Darcy is afraid of being hurt?

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Darcy is afraid of being hurt? Written by Robbin (4/30/2007 12:21 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Hmmm, penned by Mrs. Van Dunk

Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. (Chapter 4)

Why should it be assumed Darcy is good because Bingley is good? The text explicitly says they are different in disposition and character which does not lend itself to the assumption that Darcy and Bingley are alike. Why should it be assumed Bingley could not be friends with a person who is not congenial and gentlemanly? What proves to you that this is indeed the case? Is not the exact opposite clear in the text—that Darcy behaves in a manner that is not congenial or gentlemanly at the assembly ball and that he is indeed Bingley’s friend? At this point how can we assume ductile Bingley could not be fooled by a bad person?

"Which do you mean?" and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me." (Chapter 3)

What evidence do you see in the text that Darcy is afraid of being hurt by other people? He is not afraid to disparage a particular lady and a whole group of people he has refused to become acquainted with. He disparages Lizzy after meeting her eye and speaks loud enough for her to hear and apparently not caring if she does. This does not speak of a man afraid of the fortune hunting ladies which may be in his vicinity but one who is not afraid and easily puts one in her place despite the fact she committed no offense. ;D

Although Mandy was joking about Darcy not attending the assembly ball I would not go so far to call the idea preposterous. I can think of a number of scenarios in which it would be acceptable. However, I happen to agree with you that Darcy went for Bingley’s sake. ;D

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Fickle Public Opinion Cheryl (4/28/2007 9:32 p.m.)

Darcy is the author of all… Robbin (4/29/2007 3:54 p.m.)
- Even ruder than he appears? Carolyn (4/29/2007 10:43 p.m.)
  - Oh yes! Robbin (4/29/2007 11:42 p.m.)
- Nicely Said BarbaraB (4/29/2007 5:14 p.m.)
- Putting myself in his situation. . . William D (4/29/2007 4:37 p.m.)
  - Not quiet or subdued nan duval (5/1/2007 6:33 p.m.)
  - Partially true... Eaffie (4/30/2007 2:01 p.m.)
    - Austen says that Darcy is reserved... Karen 2L (4/30/2007 2:43 p.m.)
      - Thank you for this Maisy (4/30/2007 3:10 p.m.)
        
        I agree, helpful indeed! nfm ;D Robbin (4/30/2007 3:17 p.m.)
  - IMO Darcy is not misunderstood… Robbin (4/29/2007 9:38 p.m.)
    - And third... Kathi (4/30/2007 2:20 a.m.)
      - Yes, I have to agree Kathi! nfm ;D Robbin (4/30/2007 5:53 a.m.)
  - I agree, too Denise H (4/29/2007 8:28 p.m.)
  - I definatelly agree... Maria Liourdi (4/29/2007 5:20 p.m.)
- How Elizabeth took it Cheryl (4/29/2007 4:31 p.m.)
  - Too True NFM BarbaraB (4/29/2007 5:17 p.m.)
  - I must agree with you… Robbin (4/29/2007 5:03 p.m.)
Meryton Opinion BarbaraB (4/29/2007 9:13 a.m.)
- Change of Meryton opinion ' about half the evening...' Mandy N (4/29/2007 9:48 a.m.)
I think it was...... Jen S (4/29/2007 8:56 a.m.)
- Darcy gave offence in his own circles Lisa M. (4/30/2007 11:01 a.m.)
- opposites attract Outi (4/30/2007 1:40 a.m.)
  - Darcy being anxious Ruth Anne (4/30/2007 2:10 p.m.)
- Are we perhaps to quick to judge, as readers, Susan L (4/29/2007 9:02 p.m.)
  - Darcy’s first impression Robbin (4/29/2007 11:26 p.m.)
  - We, as readers BarbaraB (4/29/2007 10:48 p.m.)
- In Darcy's defense Tiffany Lynn (4/29/2007 12:55 p.m.)
  - New to Pemberley? Cheryl (4/30/2007 4:38 p.m.)
  - Judging the locals Kathi (4/30/2007 3:53 a.m.)
  - Disagree :-) Maisy (4/29/2007 2:23 p.m.)
    - Insupportable, but why? Margaret S (4/29/2007 6:29 p.m.)
      - That's not what the narrator tells us   Kathi (4/29/2007 10:10 p.m.)
        
        "truth ... man ... fortune ... wife" No? *nfm*   Margaret S (4/30/2007 3:32 a.m.)
        
        The narrator's opinion and Darcy's behavior   Kathi (4/30/2007 3:48 a.m.)
        
        Maybe Darcy should've stayed at Netherfield. ;-)   Mandy N (4/30/2007 4:03 a.m.)
        
        Hmmm   Mrs. Van Dunk (4/30/2007 10:53 a.m.)
        
        Darcy is afraid of being hurt?   Robbin (4/30/2007 12:21 p.m.)
        
        Partly agree   Tiffany Lynn (4/30/2007 5:34 p.m.)
        
        Darcy fooling Bingley   Robbin (5/1/2007 1:33 a.m.)
        
        Sorry, I'm confused   Kathi (4/30/2007 10:32 p.m.)
        
        better explanation   Tiffany Lynn (4/30/2007 10:50 p.m.)
        
        Thanks   Kathi (5/1/2007 10:50 p.m.)
        
        Perhaps we should agree to disagree   Marilynn (4/30/2007 4:04 p.m.)
        
        As you wish. nfm :)   Robbin (4/30/2007 5:21 p.m.)
        
        What's so preposterous ?   Mandy N (4/30/2007 11:38 a.m.)
        
        Definately not the behavior of a gentleman or gentlewoman   Marilynn (4/30/2007 12:11 p.m.)
        
        We don't only have ...   Kathi (4/30/2007 11:35 p.m.)
        
