine why they choose a particular form of address and best if they justify it for the reader, as Austen appears to have done.
Kind of a ramble..
Examples. Charlotte Lucas vs. Caroline Bingley in using "Eliza." Charlotte has the right as a close friend to address Elizabeth with a nickname, and her shortened version is as testament to their closeness. Caroline Bingley as a casual acquaintance uses Eliza as an insult to show disrespect. Which makes me wonder of Charlotte not calling her "Lizzy", maybe that is reserved for family only.
Mr.& Mrs. Bennett always use the full formal address, this demonstrates their lack of mutual intimacy despite being long married.
Whereas with Emma, I think her sticking with Mr. Knightly shows both her respect for him as both a person and one much older. She adds in the "my" to make it a more intimate address.
Mrs. Elton is vulgar to say Knightly, she lacks a friendship with him, whereas Marianne obviously has become an intimate of Willoghby, admittedly hastily.
Lydia refers to her "dear Wickham", but again I can't see using her as a model for appropriate manners.
So there are many options to look at when choosing a form of address. First is manners, two is relationship, and last confusion when the name applies to others, and lastly when using the name when talking about the person.
As for Darcy and Elizabeth, I take my cue from the 2nd proposal, when he calls her "dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth." He is addressing her in his new intimacy with her first name and not a nickname.
I believe that to each other they will be Fitzwiam and Elizabeth based on this, but refer to each other as Mr. & Mrs. Darcy to others.
I just can't see her using just "Darcy" to him or about him. It seems a masculine form of address and too formal for their love, yet too informal to display their deep respect for each other.
I can tolerate Fitz, William a bit less but it's not offensive, and detest those who shorten it to Will. I can't see Mr. Darcy calling her Beth either.
Those are my feelings, but it's up to each author to determine why they choose a particular form of address and best if they justify it for the reader, as Austen appears to have done.
Kind of a ramble..