A digression in a thread below suggested that the movies fail Mr. Darcy by having him smile too little. Certainly the image we have in fanfics, and maybe it is because of the movies (?), is that he is a dour, somber guy. Is that really how Austen wrote him?
For example, when Elizabeth arrives at Netherfield to see the ailing Jane, Mr. Darcy is taken aback:
In the next chapter, we hear him defending Elizabeth--well, sort of--to Caroline, but was that more to twit Caroline than to actually express interest?
So, what does Darcy really think? We don't get the impression here that he is dour or somber. Indeed, he seems to have some fun baiting Caroline, who he has to know (don't you think?) is interested in him?
I think Darcy is a smart guy who is not always a nice guy, not like his friend Bingley. He smiles when he wants to smile but even though he had the beginnings of interest in Elizabeth Bennet before he left Hertfordshire, he told himself she was not good enough. So, I don't thing that given how he had behaved to her, Elizabeth had reason enough in Kent to suspect he would propose marriage.
Had she been less of an innocent and he less of a gentleman, perhaps there would have been reason for readers to suspect he would propose something else. But Jane Austen does not write in such a way as to lead us that scandalous conclusion. And we are shocked when he proposes marriage because his smiles do not lead us to that, in my opinion.
For example, when Elizabeth arrives at Netherfield to see the ailing Jane, Mr. Darcy is taken aback:
Quote
Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.
In the next chapter, we hear him defending Elizabeth--well, sort of--to Caroline, but was that more to twit Caroline than to actually express interest?
Quote
Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no stile, no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added,
"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild."
"She did indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!"
"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office."
"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well, when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."
"You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley, "and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition."
"Certainly not."
"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ancles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she mean by it? It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country town indifference to decorum."
"It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said Bingley.
"I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, "that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes."
"Not at all," he replied; "they were brightened by the exercise." -- A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again.
So, what does Darcy really think? We don't get the impression here that he is dour or somber. Indeed, he seems to have some fun baiting Caroline, who he has to know (don't you think?) is interested in him?
I think Darcy is a smart guy who is not always a nice guy, not like his friend Bingley. He smiles when he wants to smile but even though he had the beginnings of interest in Elizabeth Bennet before he left Hertfordshire, he told himself she was not good enough. So, I don't thing that given how he had behaved to her, Elizabeth had reason enough in Kent to suspect he would propose marriage.
Had she been less of an innocent and he less of a gentleman, perhaps there would have been reason for readers to suspect he would propose something else. But Jane Austen does not write in such a way as to lead us that scandalous conclusion. And we are shocked when he proposes marriage because his smiles do not lead us to that, in my opinion.