        I want to pick up on Marilynn's excellent observation...   Arnie Perlstein (4/30/2007 7:07 p.m.)
        
        Just a Personal Observation   BarbaraB (5/1/2007 6:47 p.m.)
        
        ...except that Darcy is not shy.   Karen 2L (4/30/2007 9:02 p.m.)
        
        I appreciate   Felicia (4/30/2007 10:46 p.m.)
        
        And yet if JA intended to portray...   Kathi (4/30/2007 11:33 p.m.)
        
        You read the narrator differently than I do...   Arnie Perlstein (5/1/2007 12:29 a.m.)
        
        I so agree   Marilynn (5/1/2007 8:57 a.m.)
        
        The narrator's supposed bias   Kathi (5/1/2007 4:54 a.m.)
        
        Objective or subjective?   Line (5/1/2007 8:19 a.m.)
        
        Au contraire, madame...   Arnie Perlstein (5/1/2007 8:15 a.m.)
        
        OK, please now   JulieW (5/1/2007 8:19 a.m.)
        
        Oops, sorry - didn't see your post in time, Julie! (nfm)   Line (5/1/2007 8:26 a.m.)
        
        Not just the narrator.   Mandy N (5/1/2007 3:56 a.m.)
        
        One important correction to my message...   Arnie Perlstein (4/30/2007 11:19 p.m.)
        
        Reserved, shy, what's the difference....   Arnie Perlstein (4/30/2007 10:24 p.m.)
        
        Narrator :-)   Maisy (4/30/2007 12:26 p.m.)
        
        Quite so, NFM   Marilynn (4/30/2007 1:42 p.m.)
        
        New to Pemberley?   Cheryl (4/30/2007 10:56 a.m.)
        
        Pardon me.   Marilynn (4/30/2007 11:22 a.m.)
        
        Thanks, Marilynn   Cheryl (4/30/2007 12:05 p.m.)
    - This is what does it for me too BarbaraB (4/29/2007 4:09 p.m.)
    - Absolutely! Jen S (4/29/2007 2:33 p.m.)
      - This, however, indicates.... Eaffie (4/30/2007 2:16 p.m.)
  - I agree, and also.... Eaffie (4/29/2007 1:42 p.m.)
    - I sympathise with Darcy, being a misanthropist myself. Silvia O (5/2/2007 7:59 p.m.)
      - I don't think Darcy... Elizabeth Sycamore (5/3/2007 4:07 p.m.)
        
        Good point! nfm ;D Robbin (5/3/2007 5:06 p.m.)
      - No monopoly of insight.   Mandy N (5/3/2007 12:20 p.m.)
        
        Shark infested waters   Robbin (5/3/2007 10:51 p.m.)
        
        An amusing scenario but -   Mandy N (5/4/2007 6:43 a.m.)
        
        You are right...   Robbin (5/4/2007 9:28 a.m.)
        
        Despite his impression, Darcy did receive attention at MA *nfm*   Margaret S (5/4/2007 7:41 a.m.)
        
        Quite so,   Mandy N (5/4/2007 11:00 a.m.)
        
        I don't think receiving attention meant being noticed...   Adrian (5/4/2007 2:13 p.m.)
        
        Very interesting.   Silvia O (5/6/2007 6:02 p.m.)
        
        What *did* Darcy mean by receiving little/no attention?   Lia (5/4/2007 7:37 p.m.)
        
        What kind of attention did Darcy expect?   Robbin (5/5/2007 3:02 a.m.)
        
        Courtesies to Darcy...   Mandy N (5/4/2007 3:49 p.m.)
        
        Catch of the day   Margaret S (5/3/2007 10:04 p.m.)
        
        Not trying to catch him?   Tracy W (5/3/2007 5:40 p.m.)
        
        No text evidence yet even if 'plotting'....   Mandy N (5/4/2007 11:58 a.m.)
        
        Thank you, Tracy, I was going to quote that line myself.   Silvia O (5/3/2007 8:56 p.m.)
        
        Husband-hunting   Line (5/3/2007 10:31 p.m.)
        
        He was used to the attention but...   Lia (5/4/2007 7:27 p.m.)
      - But how does he know that? Kathi (5/3/2007 12:58 a.m.)
      - Except that... Line (5/2/2007 11:13 p.m.)
        
        Being from a large city myself... Cathy Allen (5/3/2007 12:14 p.m.)
    - That's interestng, but Mandy N (4/30/2007 3:00 a.m.)
      - Mrs Bennet...   Eaffie (4/30/2007 2:22 p.m.)
        
        Mrs B's interest is Bingley.   Mandy N (4/30/2007 3:42 p.m.)
        
        Ah but the chance he'd marry a local girl   Tracy W (4/30/2007 5:50 p.m.)
    - And yet... Maisy (4/29/2007 2:24 p.m.)
      - Miss Bingley   Jen S (4/29/2007 2:38 p.m.)
        
        Caroline and Darcy   Kathi (4/30/2007 5:07 a.m.)
        
        Definitely, but   Jen S (4/30/2007 10:14 a.m.)
        
        That phrase struck me this time, too.   Kathi (4/30/2007 10:37 p.m.)
        
        IMO, you are not reading too much into Darcy's comments (NFM)   Eaffie (4/30/2007 2:34 p.m.)
        
        Right   Maisy (4/29/2007 5:18 p.m.)
First impressions... Maria Liourdi (4/29/2007 8:51 a.m.)
- Yes, expectations were high Maisy (4/29/2007 9:25 a.m.)
Darcys pride Michaela (4/29/2007 8:10 a.m.)
- The first use of the word pride LauraG (4/29/2007 2:40 p.m.)
- Pride and self-esteem. Mandy N (4/29/2007 12:47 p.m.)

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