neither-saint-nor-sinner: wittywallflower: No Geometric…
Edward and Bingley must be led to their girl. Someone else has to interfere or something else has to happen before they go after the woman they love. They let the opinions of others rule them. Bingley lets himself be talked out of his love for Jane, he listens to Caroline and Darcy rather than talking to her or listening to his own heart. Edward enters into an imprudent engagment and stubbornly holds on to it not only when everyone is telling him to break it but also when he no longer cares for the girl.
I feel those two aren’t swooned over as much simply because their wishy-washy character flaws are more obviously displayed. Its a bit easier to forgive the pride of a powerful man like Darcy, or there is more appeal in the unfailing loyalty of a man like Colonel Brandon. Bingley is sweet but not very strong. Edward is nice but very internally conflicted. Whereas someone like Knightley is (in my opinion) as flawless as one could hope from a realistic character.
I don’t know if I agree with these characterizations, necessarily (except for Mr. Knightley. He is quite possibly perfect).
Bingley was 100% willing to marry Jane even when Caroline and Darcy kept trying to tell him how ‘awful’ her family was. Darcy tells Elizabeth as much in his letter: “I readily engaged in the office of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice…but I do not suppose that it ultimately would have prevented the marriage” [Ch. 35]. The fact that he’s willing to look past those things, despite what two of the closest people to him are saying, is pretty praiseworthy. I think that shows strength of character.
It’s only when Darcy tells Bingley that Jane doesn’t care about him that he’s convinced to leave. Which I find sympathetic for two reasons.
- When you’re in love, you’re often too close to a situation to see it accurately. I’m not surprised Bingley trusted Darcy’s assessment of Jane’s feelings more than his own- it might be called “wishy-washy”, I suppose, but it’s very natural. Jane does a pretty damn good job of hiding how she feels from even a shrewd observer like Darcy. Bingley’s hopelessly in love with her- it’s quite normal he wouldn’t trust his own opinion of her feelings.
- Bingley understands the financial situation the Bennets are in. He’s well aware of how much Jane cares about her family. He stays away once he’s convinced Jane doesn’t love him, because sticking around would just increase pressure on her (mostly from Mrs. Bennet) to marry him. Bingley is not the type of man who’ll use his wealth to get what he wants. He cares about what Jane wants, and her happiness.
Jane’s general behavior doesn’t indicate any depth of feeling. Bingley is steadfast in his love. It’s not that he’s not listening to his own heart, it’s that he is trying to respect what comes off as non-reciprocation from Jane. Much like Colonel Brandon, when he observes Marianne is in love with Willoughby- he respectfully stays away.
When Darcy comes clean about what he did, Bingley goes back to Jane right away because his feelings remained unabated (Ch. 58).
And Edward- he isn’t merely being stubborn by holding on to his engagement. He’s being honorable. He entered into the engagement imprudently, but breaking an engagement was a huge deal back then. He’s willing to accept the consequences of that mistake.
Lucy quite literally could have had nothing if Edward acted as callously as his family wanted him to.The fact that he’s willing to stay with her despite being in love with someone else is an admirable act of self-sacrifice. He would give up his own happiness to ensure Lucy’s protection. It’s very unlikely another man would have married Lucy, given the way things worked back then, had Edward broken it off. And it’s not like women had many options besides marriage.
I don’t think either of these men need to be led to the woman they love, exactly. Edward is bound by his engagement and can’t do anything to be with Elinor without being a jerk to Lucy. I’m not sure what you mean by “something has to happen” for him to act- it’s a bit vague. I mean, something has to happen (Catherine’s visit, Elizabeth’s response) for Darcy to reveal his feelings the second time around, too.
And as for Bingley, I agree he is easily led. But once he has the information he needs- the fact that Darcy interfered, the fact that Darcy’s assessment of Jane’s feelings was mistaken- he acts. Without Darcy’s “sanction to be happy” (Ch. 54).
Reblogging because it’s Ren reblogging something. (Well, and because her argument is awesome and persuasive.) But just the reblogging is unusual enough that I want to collect it, like a rare but spectacular tropical butterfly.
Reposted from http://lies.tumblr.com/post/43514447224.
