Why Mr. Darcy de Pride & Prejudice is still so sexy, 200 years later

It is a universally recognized truth that there are two types of Pride and damage Fans: Those who like the 2005 cinematic adaptation and those who prefer the BBC 1995 mini-series.

These divisions are as sensitive and finely as the poor nerves of Mrs. Bennet. Fans of Keira Knightley could prefer the film for its stellar cinematography and its visual splendor, graciousness of the director Joe Wright. It should also be mentioned that this version has delivered non -canonical zincs like “excellent boiled potatoes” and “I am 27 years old; I am not money or perspectives”, which have since entered the cultural lexicon.

The mini-series Stans, on the other hand, consider themselves purists who refuse to let Pemberley are thus polluted by a loose interpretation of the novel by Jane Austen in 1813. Their favorite version stuck near the original dialogue, accumulates at six hours full (one more for pure and hard) and highlights all the strength of the biting spirit of M. Bennet. No matter where you are, however, it’s a good time to be a fan of Jane Austen at the moment.

In 2025, the story of the love of Regency Original made another tour of the play, so to speak. There is a special exhibition of Austenmania in the author’s house in the English countryside to celebrate what would be his 250th anniversary. Focus features Ramasing Her 2005 film in theaters today – with special projections and goods – for all the superfans who die of screaming “you sent me, the body and the soul” on the big screen. And Netflix announced the casting of a new series in six games which will begin to film in the United Kingdom later this year, amazing fans by appointing Jack Lowden as the first ginger Mr. Darcy.

In the words of another great British cultural institution Love islandA new hot thing has entered the villa, and this secular story has a moment (still).

Darcy speech is at a record level, raising questions like, Can an adult male blonde really play Mr. Darcy? And Is the Colin Firth-soaked white ruffled shirt greater than Matthew Macfadyen’s famous hand flexion? (Regarding the first, time will tell us; in terms of the second, the sales of Merch say that Macfadyen wins.) The most existential request of all, however, remains: why is a 200-year-old English gentleman still the romantic ideal? Because even the pure reserves agree, there is something About him.

“P&P was an experience of training for me as an Ringard pre-adolescent reader”, explains Cassie Schwab, a Pride and prejudices Fan who always counts Mr. Darcy as his dream “Grouch with a heart of gold” Man: “The possibility that each boring person you meet could ultimately prove to be your soul mate will never lose the call.”

In fact, long before #Bobotok took control of summer reading lists and the romantic genre dominates the charts of the Amazon Books best-seller, the Enemies popular trope to lovers has started with Pride and prejudices.

“I must admit that in real life, a man like Mr. Darcy would lead me the wall, and not in a fun way. Go to therapy, King! Let’s work on these communication skills!” said Tyler McCall, a fashion editor who has become a romantic author responsible for Quinn Originals The tests And Queen’s guard. But, of course, these red flags (or perhaps beige?) Are part of the call: “The enemies to lovers are so fun,” she explains. “I love watching two characters hiding, not realizing that the tension they feel is sexual. And then this moment when it breaks? Ooooooh, is the right thing there!”

It is the fantasy of all this. Few people wake up one day and realize that their most triggered knowledge is actually the love of their lives. “I do not know if they even exist outside of literature,” explains Annika Lautens, a Canadian writer and Colin Firth Acolyte, on the trope of enemies to lovers. “But perhaps that is entirely the point. Having such an emotional and romantic journey is intoxicating. It is the eternal attraction of desire and slow burn – accumulation is often better than the result.”

Long looks and strange silences in a nineteenth century living room are also preferable to a “you up” text at 2 am in the era of scanning culture, dating and a growing political gap between the sexes, the idea of ​​two people who hate each other at the end is downright optimistic, several points of view. “This gives hope to book girls with nightmare families everywhere,” said Schwab. “You too can find a brooding hottie that will understand you and love you for your mind – and can even immerse you to save said nightmarish family when things become difficult.”

Darcy is not perfect, but it is a cup above most single men in possession of good fortunes (well, perhaps not Mr. Bingley) and certainly better than the fiduciary fund, 6’5, Blue Eyes ideal which took off on Tiktok last summer. In addition, it is not Really A fool. He acts just as one at the beginning. “”P&P Does the dream of a woman, “said Jackie Kerr, a supervisor who used to reread the Austen novel after each break and boring meetings in their twenties.” A man who reforms all his faults and his mistakes. Who listens and reflects? And who acts? Hot.”