My love for Mr. Darcy would certainly make Jane Austen blush

Two Friday's ago I was fortunate enough to see the stage adaptation of Pride & Prejudice at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater.

(And, yes, I'm just now getting around to blogging about it, having just now overcome an extreme bought of laziness.)

The production was superb. The accents effected were spot on (so properly British) and the actor playing Mr. Darcy (Avery Clark, www.averyclark.com) was appropriately dashing and severe. Sigh.

Seeing P&P (and being an avid fan of Ms. Austen) got me thinking...


What is it about Mr. Darcy that makes us swoon?


Well, my first thought is that Mr. Darcy is an enigma. He is a puzzle that all women want to solve. He appears dissinterested, haughty and proud, but is really in love with Elizabeth the whole time. Isn't that so...mysterious and darkly romantic?

Many of us women love a challenge...or at least we consider ourselves "fixers" because there's nothing wrong with us, just them. (*EYE-ROLL*) Mr. Darcy is a classic case of extensive pride and social awkwardness that cries out for a little T-L-C.

Then I thought, well maybe it's the sexual tension that's so appealing between E & D. Sure, Jane Austen never married and is said to have gone to her grave a virgin, but she was not unaware of the underlying reasons for Elizabeth's contempt and Darcy's silence--unavoidable sexual tension. It's palpable as you read Pride & Prejudice and every screen/stage adaptation I've seen does a wonderful job of capturing this as well. Who doesn't love a little angst?

Then of course, there's the ever noble rich man who doesn't marry the shallow, pretentious schemer (Miss Bingley), but would rather marry the country girl with no money or connections...because he loves her.

Hopeless romantics everywhere--that's utterly swoon worthy.

So, Mr. Darcy thanks for being a measure to which few men will ever live up to, and making hearts every where race a little faster.