Lydia
Posted by Lesley on August 04, 1998 at 02:18:18:
In response to rescuing Lydia, written by Kathi on August 04, 1998 at 01:40:27
] When everyone else seemed to think that Lydia *had* to marry Wickham, why did Darcy think that getting Lydia away from
] Wickham was a viable alternative?
My thought is that he knew better than anyone how horrible Wickham was and that in his mind, anything would have been better than marriage to such an unscrupulous person.
] What would have happened if Lydia had returned to her family without marrying Wickham? Would they have taken her back?
I am sure that they would but public opinion would have been against them. If they hadn't taken her back, Lydia's prospects would have been very grave indeed. She would have probably resorted to prostitution in order to survive. Remember the spiteful old ladies in Meryton wishing that Lydia had "come upon the town"? Well, that meant that she had gone to London to be a prostitute. And Mr. Collins advises that they throw Lydia off forever.
] When Lizzie talks about no "decent" man being willing to marry the other sisters, does she mean that they might have ended up marrying tradesmen? Or the drunks in front of the Assembly Hall at that first dance? Or not married at all?
Well, Lizzie's uncle was a tradesman so I don't think being married to a prosperous tradesman would have been such a terrible thing. I don't think Lizzie or Jane would have married a drunkard or uneducated person even if there were no scandal. They would have probably remained unmarried and very poor, if not for Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. Mr. B's father made all his money in trade.
] And what would have happened if Darcy had decided to marry Lizzie in spite of the scandal?
I think it was actually worse for Mr. Darcy the way things turned out. So, yes, I think he would have married her. He is just the kind of person to carry it off,too, having that aristocractic disdain for other's opinions. ;-)
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