"No," said Darcy, "I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever."
"That is a failing indeed!" cried Elizabeth. "Implacable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from me."
"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil— a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
"And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody."
"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is willfully to misunderstand them."
-Chapter 11, Pride and prejudice, Jane Austen-
Truthfully i felt skeptical when first -J- ask me to watch the 5 hours long BBC production movie. C'mon. 5 HOURS. But at the first half hour i was hooked. by Mr Darcy. and his British accent.
Mr.Darcy is the image rich handsome dashing proud man who has bitter, brittle and brooding disposition and temper. The image still represent the universal bad boy even today. Only men these day equipped themselves with Armani charcoal suit instead of great coat and hessian. European sports car instead of stallion and crop. Titanium Dopod O2 instead of pocket watch. But the game and the rule still the same.
Anyway, enough about the boy and the romance.
We are past that. But i was more intrigue by the essences of the movie. Pride & Prejudice.
If you ask yourself, how often do you think you have been behaving as Mr.Darcy, as accused by Miss Bennet, think we are better than other people - always resentful and hateful?
How often have you ever think someone else family member is embarrassing?
How often have you ever think someone else wear clothes that is so yesterday?
How often have you ever think that someone else does not work as hard as you?
If you ask yourself, how often do you think you have been behaving as Miss Lizzie Bennet, as accused by Mr. Darcy, willfully misunderstand people?
How often do we judge someone airbrained just because she is wearing red shoes instead of conventional black one?
How often do we judge someone not working hard just because his father has more prestigious last name?
How often do we judge someone is not happy just because she married someone ordinary?
How often do we judge someone has not experience pain just because she has everything?
How often have you ever think that we know what's best for other people, as Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley?
Are we that arrogant to think we know what is best for other people?
Before we advising people, have you look in the mirror and ask, Do we even know our self?
How often do we label a person before even give yourself a chance to know the person better?
When was the last time you really look into someone eyes and see pain there before labelling the colour of her shoes? When was the last time you really hold someone hand and feel the tremble there before labelling her a rich spoilt brat? When was the last time you really offer your ear or shoulder to cry on before labelling someone a tramp?
Once, i receive a mail from a friend, short but deep in meaning. I don't remember a lot of fwd: email, but this one carved in my heart. Resentment and hate build in one's heart because it is not yet filled with love. Lack of love create defense, called pride.
Arrogance, willfulness and Not Knowing create judgement, called prejudice.
I see, hear and experience to much resentment and hate around me, that i absolutely think that the world will do better with more forgiveness and sweetness to go on. After all someone self-sufficient like Mr Darcy eventually needs the love from Miss Bennet.
And as time goes by, Miss Bennet get to know, learn and finally accepted that behind the moody and brooding, there lies a selfless and tenderness in Mr Darcy, and without him by her side, her life will be lonely.
So, the next time we want to sneer on someone embarrassing relative, embarrassing table manner, embarrassing job, embarrassing boyfriend, please ask yourself,
what is you heart filled with?
And the next time you meet someone new. Look into her eyes.
