Fitzwilliam Darcy is Pride and Prejudice's snobbish but good principled leading man.
Basic Information:
Age: 28 (probably), he mentions his age at the end of the novel (most likely in the month of October). However since he is referring to a change that began back in April, he could have already turned 29 (unlikely in my opinion) or he could have more recently turned 28.
Spouse: Elizabeth Darcy nee Bennet (end of novel)
Income: 10,000£ per year, this is one of the first things we learn about him. However, in chapter 16, Wickham, the son of a former Pemberley steward, describes his income as a clear 10,000£, meaning the 10,000£ would be after estate expenses were paid.
Primary Residence: Pemberley Estate, in Derbyshire, where his housekeeper estimates he spends half his time, it is speculated that he will spend more time there after he marries. He also keeps a house in London.
Physical Characteristics: Tall, with handsome features and a noble mein.
Personality Characteristics: Our dear Darcy is a bit of a snob, but as I said above he does have good principles (which in the end triumph over his snobbery). Almost immediately after his introduction, his manners disgust the people of Meryton as they show he is proud, inconsiderate and uninterested in them. The narrator describes him as being clever but that he was also "haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting[,]" making it perhaps not surprising that he "was continually giving offense." In spite of all of this he does have some good qualities beyond well bred but uninviting manners, he is a conscientuous landlord who takes care of his tenants and does good among the poor, takes care of his sister and is helpful towards his friends, as well as the ability to forgive those he cares about.
What to call him:
- Darcy - This is what the narrator calls him, as well as his friends Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
- Mr. Darcy - Following his father's death, people who are not entitled or privileged to call him Darcy or by some other name. Before his father's death he might have been Mr. Darcy in circumstances where his father was not present or where it was obvious that his father was not being referred to, he might also have been called young Mr. Darcy.
- Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - Before Darcy's father died, this would have been the primary way for people who weren't friends or family to address Darcy as he was not the most important Mr. Darcy around. Following his father's death, not so much though still if you wanted to distinguish him from another past Mr. Darcy it might be used.
- Master Fitzwilliam / Master Darcy - It is likely that Darcy was called this by servants and other people who were not close enough or did not hold enough social clout to use his first name when he was a young child. It is possible that some might still use it.
- The master/your master/my master - this is in reference to his position as the owner of Pemberley Estate or as his position as a servant's employer.
Labels: Character Info, Darcy Family, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice