Did Darcy Ever Intend To Marry Sick Cousin Anne?

OK, I'll go first! I personally do not think that Darcy would have married Anne. Perhaps he never bothered to contradict his aunt (perish the thought of a mere mortal trying to contradict the She-Beast), but he may have wanted to avoid a fight until he was already engaged to someone else. I have always assumed that Darcy and his cousin tried to humor her Ladyship as much as possible, just nodding and mumbling uh huh without actually trying to discuss anything of importance. Darcy could not -- would not -- marry w/o love, and there do not seem to be any symptoms of love for his sickly cousin. Besides, would she even be able to provide him with an heir? I vote no, not even if Elizabeth never accepts him.

Oh, I'm sure that Darcy never had any intention of marrying his cousin, Lizzy or no Lizzy. We know that he was a strong man who could not be bullied. Lady C just thought she was God.

I don't think he was interested in getting married to anyone until he met Elizabeth.

I agree Darcy would never have married Anne, whether he ever married Lizzie or not - or even if he'd never met Lizzie. See my Part 5 of Young Fitz: I've always thought it was mainly Lady C's idea and even Darcy's mother only sort of agreed to avoid a long argument! The "dearest wish" was all on Lady C's part - after all, who else would want sickly Ann who never says anything. BTW, did everybody else notice that Anne had no spoken lines in the adaptation. Were they being cheap, not wanting to pay a higher salary? Just kidding!!

Inko,I think she smiled once during the palor scene at Rosings. When L.C was saying how much Mr. Darcy and the Col.Fitzwilliam loved rosings. She cracked a smile without wiping her nose.

Response #5 Anne de Bourgh smiled once and that should be a "R" for Rosings.

Yea, you notice that the "She-Beast" did not go staight to Darcy when she got wind of the rumor about Elizabeth. She went to Elizabeth first. If there was an "understanding" with Darcy, you think she could have gone to Darcy, not Elizabeth. So I wonder how Lady C. ever approached the matter with him, if she ever did. But Kathleen, I do think he would have married without love to someone with the right connections. At least before out dear Lizzy came upon the scene.

] I do think he would have married without love to someone with the right connections. I can see that, but she would also have had to be 'fit' to carry out the duties and meet the responsiblities that would the lady of Pemberly would have. Anne is so sickly one must wonder if she could safely bear the 'hear and a spare' needed, supervise the household and advise the tenants families. Furthermore, so far as we can tell she doesn't have the wit or social skills needed either.

Anna: You are right about her being too sickly to be a decent mistress over Pemberly. (To ill to even learn to play a damn piano?) But the intention of the match was to combine the two estates.

Definately not! Darcy would never have married his cousin. He would have had as much chance with Miss Bingley. I think Darcy was looking for a "fresh" female and thankfully... he found her.

I agree with all of you; Darcy would not have married Anne. Also since he was a man of integrity, I do not think he would have married unless he found someone like Lizzy. He had women running after him all of the time. Lizzy was the first woman he had to chase. If a woman like Lizzy had not shown up, Darcy would have married late and if he compromise on character, his wife would be similar to Ms. Bingley or Fanny Dashwood. Needless to say, Dary would become a pompous nightmare. Oh what a terrible th ught. Thank God for the happy ending with Lizzy.

I think Inko had the whole arrangement neatly summarized - it was Lady C's arrangement solely - no one could have set her straight about that without being very, very rude - since she never listened to anyone and 'brooked no disappointment'. The point is moot whether Darcy tried to make his dis-inclination for his cousin clear to Lady C and Miss. It would have all fallen on deaf ears.

NEVER! He would have been better off with Mr. Hurst!!

LOL, Amy!

oh my...;-)

Darcy was looking for someone with who was equally stationed in life..."Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly below my own?" I think Darcy would not "want" to marry Anne and if someone else who had the same standing in society came along..he would have considered the marriage much like a contract...to carry on the family name, etc. If no one else came along...would he have considered Anne??? Maybe...and here's a thought..was Anne sickly because she was really sick..or was it because her mother was Lady Catherine?

LOL, Linda! But I kinda thought same, along the lines that if no one better connected came along... He may not have committed to an engagement any time soon, but it could have been in the back of his mind that he always had his cousin to fall back on - at least she's got the Big Bucks. She certainly wasn't going anywhere. And there is alot to be said for a bag over the head.

What a twisted way to think.Besides,Anne didn't have to marry anyone. Everything was in her favor,too.They had choices.

Donna: Seriously, the choices Anne would have had are the ones her mother made for her. Back then, was not a woman's worth measured by the marriage she made? With her mother's expectation of a match for her already made, she did not have to exert herself to find a husband. A single woman's life had it's limitations, even for a wealthy single woman. She may not have even cared whether or not she ever married, but I bet Lady Catherine did. And I bet once Darcy was out of reach, Lady C. would have atte pted to arrange another marriage for her. Lady Catherine cared a great deal about the regard "of the world".

