this latest incarnation of

7/28/2019 This Latest Incarnation Of

1/10

This latest incarnation ofPride and Prejudiceprompts the question: why do we need

another version of Jane Austens classic tale? Weve seen this particular bit of storytelling

done well so many times that unless a filmmaker is positive theyre going to be making the

definitive version of the film, theres really no need to tell the same old story yet once again.

And unfortunately, despite some terrific performances by the veterans in his cast, director Joe

Wright didnt bring anything new to the table with this version of Pride and Prejudice.

The story follows the Bennet sisters, a group of fine young women who, with the assistance

of an overbearing mother, are in search of appropriate men to marry. Only the father seems

immune to the high drama going on in the household as Mother Bennet strategizes over how

to get her brood married off.

Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) is the defiant one of the bunch, struggling against class

restrictions and only wanting to marry for love. She meets up with the taciturn Mr. Darcy

(Matthew Macfadyen) and is both repulsed and attracted to the wealthy gentleman. As the

two are forced together in various social situations, Darcy soon wises up to the fact hes

smitten with the fair Elizabeth. Meanwhile Elizabeth rejects a foppish suitor, becomesenamored with Darcys enemy, and watches her sisters fall in and out of love before

ultimately giving into the fact she and Darcy are meant for one another.

The cinematography is outstanding and youd have a hard time naming a film released in

2005 with better costume and set designs. But in this case the old saying beauty is only skin

deep definitely applies as theres simply nothing appealing below the films skillfully

designed surface.

Positive marks do go to the filmmaker for casting actors closer in age to the characters in the

book than usually found in adaptations of Jane Austens classic novel. A handsome and

talented group, the cast of Pride and Prejudice do justice to the piece in parts, but the film

fails to connect with its audience. Theres an emotional pull to the story thats completely

missing from Wrights film. Its all too cold and distant, as if the entire production was taking

its cue from the brooding character of Darcy.

The most engaging performances ofthe cast were turned in by the films older generation of

actors: Donald Sutherland, Dame Judi Dench and Brenda Blethyn. The younger group

headlined by Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen never came close to achieving the

same caliber of performances as their more senior co-stars. I never felt drawn in by

Knightleys Elizabeth and Macfadyen as Darcy left me cold. Darcys supposed to be

standoffishthats how Austen wrote the character yet Macfadyen plays him so completelydour that hes rendered uninteresting. Hes so unengaged in whats going on that Elizabeths

attraction to the man is unexplainable.

The actresses cast as Elizabeths sisters, including the lovely Rosamund Pike andJena

Malone, just simply arent convincing as siblings. None of the women cast as sisters look

anything alike and their interactions never sell the bond of sisterhood.

As strange as it may sound, I actually preferred the Bollywood/Hollywood mix ofBride and

Prejudicemore than this slick yet stale adaptation of Austens book. At least writer/director

Gurinder Chadhas colorful and engaging take on the novel was something completely

different from the same old rehashed, warmed-over story. This Pride and Prejudice is a flat,tired regurgitation thats been done better many, many times before.
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2/10

Review

Jane. Austen. Two words which when taken together strike fear and apprehension into the hearts of

men everywhere. Possibly the most inaccessible author to the male species, conversely Austens

work is celebrated and revered to an almost religious degree by ladies the world over. What exactly

this epic tale of unlikely romance in the face of Georgian class-issues does for a womans psyche is

still beyond me, and no amount of curiosity makes most men brave enough to go near any of her

work something even other movies, for example Youve Got Mail, have acknowledged in the past.

So when I was given the task of reviewing the latest movie version of what is possibly Austens most

famous novel, I walked into the theatre ready to loathe every long bodice-filled minute of it. To my

surprise however, while I cant claim to share the same frighteningly passionate (for want of a

more appropriate phrase) reaction two of my female viewing companions seemed to experience

from watching it, Joe Wrights interpretation ofPride & Prejudicewasnt the pretentious bore I was

expecting.

As Ive mentioned, doubtless most women who read this review will know the story backwards and

will email me to point out all my errors, but for the benefit of you men folk out there I will try my

best to give you the lo down.

The Bennets are a moderately well-off, if slightly uncouth family living in late 18th century England.

Mr. Bennet (Sutherland) is getting on in years and if he dies his estate will go entirely to a distant

cousin, the weasly Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander). The only way to prevent this is if at least one of his

daughters marries well, a goal which Mrs. Bennet (Blethyn) is determined to achieve at any cost. So,

when the aristocratic Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) arrives in the area with his equally well-bred friendMr. Darcy (MacFadyen), the women go into romance overdrive. While shy eldest sister Jane

(Rosamund Pike) falls for the bumbling Bingley, the more independent and head-strong Elizabeth

(Keira Knightley) clashes with the seemingly aloof and inaccessible Mr. Darcy. Could the verbal

fencing between Elizabeth and Darcy be hiding their true feelings, and if it is, can it and the other

sisters relationships survive the rigid and snobbish class structure of the time?

This is director Joe Wrights first big screen outing, though youd never guess it. On the other hand,

itd be hard to go far wrong on a novel adapted for stage and screen so many times before. Wright

and scribe Deborah Moggach (with a little help from period movie expert Emma Thompson) have

made a clever and funny film which once you swallow your apprehension, is far more engaging than

youd expect and far more interesting than most other movies set in the same era. It helps that

Wright and his cinematographer Roman Osin have created what could possibly be one of the best

looking, CGI-free movies of the year. Wright makes full use of the stunning landscapes of the English

countryside, while Osin helps bring the right mood to every shot. Whether its a warm, sunny,

summer day or a cold, dewy, spring morning, Pride & Prejudice looks amazing.

But all the nice scenery in the world cant save a movie so heavily entrenched in character study, so

it is with a lot of apprehension that people have taken to the idea of Keira Knightley in the lead role

of Elizabeth. Fortunately, Knightley copes well in the part, bringing life to the only interesting one of

the Bennet siblings. While that wacky grin that she cant seem to keep from her face for much of the


3/10

movie occasionally gets a little grating, she centers what is going on around her, which could

otherwise have teetered between too stuffy (the verbose talky scenes) or too silly (Whenever Mrs.

Bennet is on-screen). Keira manages to convincingly convey the struggle between her attraction to

Darcy and her contempt for his apparent unwavering, humorless snobbery.

Matthew MacFadyen will only be familiar to those who have seen the BBC TV show MI-5on A&E.

MacFadyen had his work cut out for him here in the role of Mr. Darcy, following in the footsteps of

both Sir Laurence Olivier and more infamously Colin Firth, whom women worldwide unilaterally

swooned over during the airings of the BBC Pride & Prejudice mini-series. MacFayden takes

admirably to the task, bringing both the authoritative stoic arrogance of Darcys outward

appearance and the hapless awkwardness he suffers while trying to deal with his true feelings

perfectly. But I am a man and cannot judge the power of the Darcy properly, so the votes are in and

two out of two Pride & Prejudice loving women assure me that, rather controversially, he is a far

better Darcy than Mr. Firth.

It is veteran actor Donald Sutherland, who provides some of the movies best moments as the hen-

pecked, world-weary Mr. Bennet. Bennet realizes the importance of his familys predicament, but at

the same time only wants what is best for his daughters. Sutherland steals every scene he is in with

his laconic dry wit and contrasts Brenda Blethyns hyperactive, one-track-minded Mrs. Bennet nicely.

If there are any real problem to be found it is in the casting of films the more minor characters. The

actor cast as Darcys ex-friend Wickham appears to have been won his role more because of his

passing resemblance to Orlando Bloom rather than due to any acting prowess. The supposed

relationship between Jane and Bingley is so underplayed and chemistry-free that I had trouble

believing they were really in love, never mind the characters in the movie. Also, aside from Jane and

Elizabeth, the Bennet sisters are quite bland and seem, one subplot aside, to exist in the movie solely

to keep up the same running joke.

There is also a small pacing issue at the end of the second act where the movie starts to drag and

then suddenly rushes forward towards a conclusion as the pressure of trying to compress the rest of

the novel into the remaining running time starts to catch up with the storys deliberate pace. While I

appreciate that a lot of sacrifices have to be made in translating such a large novel into a 2 hour

movie, there are some places where you wonder if maybe the reason the mini-series was so

successful is that it didnt have to rush.

Pride & Prejudicestill isnt a movie for everyone. Ruffled shirts and bodices fill the screen at every

opportunity. People talk in that protracted, grating, Olde English rambling, where 15 words and 30

syllables are used when half that would do. Romance and love are the order of the day, and like a

long-distance runner it jogs along for much of the course then suddenly makes a mad dash at the

end. Despite these flaws there is an enjoyable and occasionally very funny movie to be had here.

Women will love it more than men, that goes without saying, but the many many men who will no

doubt get dragged along to see it may, like me, come out surprised. Hey, Im not racing to the library

and picking up the novel, nor am I about to lose my mind and rent Sense and Sensibility, but I didnt

come away feeling like Id lost part of my masculinity. Thats good enough for me.


4/10

Analysis of major character

Analysis of Major Characters

Elizabeth Bennet

The second daughter in the Bennet family, and the most intelligent and quick-witted,

Elizabeth is the protagonist ofPride and Prejudice and one of the most well-known female

characters in English literature. Her admirable qualities are numerousshe is lovely, clever,

and, in a novel defined by dialogue, she converses as brilliantly as anyone. Her honesty,

virtue, and lively wit enable her to rise above the nonsense and bad behavior that pervade her

class-bound and often spiteful society. Nevertheless, her sharp tongue and tendency to make

hasty judgments often lead her astray;Pride and Prejudice is essentially the story of how she

(and her true love, Darcy) overcome all obstaclesincluding their own personal failingsto

find romantic happiness. Elizabeth must not only cope with a hopeless mother, a distant

father, two badly behaved younger siblings, and several snobbish, antagonizing females, she

must also overcome her own mistaken impressions of Darcy, which initially lead her to reject

his proposals of marriage. Her charms are sufficient to keep him interested, fortunately, while

she navigates familial and social turmoil. As she gradually comes to recognize the nobility of

Darcys character, she realizes the error of her initial prejudice against him.

Fitzwilliam Darcy

The son of a wealthy, well-established family and the master of the great estate of Pemberley,

Darcy is Elizabeths male counterpart. The narrator relates Elizabeths point of view ofevents more often than Darcys, so Elizabeth often seems a more sympathetic figure. The

reader eventually realizes, however, that Darcy is her ideal match. Intelligent and forthright,

he too has a tendency to judge too hastily and harshly, and his high birth and wealth make

him overly proud and overly conscious of his social status. Indeed, his haughtiness makes

him initially bungle his courtship. When he proposes to her, for instance, he dwells more on

how unsuitable a match she is than on her charms, beauty, or anything else complimentary.

Her rejection of his advances builds a kind of humility in him. Darcy demonstrates his

continued devotion to Elizabeth, in spite of his distaste for her low connections, when he

rescues Lydia and the entire Bennet family from disgrace, and when he goes against the

wishes of his haughty aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by continuing to pursue Elizabeth.

Darcy proves himself worthy of Elizabeth, and she ends up repenting her earlier, overly harshjudgment of him.

Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley

Elizabeths beautiful elder sister and Darcys wealthy best friend, Jane and Bingley engage in

a courtship that occupies a central place in the novel. They first meet at the ball in Meryton

and enjoy an immediate mutual attraction. They are spoken of as a potential couple

throughout the book, long before anyone imagines that Darcy and Elizabeth might marry.

