A Pair Of Star-Cross’d Lovers

Previously in my blog I commented about Darcy’s denial to dance with Elizabeth, by telling her: “she is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me” (7). Now, I face a completely different situation, which in fact was a bit obvious since he said that phrase. Stop. What’s the phrase? Oh yes: What goes around, comes around. I guess. Or, the heart’s reasons are unknown to reason itself, or something like that. Fast forward. Darcy finally proposes to Elizabeth. Yeah, he was running late since in Austenworld, the best thing a man can do is propose. And the best thing a girl can do is, yes you got it: reject the proposal. Stop: “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you (Austen 142). Play. While I read Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth a song was sounding in my head…

You know that I was hoping,
That I could leave this star-crossed world behind
But when they cut me open,
I guess I changed my mind.
…
That was the turning point…

(Spaceman, The Killers)

Nice song, by the way. Stop. Rewind… That I could leave this star-crossed world behind… Star crossed. Those words sound familiar. They are indeed familiar, I heard my head telling me. Really? From whe… Rewind. Rewind. Rewind. Gotcha: “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-cross’d lovers, take their life.” Stop. Romeo and Juliet. My mind plays me games. Why would such line appear from oblivion into this Word document? Lets see. Star-cross’d lovers. Fast forward. Relationship thwarted by outside forces. Stop. The pairing of the couple is doomed from the start. Rewind. Romeo and Juliet’s love was indeed doomed since the very beginning. Then does this apply to Pride and Prejudice? Stop.

That was the turning point… To me, this is actually a turning point for many reasons. Play.

1. Darcy’s prejudice finally falls in love with Elizabeth. This instantly refers to the dichotomy dictated by the title between both terms: pride and prejudice. While Darcy’s prejudice towards Elizabeth fades, Elizabeth’s pride grows. This leads her to reject his proposal.

2. Since the beginning of the story, the reader makes note of Darcy’s relationship with Elizabeth. Their discussions sometimes foreshadow that something will happen between them in the future. This event of rejection fades the reader’s hope of seeing this “pair of star-cross’d lovers” together. Is Austen the outside force that prevents their love?

3. Upon his proposal, Elizabeth’s line of thought divides into two halves: one remembering Darcy’s arrogance, remembering her prejudice towards his snobbishness. And the other one portraying her new vision of Darcy as a man how shows some type of goodness.

Stop. Pride and prejudice. Darcy’s pride of his social class makes his love for Elizabeth impossible to express. Therefore, as long as there is pride and prejudice in the book’s society, there won’t be love. At least real love, since according to Elizabeth’s idealism, she will only marry for love. Fast forward. But even if Darcy loved Elizabeth, “he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride.” Making that love impossible to manifest. Rewind. Then, are they a pair of star-cross’d lovers? Stop.