Elizabeth always strikes me as the kind of woman who doesn't need the company of others to keep her busy - even Mr Darcy! I always envisioned that marriage to be very happy, after all they'd learned the hard way to speak plainly with each other while being kind to their feelings. If she ever found him spending too much time away, I'm sure she let him know! She'll be busy too with running that giant household and their social calendar.
@Anonymous but remember how she fell in love with Pemberly? I think she realises by the end of the novel that it will give her shelter from her insane family. They cannot fully retreat from society though-it would have been absolutely impossible. The book ends with discussing how much of a refuge Pemberly is for them not merely because it is so far from her family. Elizabeth would have to run the house - it's her role now. Georgiana is living with them and there is some discussion on how close they become and Elizabeth would need to model running a household for her. They even make up with Lady Catherine in the end! I don't think they have a full retreat from society at all. It sounds like there is an endless stream of visitors to Pemberley and people to keep up with. She's a busy wife, that Elizabeth.
Doesn't it say she was at the end? I remember it going a little bit into what life was like after their marriage -- like her aunt and uncle became very close to them and Darcy grew to love them. I can't see why Mr. Darcy was so busy anyway -- wasn't he a gentleman of leisure? People of that class didn't have to do anything they didn't want to do!
Elizabeth always strikes me as the kind of woman who doesn't need the company of others to keep her busy - even Mr Darcy! I always envisioned that marriage to be very happy, after all they'd learned the hard way to speak plainly with each other while being kind to their feelings. If she ever found him spending too much time away, I'm sure she let him know! She'll be busy too with running that giant household and their social calendar.
But is she even interested in running a giant household and social calendar? I thought she rejected the importance of all that?
@Anonymous but remember how she fell in love with Pemberly? I think she realises by the end of the novel that it will give her shelter from her insane family. They cannot fully retreat from society though-it would have been absolutely impossible. The book ends with discussing how much of a refuge Pemberly is for them not merely because it is so far from her family. Elizabeth would have to run the house - it's her role now. Georgiana is living with them and there is some discussion on how close they become and Elizabeth would need to model running a household for her. They even make up with Lady Catherine in the end! I don't think they have a full retreat from society at all. It sounds like there is an endless stream of visitors to Pemberley and people to keep up with. She's a busy wife, that Elizabeth.
Isn't rich, kind, and busy the definition of the perfect husband?
And if he looks like Colin Firth, even more perfect.
@Anon amen.
Doesn't it say she was at the end? I remember it going a little bit into what life was like after their marriage -- like her aunt and uncle became very close to them and Darcy grew to love them. I can't see why Mr. Darcy was so busy anyway -- wasn't he a gentleman of leisure? People of that class didn't have to do anything they didn't want to do!