This just sounded like our friend Mikeys way of thinking to me.He said Lizzie was after Mr. Darcy's money and after she(Lizzie) saw Pemberely she changed her mind. Oh,I am sure if Lady Catherine demanded Anne to marry someone she would have. I don't think she had enough backbone to disagree,but she still had other ways around that.Someone suggested that Anne was pretending to be sick as a form of rebellion. I don't know if Lady Catherine could cut her off from her inheritance though, I am sure she would d ngle that over her head. I guess it would depend how it was "legally written" by her father.If that was the case she would agree to Lady Catherine demands.

Sharon said: He always had his cousin to fall back on LOL! I picture Anne completely squashed as he falls back on her!! Horrible picture, but the bag over the head is a very good idea, especially if he falls forward over her and has to see her!!!

I think it possible that Anne's illness was a reaction to Lady C. I don't know whether it was conscious or not--sort of a Saphie v. Edina thing from Ab Fab. With such a strong and domineering mother, Anne had little choice but to be weak and meek. Certainly if she had a backbone as a child, her mother would have amputated it long ago. I also think that Lady C. would never have allowed Anne to gain any accomplishments that she herself could not claim. If Anne ever expressed an interest in learning the pianoforte, or singing, or riding, or going away to school, I am certain Lady C. would not have allowed it and told her daughter that she is too weak for any such thing, that it was completely out of the question, and that she had never heard such a rediculous suggestion in all her life, what was she thinking! Whatever spirit Anne may have had, it could not have lasted long with Lady C. in the house.

Oh dear! I feel positively sorry for Anne now...

]was Anne sickly because she was really sick..or was it because her mother was Lady Catherine? And were her skills in conversation nonexistent because Lady Catherine never allowed anyone but herself to speak? When did the poor pitiful thing ever have an opportunity to practice them?

When she did try to converse she probably was told to she was wrong.

But look at Lizzie. Here's someone who manages to talk around Lady Catherine due to sheer chutzpah. Or would Anne have been so beaten down growing up that she never could have developed this facility?

Amy W.: I don't know. Anne is one of the best puzzles we have in this book - we have so few clues. But probably the best place to start is at present, then work our way backwards. She is an adult, though age undetermined. She is thin and small, physically the opposite of her mother. She had weak features and probaly ugly ('Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strong features, which might once have been handsome.' ...'There was neither in face nor form any likeness between the ladies.'). she appears sickly and cross. She has some arrogance or is conscientious about her status is she goes to the Collins' to visit and doesn't usually even go inside. Elizabeth thinks she is rude. She spoke little except in a low voice to Mrs Jenkinson, whose sole purpose in like was to tend to her. She didn't eat much, which triggered the solicitude of Mrs. J. It is her mother that uses her health to account for the lack of accomplishments. This does nothing toward encouraging her to do anything about it. It is almost like the She-Beast thinks, "My kid's a looser and so be it". When Lady Catherine looks at her child what does she see? Is she disappointed?

Lady C is so accomplished at one thing -- deluding herself -- she likely sees in Anne whatever she wishes to see.

I wonder very much at the comment that Lady C makes to Lizzy; ''Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father.'' It seems she is speaking of personal experience; was it her own experience as a daughter? Or perhaps her experience with her late husband, who may have been waiting for the male heir who never arrived. His treatment of Anne, and of Lady C because of only having a female child, is another missing piece of this puzzle. We assume that she was always this way, but certainly could have ecome the present day Lady C because of experiences within her marriage. I can vividly see her assuming an attitude of superiority to cover feelings of inferiority from her failure to produce a male heir.

It is almost like the She-Beast thinks, "My kid's a looser and so be it". When Lady Catherine looks at her child what does she see? Is she disappointed? Most definitely--here's a woman who's always had the "best" of everything, and her daughter isn't the "best" in any respect: not accomplished, nor witty, nor even attractive. Perhaps that's another reason why Lady C is so hellbent on Darcy for a nephew--he is intelligent, handsome--in short, the "best of the best." Lady C would be able to live vicariously through Darcy and her grandchildren, and would probably try to forget all about Anne. Of course, Lady C's psychology is another topic, but I can see her reacting this way, and I bet Anne can see that as well, which would only compound any inferiority complex, sickliness, or crossness in her manner.

Mari: '... could have become the present day Lady C because of experiences within her marriage.' True, true. Lizzy thinks that Lady Catherine "might once have been handsome." Ugly does work its way from the inside out. Maybe like her apprearance, she deteriorated into the way she is.

Amy2 and Sharon - LOL. Sharon, I also loved your analysis of Lady C. The erosion of the person from the inside out is very true of people.

