I Must Have Said it Wrong

The Evermore Grimoire: Dragons

Syrax was a she-dragon who was ridden solely by Rhaenyra Targaryen. She was adorned with golden yellow scales as well as being huge and formidable but not as fearsome or experienced in battle as Caraxes. Rhaenyra first took Syrax as a mount in 104 AC, when the princess was seven years old. She was described as a young dragon at the time and Rhaenyra named her after a Valyrian goddess strongly implying that she had no previous rider. Syrax also laid several clutches of eggs during the reign of King Viserys I. Her latest clutch was produced just prior to the civil war, one of which was given to Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Rhaenyra’s step-daughter). It is somewhat implied that the dragons of Rhaenyra’s sons all hatched from eggs laid by Syrax, though the only definitive information about any dragon parentage comes from Rhaena’s dragon Morning. Following a difficult stillbirth at the beginning of the war, Rhaenyra recovered enough strength to fly on Syrax, along with her other dragonriders who then headed to King’s Landing.

Meleys, called the Red Queen, was a she-dragon of House Targaryen, first claimed by Princess Alyssa and then by her niece, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was. Her scales were scarlet red, and the membranes of her wings pink.

First, this person offers to analyze people's real lives and I suspect she's a scummy MLM "life coach" or something. I'm not looking into it, watching this video was more than enough.

"No one ever discuses why this was done" (Darcy breaking up Jane and Bingley) - it is discussed in depth actually

She dismisses the reasons stated in Darcy's letter as false. She says Darcy was lying about Jane not liking Bingley because the whole town is expecting the marriage. This is true, but it says nothing about Jane's affections. The town, and especially Mrs. Bennet, wanting the marriage to happen is because of the wealth and connections associated with the match, not because of Jane's affections. Jane could be a gold digger being pushed by her family, which is something Darcy is definitely worried about.

She believes that Darcy is jealous that Bingley's relationship with Jane is going well and that Jane shows affection for Bingley, and that if Elizabeth had shown half as much love for himself, "he would have proposed much sooner." This ignores Darcy's actual thoughts in Meryton. Darcy does not want to love Elizabeth, he sees the marriage as beneath him, so no, he doesn't want Elizabeth to love him. He wouldn't have proposed sooner. He takes FOREVER to propose because he's trying to stop himself! He wants to do his duty and marry within his family's expectations but his love for Elizabeth is ruining his plans. So the entire premise of this video is invalid.

Next, she says Darcy is being mean by dismissing the depth of Bingley's love for Jane. Now I'll admit, he's very dismissive of their relationship in his letter, but it does seem that Bingley has a pattern of falling in love quickly. And Darcy then says that Bingley loved Jane more than he'd seen him in love before, which the video maker quotes, so what is this point? She just refuted her own argument.

Next, she argues that Darcy was going to forbid Elizabeth from ever seeing her family again but if Bingley married Jane then he cannot isolate Elizabeth as completely as he wants to. Which is... these arguments are so absurd it's hard to even argue against them. No? That's not a thing. I'm sure Darcy hopes to see little of the Bennets but this isn't some sneaky plan. And he can easily cut off Bingley if that was a worry (not that it was, but we know Darcy forbids Wickham to come to Pemperley, he can do that).

Mr Darcy has plenty of flaws. Why do people feel the need to look for new ones, instead of discussing those that are there?

This entire argument is ridiculous. If I was to be charitable I'd say they are earnestly trying to look for something new in the text but lack the analytical skills necessary. But judging by the thumbnail/comment about Bingley having 'better social skills' ... I suspect it's a result of the 2005 adaptation rather than an actual close reading of the text.

Plus she reminds me of Catherine Morland a little bit, perhaps she's been reading too much gothic lit and it convinced her to project some of the villains' traits onto Darcy as Catherine did with General Tilney, because Darcy wanting Elizabeth as 'his own secret treasure' and proposing when Bingley is out of the country is veeeeery gothic!!

Mr Darcy doesn't cruelly lash out at the woman who rejects him. He is angry in the moment, to be sure, and the letter he writes in response is bitter in places... but he goes away to reflect and realises that, actually, Elizabeth was right, his behaviour has been worthy of her rebuke... so, he changes, and not just superficially (as proved by how he is determined to keep his part in 'rescuing' Lydia a secret) but on a far deeper level. Elizabeth's rejection causes Darcy to earnestly reflect upon how wrong he has been all his life. She shatters his delusion that he is perfect and illuminates his flaws for the first time.

What's more, he still doesn't expect anything in return for improving himself. In fact, before he makes another proposal, he makes it clear he will shut up and go away forever if Elizabeth says a single word: 'No.'