First names as terms of direct address...
Posted by The Mysterious H.C. on August 11, 1998 at 08:15:23:
In response to names, written by Mishel on August 10, 1998 at 22:33:49
] Just wondering, if a man and woman became engaged, would they then call eachother by their first names if they were alone? I know even throughout marriage, the husband and wife always speak formally to eachother in the company of others. Would engaged and married couples do this even when alone?
The thing to remember about this period is that while addressing someone by first name alone is a sign of intimacy and/or casualness and/or a close family relationship, addressing someone in a different way (e.g. by "Miss/Mrs./Mr."+ last name) is not necessarily a sign of the absence of these characteristics between two people (that is, it can be, but doesn't have to be).
I don't think all married couples addressed each other by "Mr. X" and "Mrs. X". As for your basic question, Darcy takes advantage of his proposal being accepted to call her "Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth" (Chapter 58), and in the canceled chapter of Persuasion Capt. Wentworth bursts out with "Anne, my own dear Anne!".
- Also... Barbara 17:59:50 8/11/98
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