RE: The Wickham Issue
Posted by Cassia on December 09, 1997 at 18:14:19:
In response to RE: The letter, written by Laura on December 09, 1997 at 10:18:38
] ]
] ] My second point of interest in the letter is in the middle of his recounting of the Wickham business:
] ] Darcy suspects that Lizzy is partial to Wickham, but this suspicion does not hold him back - it makes him more determined to tell her the truth.
] ] Is this additional motive to protect her from a potentially dangerous involvement, by letting her know W's true character, or is because he is jealous and wants to snuff out her liking for Wickham?
]
] Oh Kate, I believe that Darcy is so smitten and that the woman that he loves is partial to a rake. Yes, Darcy knew that by informing her of W's faults it would make her open her eyes to see the real person(s). I don't think Darcy told her anything out of jealousy. But he needed to set the record straight. I always wished that Darcy would have just come out and say. "hey don't listen to him. And don't base my character on what other people say!!!"
Hmmm, I've thought about this issue a great deal over the years and have come to think that although he does want to warn Elizabeth for her own good, he also wants to place Wickham in a bad light because he is jealous. One of the faults Darcy admits to is his lack of ease in social situations and that ease Wickham has in spades; in fact, it is most likely how Wickham makes his living in the 'lost' years. Ease of manner is still a great advantage in life and those who are not born equipped with it, or have not had it develope despite practice, nearly always envy, resent, and are jealous of those who do manage this trick, especially when it is the only thing the trickster truly possess. Darcy may be a noble creature, but he is still human enough to get in a shot at Wicky when he had the opputtunity, especially when he can cloak it in protecting Elizabeth.
BTW, Kate, thanks for using the word 'git', I haven't heard it in ages unless spoken by myself to explain what it means to Americans.
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