Col. Fitzwilliam

I think the man was truly interested in Lizzie. Darcy saw this, and realized he must do something about his feelings, so he proposed.

The Colonel does function as you suggest, Cheryl, but also provides one other purpose at least. He comments that he has heard much of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and none of the praise has been exaggerated. If this is not a rather solid hint that Darcy thinks highly of E, then nothing is. This comes along with Charlotte's noting that Darcy looks at E a great deal, etc. Given these and other statements, it becomes increasingly difficult for E to maintain her view that Darcy dislikes her. It presages the com ng marriage proposal which, were it not for Col. Fitzwilliam, would come upon us (at least in the book) quite suddenly and with almost no warning.

I think the Colonel also serves as an upperclass counterpart to Wickham, as strange as this may seem, since they both must be "mercenary" in their choice of a wife. Wickham tries with Mary King of course, and fails, but I don't think Fitzwilliam would ever make a play for Lizzie, since he knows he must marry well. amy 2

I believe that another purpose which Colonel Fitzwilliam serves is to provide evidence for Darcy's letter. I know that evidence isn't the best word to use, I suppose I mean he's a witness. I don't know. My point is that Colonel Fitzwilliam is a trustworthy person who knows all of the family secrets. This way, when Lizzy reads ht eletter, she doesn't just have to take Darcy at his word, she can get it verified.

I have a question, why did Darcy share gaurdianship of Georgian with the Colonel. That seems odd to me?

It seems to me that Col.had much faith in Mr.Darcy opinions of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He stated them loud and clear. Lizzie duh! doesn't get. "Elizabeth he is truely the most honorable man we/you have ever met and who has praised you to his intimate friend and cousin. Col.{who is quite charming} was there to "spill the beans" and to prepared us for the marriage proposal. He was also needed to back-up Mr. Darcys claim about George Wickham's character and to share information about their joint guardiansh p of Georgiana.

I agree that the Colonel manages to perform many roles - creating jealousy, making Lizzie laugh, providing a "character witness" for Darcy. I know we discussed this earlier, but it occured to me again that Duckface (alright, Miss Bingley) was looking rather interested in him at the wedding - aarrgh!! Did anyone else think that the silence (after Lizzie asked Col. Fitzwilliam why Darcy was staring at her in the Parsonage parlour) was a little too long - the Colonel seemed almost too composed, as if what she said had no effect on him. Saman

G'day All, And just what was Col. Fitzwilliam doing in those woods all the time anyway? Who else was he meeting? Or was he just there to ambush Lizzy?

Ian -- Do you not think that the good Colonel could just have been hiding from his doting aunt? I know she concentrated her matchmaking efforts on Darcy, but I suspect that she was nosey and impertinent about Fitzwilliams' private life as well. Maybe she had some other friends (?) or relatives w/ unmarried daughters who had enough money for this younger son of an earl.

es, Kathleen, you are right. I can hear Lady Catherine assuring Col. Fitz (after a long discourse on the lovely Miss Summerville with no title but such great connections and 30,000 pounds): "Did I tell you that Sir Charles Bently called yesterday to thank me? He find the new Mrs. Bently a treasure. 'Lady Catherine', said he, 'you have given me a treasure.'"

I would so like to have been able to attach this comment to response #2... Anyway, Eric observed that the Colonel provides one other purpose at least. He comments that he has heard much of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and none of the praise has been exaggerated. If this is not a rather solid hint that Darcy thinks highly of E, then nothing is. This is true in the film, but does not occur in the book. Yet it is a good example of one way in which the film was actually able to elaborate upon and extend some of JA's characterizations in a way that is in no way bendig them out of the shape in which they were molded. And Mich, I agree that Darcy's sharing gaurdianship of Georgiana with the Colonel seems a bit contrived - the shared guardianship does serve a purpose (as mentioned above) but the way in which it has been woven into the fabric of the plot is not as seamless as are most of the other "necessary coincidinces". Joan, too

Kathleen, Yes He was hiding from Lady Catherine. But so was Darcy with his continued visits to Lizzie. Anyone as formidable as Lady Catherine would have them scurrying (Mr Collins like) as much as possible.

Correct, Joan. It is not in the book. In the book that function is more frequently performed by Charlotte. Even so, the Col. does serve in the book to bring Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth into more benign conversations than they had hitherto known. As you say, the movie was actually able to elaborate upon and extend some of JA's characterizations in a way that is in no way bending them out of the shape in which they were molded.

Call me wacky, but I still contend that a major purpose of the Fitzwilliam character in the book is for Austen to show us that "men of small fortune" -- even the younger son of an Earl -- had to marry for monetary considerations as much as a bounder like Wickham did.

No I agree with you. Younger sons had to marry well. Do you think Caroline Bingley will fulfill all his dreams? She has 30,000 pounds.

Is that right, Donna? As much as Georgiana? I have not checked it, but that sounds like too much. Didn't Bingley only have 100,000?

In the text, Caroline and her sister each had 20,000 pounds

In response to #5 and #11. I would rationalize the joint custody of Georgiana this way. Darcy was only 2 or 3 and 20 when his father died. The colonel is several years older. Providing joint custody relieves a very young man of a little of the responsibility of a young girl at a most trying age. Linda

I agree, Linda. I think Col. Fitzwilliam had joint custody because he was an older man of the world, and he was probably also co-executor of old Mr. Darcy's will. There's usually more than one executor. That's probably why he also knew about the 3,000 pounds paid Wickham in lieu of the living. I've always liked the Fitzwilliam character and I think he has many functions in the story - small ones, to be sure, but important nevertheless. He engages Lizzie in lively conversation, makes Darcy realize what he's missing by being so taciturn, makes the reader realize that marrying for money is not a bad thing if the person doing so is not bad, and serves as a character-witness for Darcy. When considered all together, his role is not unimportant.

In the text, Caroline and her sister each had 20,000 pounda __________ Still that's pretty good. Twenty times as much as the Bennet girls

Speaking of $$$, I have a speculative question: WHAT IF Jane & Lizzy had not made such good marriages, and Mr. Bingly had died? Really, what would have become of Mrs. Bennet and the 5 girls? Where could they have gone? Certainly not to the overcrowded Gardiners on Gracechurch Street. Would they all have been cast into genteel poverty?

Amy 2, Look at Sense and Sensibility. I think that gives you a pretty good idea of what would have happened to the Bennet women - living in a cottage in some remote part of the country, on 500 pounds a year or so.

Me again -- work has driven my brain underground. I meant of course in my prior post: What if Mr. Bennett had died?

Speaking of $$$, I have a speculative question: WHAT IF Jane & Lizzy had not made such good marriages, and Mr. Bingly had died? Really, what would have become of Mrs. Bennet and the 5 girls? Where could they have gone? Certainly not to the overcrowded Gardiners on Gracechurch Street. Would they all have been cast into genteel poverty?

Where could they have gone? Certainly not to the overcrowded Gardiners on Gracechurch Street. Would they all have been cast into genteel poverty? _____________ "If your uncle is not kind to us, I do not know what we shall do!"

Hit enter before I was ready to end. Meant to add: the old hag. She did expect her brother to support them. Of all the things Mrs B said, her assertion that their uncle should put up the money to bring about Lydia's marriage was the most cringe-provoking for me. I think in the movie it may have brought out the strongest rebuke from Lizzy.

I agree whole heartily with all your observations, but thought Col Fitzwilliam's ease with people contracted to Mr. Darcy's lack thereof. I got the impression from the book that Col. Fitzwilliam was indeed interested in Lizzie but was very upfront with her in the unlikelyhood of there ever being any contection between the two. He did this in a "gentleman like manner". Mr. Darcy on the other hand in telling her that he was interested, and proclaiming that their connection should have been unlikely, insu ted her deeply.

A slight defense of Mrs. Bennet in her expectation that her brother should help them financially if they needed help. At a time when women had no way to help themselves and were rasied to believe that men were supposed to take care of them, when the lion's share of the family property went to the oldest son, when the sons were educated and prepared for a profession while the daughters learned to be modest, accomplished and demure - I can easily see a woman - one who does not think deeply or clearly - could assume that her brother(or any other man who maight be imposed upon) would be there for her.

I always thought that one of the many important functions of Col. Fitzwilliam, besides those mentioned above, was to show the reader Lizzie's desirableness, even from members of higher society. Wickham clearly likes her, and now Col. Fitzwillaim clearly likes her, so her desirability is firmly established before Darcy's proposal. Now here's a question that has no doubt been canvassed before, but excuse me, I am a newcomer. What about two cousins named Colonel Fitwilliam and Fitzwilliam Darcy? Fitzwilliam as both a last name and first name in the same family? Kathy

] to show the reader Lizzie's desirableness, even from members of higher society. Good point, Kathy. Did I tell you "welcome" yet? If not, welcome.

Hi Kathy, it was apparently not uncommon to give a son his mother's family name. Darcy's mother was the Colonel's father's sister, hence Fitzwilliam Darcy. A confusing habit IMO, I'm glad it is no longer the fashion.

I think a big difference between colonel fitzwilliam and Wickham considering marriage for money is that Wickham probably would have married any woman with money whether he liked her or not. Colonel fitzwilliam on the other hand hints I think that he can not marry a woman he likes if she does not have some money.But I do not think he means that he would marry any woman just for her money.I think he meant or mean to marry a woman he liked or cared for but she had to have some money otherwhise he could not c nsidering marrying her.

You finally got in, A-K. Good. What finally worked for you?

I think that Fitzwilliam would have been more discerning in his choice of mate than Wickham, but he sure makes it clear to Lizzy in the book that there's no way he can marry her due to purely pecuniary circumstances. . .