Despite their centrality to the narrative, they are vague characters, sketched by Austen rather

than carefully drawn. Indeed, they are so similar in nature and behavior that they can be

described together: both are cheerful, friendly, and good-natured, always ready to think thebest of others; they lack entirely the prickly egotism of Elizabeth and Darcy. Janes gentle


5/10

spirit serves as a foil for her sisters fiery, contentious nature, while Bingleys eager

friendliness contrasts with Darcys stiff pride. Their principal characteristics are goodwill and

compatibility, and the contrast of their romance with that of Darcy and Elizabeth is

remarkable. Jane and Bingley exhibit to the reader true love unhampered by either pride or

prejudice, though in their simple goodness, they also demonstrate that such a love is mildly

dull.

Mr. Bennet

Mr. Bennet is the patriarch of the Bennet householdthe husband of Mrs. Bennet and the

father of Jane, Elizabeth, Lydia, Kitty, and Mary. He is a man driven to exasperation by his

ridiculous wife and difficult daughters. He reacts by withdrawing from his family and

assuming a detached attitude punctuated by bursts of sarcastic humor. He is closest to

Elizabeth because they are the two most intelligent Bennets. Initially, his dry wit and self-

possession in the face of his wifes hysteria make him a sympathetic figure, but, though he

remains likable throughout, the reader gradually loses respect for him as it becomes clear that

the price of his detachment is considerable. Detached from his family, he is a weak fatherand, at critical moments, fails his family. In particular, his foolish indulgence of Lydias

immature behavior nearly leads to general disgrace when she elopes with Wickham. Further,

upon her disappearance, he proves largely ineffective. It is left to Mr. Gardiner and Darcy to

track Lydia down and rectify the situation. Ultimately, Mr. Bennet would rather withdraw

from the world than cope with it.

Mrs. Bennet

Mrs. Bennet is a miraculously tiresome character. Noisy and foolish, she is a woman

consumed by the desire to see her daughters married and seems to care for nothing else in the

world. Ironically, her single-minded pursuit of this goal tends to backfire, as her lack of social

graces alienates the very people (Darcy and Bingley) whom she tries desperately to attract.

Austen uses her continually to highlight the necessity of marriage for young women. Mrs.

Bennet also serves as a middle-class counterpoint to such upper-class snobs as Lady

Catherine and Miss Bingley, demonstrating that foolishness can be found at every level of

society. In the end, however, Mrs. Bennet proves such an unattractive figure, lacking

redeeming characteristics of any kind, that some readers have accused Austen of unfairness in

portraying heras if Austen, like Mr. Bennet, took perverse pleasure in poking fun at a

woman already scorned as a result of her ill breeding.

Key Facts

full title Pride and Prejudice

author Jane Austen

type of work Novel

genre Comedy of manners

language English

time and place written England, between 1796 and 1813


6/10

date of first publication 1813

publisher Thomas Egerton of London

narrator Third-person omniscient

climax Mr. Darcys proposal to Elizabeth (Volume 3, Chapter 16)

protagonist Elizabeth Bennet

antagonist Snobbish class-consciousness (epitomized by Lady Catherine de Bourgh and

Miss Bingley)

setting (time) Some point during the Napoleonic Wars (17971815)

setting (place) Longbourn, in rural England

point of view The novel is primarily told from Elizabeth Bennets point of view.

falling action The two chapters of the novel after Darcys proposal

tense Past tense

foreshadowing The only notable example of foreshadowing occurs when Elizabeth visits

Pemberley, Darcys estate, in Volume 3, Chapter 1. Her appreciation of the estate

foreshadows her eventual realization of her love for its owner.

tone Comicor, in Jane Austens own words, light and bright, and sparkling

themes Love; Reputation; Class

motifs Courtship; Journeys

symbols The novel is light on symbolism, except on the visit to Pemberley, which is

described as being neither formal, nor falsely adorned, and is clearly meant to symbolize

the character of Mr. Darcy.

