Can we talk about this scene?
James didn’t want from Elizabeth nothing but approval and affection. He wasn’t moved by greed: he only proposed once, through his own efforts, he had been raised to her rank; he wasn’t moved by lust either: he let her go with the man she loved because he wanted her to be happy.
I know some would say that his proposal was that of a garden variety Mr. Collins, but when you pay attention you notice that his stiffness doesn’t come from a place of pride and silly vanity, but from the awkwardness in which he finds himself when speaking love. And this scene proves it.
First, he tries to set things straight with her, testing if her consent is really freely given; and he does so in such a delicate manner that he avoids accusing her of lying. “I’m concerned that your answer was, perhaps… less than sincere”. Notice the choice of words. And Elizabeth chooses her words very carefully. And he fully gets her meaning, and assures her of that. Only once he had assured her that he understood does he ask the hurt question that translates into “is it being entitled, just wanting to be loved?” the weight of the problem is put on himself, not in the person rejecting him. Notice, then, that he doesn’t smile when she promises to marry him no matter what; he smiles only when she tells him he’s a fine man. It doesn’t seem like that much of a compliment, and in that way we interpret it from Elizabeth and from James himself when he gives it to her when proposing; but in his eyes, it is a huge compliment. That’s why he used it with her earlier. That’s why he smiles so happily here, because Elizabeth considers him a good man.
So, and I know I’m entering headcanon territory here, but I think it fits, that James didn’t learn how to love and show affection from receiving it, and that’s why he is both, stunted at showing it and so evidently starved for approval and for even the slightest signs of care from others, like genuine smiles. He may have learned, from books, songs or sermons, that love is sacrificial and unconditional, and so he lets Elizabeth go and does things for her even when he won’t get anything in return; that love requires delicacy of sentiment and respect for the feelings of others, and he tries to behave according to all this. Instead of wallowing in self pity because he isn’t loved, he does his best to love as much as he can. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is heroic.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
izzy806
tangentwithtanner
turnnoffyourmind
yousharknotpass
prguitarman
