Et tu, Brute?
Posted by MB on December 04, 1997 at 14:57:31:
In response to Respect and Love, written by Bob S. on December 02, 1997 at 12:36:28
] Mark,
] I agree with you that, for Elizabeth, respect comes before love; but I have no problem with the P&P2 line. I think that respect was a very necessary prerequisite for Elizabeth before she even thought of love. Therefore, I think that she would say that she would only marry for love because, for her, respect was a forgone conclusion. I am sure that Elizabeth new several men that she had respect for, but I don't think that she would have married the first one that asked her just because she respected him.
] Along those lines, I am not so sure that she would have accepted a marrage proposal from Colonel Fitzwilliam if it had come instead of Darcy's proposal. I think that she liked Colonel Fitzwilliam (and she certainly respected him) but I don't think that she loved him at that time. I would like to think that she would have tried to put him off to allow her feelings toward him to develop, and that she would only marry him if, in time, her feelings developed in the direction of love.
] Bob S.
Well, Mark darling, here is where we part ways, because Bob S. have so very eloquently stated my feelings on this matter as well. After all, I think Elizabeth respects Bingley, whom she has known as long as she has Darcy, but she does not fall in love with Bingley. There's no "spark".
However, if given the choice between (a)respect without passion or (b)passion without respect, I do think that Elizabeth would choose the former.
MB
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