Biography:

Keira Knightley's Birth Date:

March 26, 1985

Place of Birth:

Teddington, Middlesex, England

Role That Got Her Noticed:


7/10

Playing Elizabeth Swann, pretty much the only female character in thePirates of the

Caribbeanfilm franchise, really catapultedKeira Knightleyinto the spotlight.

Born to Act:

Keira's father is actor Will Knightley. Her brother, Caleb, is a composer.

Notable Movie Credits:

Innocent Lies (1995)

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phanton Menace (1999)

After the Hole (2001)

Bend It Like Beckham(2002)

Pure (2002)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl(2003)

Plot Summary forPride & Prejudice(2005)More at IMDbPro

ad feedback

The story is based on Jane Austen's novel about five sisters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and

Lydia Bennet - in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when a wealthy

young man (Mr. Bingley) and his best friend (Mr. Darcy) arrive in their neighborhood.

Written byMarcy Gomez

Pride and Prejudice is a humorous story of love and life among English gentility during the

Georgian era. Mr Bennet is an English gentleman living in Hartfordshire with his overbearing

wife. The Bennets 5 daughters; the beautiful Jane, the clever Elizabeth, the bookish Mary, the

immature Kitty and the wild Lydia. Unfortunately for the Bennets, if Mr Bennet dies their

house will be inherited by a distant cousin whom they have never met, so the family's future

happiness and security is dependent on the daughters making good marriages. Life is

uneventful until the arrival in the neighbourhood of the rich gentleman Mr Bingley, who rents

a large house so he can spend the summer in the country. Mr Bingley brings with him his

sister and the dashing (and richer) but proud Mr Darcy. Love is soon in the air for one of the

Bennet sisters, while another may have jumped to a hasty prejudgment. For the Bennet sistersmany trials and tribulations stand between them and their happiness, including class, gossip

and scandal. Written byDom

This tale of love and values unfolds in the class-conscious England of the late 18th century.

The five Bennet sisters - including strong-willed Elizabeth and young Lydia - have been

raised by their mother with one purpose in life: finding a husband. When a wealthy bachelor

takes up residence in a nearby mansion, the Bennets are abuzz. Amongst the man's

sophisticated circle of friends, surely there will be no shortage of suitors for the Bennet

sisters. But when Elizabeth meets up with the handsome and - it would seem - snobbish Mr.

Darcy, the battle of the sexes is joined. Written byfocus features
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8/10

In Georgian England, Mrs. Bennet raises her five daughters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty

and Lydia with the purpose of getting married with a rich husband that can support the

family. They are not from the upper class, and their house in Hertfordshire will be inherited

by a distant cousin if Mr. Bennet dies. When the wealthy bachelor Mr. Bingley and his best

friend Mr. Darcy arrive in town to spend the summer in a mansion nearby their property, the

shy and beautiful Jane falls in love for Mr. Bingley, and Lizzie finds Mr. Darcy a snobbishand proud man, and she swears to loathe him forever. This is the beginning of their wonderful

love story. Written byClaudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Basic Character Information

Fitzwilliam Darcy is Pride and Prejudice's snobbish but good principled leading man.

Basic Information:

Age: 28 (probably), he mentions his age at the end of the novel (most likely in the month of

October). However since he is referring to a change that began back in April, he could have already

turned 29 (unlikely in my opinion) or he could have more recently turned 28.

Spouse: Elizabeth Darcy nee Bennet (end of novel)

Income: 10,000 per year, this is one of the first things we learn about him. However, in chapter 16,

Wickham, the son of a former Pemberley steward, describes his income as a clear 10,000, meaning

the 10,000 would be after estate expenses were paid.

Primary Residence: Pemberley Estate, in Derbyshire, where his housekeeper estimates he spends

half his time, it is speculated that he will spend more time there after he marries. He also keeps a

house in London.

Physical Characteristics: Tall, with handsome features and a noble mein.

