Your Thoughts on Darcy? -- Pride & Prejudice Ch 10 Discussion

"Miss Bingley told me," said Jane, "that (Darcy) never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance. With them he is remarkably agreeable." - Ch. 5

Until Chapter 10, the eyes of others have been our primary window into the character of Mr. Darcy. While it may be granted that earlier in the book he managed a word or two from time to time (mostly about the fine eyes of Miss Elizabeth Bennet), it is not really until this chapter that we finally see Darcy engaged in extended dialogue with other characters. We finally have the opportunity to hear Darcy speak "among his intimate acquaintance" and get a bigger picture of the man.

So, what are your initial thoughts? What do you like; what don't you like? What did you learn? The question is open-ended: From the beginning of the book until now, what are your thoughts on Darcy?

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen -- Ch. 10 pt 1

THE day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid, who continued, though slowly, to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined their party in the drawing room. The loo table, however, did not appear. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching the progress of his letter, and repeatedly calling off his attention by messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game.

Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual commendations of the lady either on his hand-writing, or on the evenness of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern with which her praises were received, formed a curious dialogue, and was exactly in unison with her opinion of each.

Back: Ch. 9 pt 9

Next: Ch. 10 pt 2

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen -- Ch. 10 pt 2

"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!"

He made no answer.

"You write uncommonly fast."

"You are mistaken. I write rather slowly."

"How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of the year! Letters of business too! How odious I should think them!"

"It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of to yours."

"Pray tell your sister that I long to see her."

"I have already told her so once, by your desire."

"I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend pens remarkably well."

"Thank you -- but I always mend my own."

"How can you contrive to write so even?"

He was silent.

"Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp, and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful little design for a table, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss Grantley's."

Back: Ch. 10 pt 1

Next: Ch. 10 pt 3

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen -- Ch. 10 pt 3

"Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again? -- At present I have not room to do them justice."

"Oh! it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?"

"They are generally long; but whether always charming, it is not for me to determine."

"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter, with ease, cannot write ill."

"That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline," cried her brother -- "because he does not write with ease. He studies too much for words of four syllables. -- Do not you, Darcy?"

"My stile of writing is very different from yours."

"Oh!" cried Miss Bingley, "Charles writes in the most careless way imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest."

Back: Ch. 10 pt 2

Next: Ch. 10 pt 4