Why do we love Mr. Darcy?

The question may seem stupid, because I'm talking about every woman’s favorite male character for more than two centuries! However, if we study Mr. Darcy’s personality rationally, we find that our attraction to him cannot be explained casually.
A severe, taciturn and antisocial man. Not only the first impressions of Elizabeth Bennet. He’s really like that sometimes. Even though he gets better in matters of his pride and initial prejudice, no one can describe the miserable-half-Pemberley owner as friendly, charismatic or - much less - cute (as his best friend, Charles Bingley, sure is).

 

So, why the hell are we all eternally in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy, and sigh every time he appears in Austen’s wonderful novel (or in the 2005 movie, or in the BBC’s TV series, or who cares where else)?

 

Certainly, I cannot answer for all of us, but, after much thought, I came to a few key factors to his irresistible charm. First, he has something we look for in any life partner: loyalty. Darcy is loyal to his friends, his family, and mostly, to his beloved. And his faithfulness does not require reciprocity: even after being rejected by Lizzie, he spares no effort to help her younger sister, the clueless Lydia. His integrity is so strong that he even makes everyone involved in the case swear absolute secrecy, probably in order to avoid making Lizzie feel obligated to return the favor. Is there any better prove of love?

 

Oh, Darcy ...

Another appealing feature is his full dedication to his family and close friends. And, unlike the idea we have of him in the beginning, he has great respect and consideration for those in inferior conditions. Nothing better to know the true nature of someone than to observe how he treats his subordinates. And Darcy’s admire him affectionately.

Finally (as if I needed to say anything else), he’s a very discreet man, something incredibly rare, especially in the internet and social networks Era. Now, ex-boyfriends expose their former loved ones in terrible – and most intimate– ways, posting everywhere nude pictures taken when the couple was happy (or worse, sometimes those were taken without the girlfriend’s authorization

I believe, therefore, that we love - and will always love - Mr. Darcy because we are in an eternal and arduous search for someone with his character. Of course it feels amazing to go out with a cute, hot, fun, popular and spontaneous guy. But raising a family? Sharing a life? Being best friends forever (and for real)? For those, we require a Mr. Darcy.