I believe that Darcy would have married eventually, in order to fulfill his responsibilities as the heir of Pemberly; but he was would not have married Anne because of the inevitably increased exposure to Lady C! If it got to the point where he felt he could no longer wait, I'm sure he would have acted on his logic, and chosen someone who had either fewer outside influences, so that her main attention would be given to Pemberly (and Georgiana), or had connections that would vastly enchance the social sta ding of the presumed children; to do otherwise would have been unthinkable to the Darcy who had never met Lizzy.

Hey, I don't know that Darcy's wish to avoid Lady Catherine would have had anything to do with not wanting to marry Anne. Darcy went to visit his aunt every year and stayed several weeks. I don't get to visit my best friends for that long. The time that I can recall that he may have wished her elsewhere was when she was kinda rude about Lizzy using Mrs. Jenkinsons piano, and he was 'embarassed', or somthing. He may not have been Chatty with Cathy, but he may very well have had respect for her, and con urred with many of her views. Even after he was married, he was the one that sought a reconciliation with her.

But Sharon--it was "by Elizabeth's persuasion he was prevailed on to overlook the offense and seek a reconciliation" so I doubt he would have done so on his own!

Even after he was married, he was the one that sought a reconciliation with her. Lizzy persuaded Darcy to heal the breach with Lady Catherine.

Sure, Elizabeth persuaded him. But why would SHE care? ..unless she saw that her husband felt bad about the breach.

She probably wanted to show Lady C. that the shades of Pemberley were not polluted after all!

Mari..Sharon...I think that by the time Darcy married Anne...Lady Catherine would have been in old age. I believe that Annes illness was the result of Lady Catherine's control of her entire life. Look how quickly she took over Charlottes? Imagine having such a controlling mother for all those years...the only thing Anne could control was her own body..her health...it was an escape to get out of all Lady Catherine expected of her..and yes, I think Lady Catherine welcomed the escape of her illness becaus she was such a disappointment to her. Darcy would have only married her as a last resort, but remember to have a son to carry on not only the family tradition but the family name was very important to them. Because Darcy was such a "staunch" personality, it would be hard for him to accept just any woman...until a certain lady got under his skin...and he couldn't fight it any longer. I don't think he ever would have considered Ms. Bingley...but since Anne was part of a family agreement...he may have con idered it...if he had too.

To quote Charlotte Lucas "I am not a romantic" in the matter of Darcy's marrying had he not met Lizzy. I do believe he would have married someone of his own rank who could have provided and heir and a spare - and then (as was the custom of men of his period and station) would have found a very lively, elegant mistress "in town". Intregrity or not.

Claudia, and heir & a spare. I love it!

Ladies, please do not be so anxious to marry Darcy off to some horse-faced deb merely because she has a position in society. The Darcy of my dreams (and I have them frequently) is a man of passion and integrity who would never be able to bed a woman for the sole reason of producing an heir. He would have to be able to respect, esteem, and desire his wife. Otherwise, why is he still available at the age of 27? He clearly had high standards or he would have married duck-face and done the dreadful deed n cessary to produce an heir. I prefer to think that he would have waited (immortal and ever-youthful) until I was in my prime (around 1976). =)

Bravo Margaret

I agree with you Margaret - the creative writers at FoF have a different idea - they see Darcy marrying Caroline Bingley (shades of Four Weddings...) to satisfy the requirement of producing an heir to Pemberley.

Marrying Caroline Bingley?(English Accent) God forbid! How would she satisfy the requirements better then Elizabeth???

NO,no,no. Darcy would never have married Caroline. He was 'indifferent' to her, and furthur, he did not view the Bingley's as high as himself socially. He liked her brother and they were not so far beneith him that they were unacceptable acquaintances. But if Darcy were to look for a bride for convenience sake, he would have made an equal match, not ally his ancient, noble family with the House of Bingley.

But, Sharon, Darcy wanted his sister to marry Bingley. Surely he wouldn't have fobbed her off on someone he regarded as inferior. But I agree that he would never have married Caroline. She drove him crazy even as a sometime companion. He'd never have shackled himself permanently!

Maybe our FoF cousins like having Darcy in an uncomfortable unhappy marriage. The situation makes adultery stories a lot more palatable.

I believe FoF had Darcy, nursing a broken heart and resigned to disappointment, ready to propose to Miss Bingley when Elizabeth showed up at Pemberly. Once he sees E again, hopes of winning her revives and the proposal never takes place. But I do not believe that Darcy could possibly have made such a decision so soon after his first proposal to E. Maybe five years later but not three months later.

'But, Sharon, Darcy wanted his sister to marry Bingley.' And she is a younger female. Though Bingley's social status may not be as elevated, he did have a fortune in excess of hers.

I really don't think Mr. Darcy wanted his sister to marry Bingley. It was Miss Bingley hoping that her brother would marry Georgiana.

'FoF had Darcy, nursing a broken heart and resigned to disappointment, ready to propose to Miss Bingley' Like that would happen. Forget FOF! ;-)