It is in chapter six that we begin to see a different side of Mr. Darcy. Austen slowly reveals his depth of character, which surely contributes to his popularity among readers. Upon first meeting Elizabeth, Darcy proclaims her as "not handsome enough to tempt me,” but after getting to know her better his opinion alters. He is drawn to traits that are often not mentioned by the men of Austen. These being uncommon intelligence, her easy playfulness, and of course her fine eyes. These mentions contrast noticeably with the complements women usually receive: uncommon beauty, and possessing a gentle and humble nature to name a few. His assessment of her is by no means shallow.
Later in the novel we begin to understand the true source of his distant nature when he tells Elizabeth: “I certainly have not the talent which some people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.”
As he begins to admire Elizabeth he observes he from afar, and listens to her conversations with others in order to get to know her better. It is almost as if he is too shy to speak with her.
Have you ever been guilty of misjudging a person by mistaking shyness for arrogance?
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My childhood "sister" friend -- Sheila Rae - was the smartest girl in the class every year, but she was the best friend I could have ever asked for. As we went through junior high and high school, there were times when people would refer to Sheila as "stuck up." I never missed the opportunity to correct them, saying that "Sheila isn't at all stuck up; she's just shy. You should get to know her -- she's really a wonderful girl." Many years have passed since our high school days, and Sheila is still not the most outgoing woman, but she's a beloved friend and a great person.
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