When you cannot refute my argument, you mangle my words and pretend not to understand my meaning. I could note too many examples of this in what both Lily and Suzanne have written in rebuttal, but this one from Lily is the best: "You also said you couldn't like a man who goes to such length to please a woman who stomped over his heart." Go back and read what I wrote. Honestly, where you do see those words?
Don't you see there is something wrong with your argument if you have to erect straw men and rearrange my actual words before you can find a way a counter?
I refuse to keep repeating when I have been clear twice. But here is a cheat sheet to help you:
She acted toward him as if she did not like him. Objectively speaking. Read their interactions. He was so dazzled by her sparkling eyes and he had the warmth of spirit to credit her intelligent and often witty replies--so dazzled that he was not noticing that she never complimented him, never gave him a look of approval. Even in a demure and lady-like way, a woman can show a man she is interested. She never did. And, yet, he fell in love with her. Especially after their conversation while dancing at the Netherfield ball, you would think bells might have gone off for him when she asked so closely about Wickham and Darcy felt the need to say the man made friends easily but could not keep them. No bells went off for him that Elizabeth showed no interest in his opinion or in being nice beyond the bounds of civility--in fact, if you read their interchange, she was barely civil.
I am not debating Elizabeth's worth. Austen means for readers to love her and I do. But Darcy cannot see what I see as a reader. He made a bad decision in choosing her as any man makes a bad decision in pursuing a woman who does not seem to like him. Please do not tell me that it is worse when a woman only pretends to like a man but really wants his wealth/position/jelly beans instead of his essence as person. I agree honesty is good! And, when a woman honestly shows she does not like you and/or she honestly shows no signs of liking you, then that is a cue. Darcy ignored it and that could have been a disastrous decision for his future. Men make such bad decisions all the time--just as women make bad decisions, too. But just because it is often done does make it a less bad decision.
Please continue yammering among yourselves. I'm done.
Don't you see there is something wrong with your argument if you have to erect straw men and rearrange my actual words before you can find a way a counter?
I refuse to keep repeating when I have been clear twice. But here is a cheat sheet to help you:
She acted toward him as if she did not like him. Objectively speaking. Read their interactions. He was so dazzled by her sparkling eyes and he had the warmth of spirit to credit her intelligent and often witty replies--so dazzled that he was not noticing that she never complimented him, never gave him a look of approval. Even in a demure and lady-like way, a woman can show a man she is interested. She never did. And, yet, he fell in love with her. Especially after their conversation while dancing at the Netherfield ball, you would think bells might have gone off for him when she asked so closely about Wickham and Darcy felt the need to say the man made friends easily but could not keep them. No bells went off for him that Elizabeth showed no interest in his opinion or in being nice beyond the bounds of civility--in fact, if you read their interchange, she was barely civil.
I am not debating Elizabeth's worth. Austen means for readers to love her and I do. But Darcy cannot see what I see as a reader. He made a bad decision in choosing her as any man makes a bad decision in pursuing a woman who does not seem to like him. Please do not tell me that it is worse when a woman only pretends to like a man but really wants his wealth/position/jelly beans instead of his essence as person. I agree honesty is good! And, when a woman honestly shows she does not like you and/or she honestly shows no signs of liking you, then that is a cue. Darcy ignored it and that could have been a disastrous decision for his future. Men make such bad decisions all the time--just as women make bad decisions, too. But just because it is often done does make it a less bad decision.
Please continue yammering among yourselves. I'm done.