Personality Characteristics: Our dear Darcy is a bit of a snob, but as I said above he does have good

principles (which in the end triumph over his snobbery). Almost immediately after his introduction,

his manners disgust the people of Meryton as they show he is proud, inconsiderate and uninterested

in them. The narrator describes him as being clever but that he was also "haughty, reserved, and

fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting[,]" making it perhaps not surprising

that he "was continually giving offense." In spite of all of this he does have some good qualities

beyond well bred but uninviting manners, he is a conscientuous landlord who takes care of his

tenants and does good among the poor, takes care of his sister and is helpful towards his friends, as

well as the ability to forgive those he cares about.

What to call him:
http://www.imdb.com/search/title?plot_author=Claudio%20Carvalho,%20Rio%20de%20Janeiro,%20Brazil&view=simple&sort=alphahttp://www.imdb.com/search/title?plot_author=Claudio%20Carvalho,%20Rio%20de%20Janeiro,%20Brazil&view=simple&sort=alphahttp://www.imdb.com/search/title?plot_author=Claudio%20Carvalho,%20Rio%20de%20Janeiro,%20Brazil&view=simple&sort=alphahttp://jastoryandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/fitzwilliam-darcy-basic-character.htmlhttp://jastoryandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/fitzwilliam-darcy-basic-character.htmlhttp://jastoryandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/fitzwilliam-darcy-basic-character.htmlhttp://www.imdb.com/search/title?plot_author=Claudio%20Carvalho,%20Rio%20de%20Janeiro,%20Brazil&view=simple&sort=alpha


9/10

Darcy - This is what the narrator calls him, as well as his friends Bingley and ColonelFitzwilliam.

Mr. Darcy - Following his father's death, people who are not entitled or privileged to call himDarcy or by some other name. Before his father's death he might have been Mr. Darcy in

circumstances where his father was not present or where it was obvious that his father was

not being referred to, he might also have been called young Mr. Darcy. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - Before Darcy's father died, this would have been the primary way for

people who weren't friends or family to address Darcy as he was not the most important Mr.

Darcy around. Following his father's death, not so much though still if you wanted to

distinguish him from another past Mr. Darcy it might be used.

Master Fitzwilliam / Master Darcy - It is likely that Darcy was called this by servants andother people who were not close enough or did not hold enough social clout to use his first

name when he was a young child. It is possible that some might still use it.

The master/your master/my master - this is in reference to his position as the owner ofPemberley Estate or as his position as a servant's employer.

Posted by Melissa at9:33 PMLabels:Character Info,Darcy Family,Fitzwilliam Darcy,Pride and Prejudice

4 comments:

Sylwiasaid...

Oh, I like the way you're collecting the details. Just to add to your observations...

Lady Catherine too calls Darcy "Darcy", while his father is "Mr. Darcy" to her. Mrs.

Gardiner called Darcy "Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy" referring to the times when his father

was still alive.

I don't think that anyone would still call Darcy "Master Fitzwilliam". It'd be

patronising in reference to an adult man and a master of Pemberley. I also think that

as the eldest son he was always called "Master Darcy" by servants or school teachers.

At school "Master" tended to be dropped when one was about 15.

March 10, 2009 7:45 PM

Melissa Reneesaid...

Thank you for the added information

I think you are right that "Master Darcy" would be the most common usage, but I do

think that when he was a very young child "Master Fitzwilliam" would have been

possible, particularly when he was very young. As far as someone still using the title

"master" with his name, I was thinking along the lines of a very elderly servant

(someone who has been around even longer than Mrs. Reynolds) who acted as his

nurse.

It does appear that I need to do some more digging on the proper use of that title.

March 10, 2009 8:28 PM
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10/10

austenettesaid...

I know what you mean, but I'm not sure people sought this kind of familiarity.

I think that, like many things in Austen's times, it was in transition. I.e. we never see

the older generations addressing each other per Christian names, but we assume thatthe younger will, so Darcy will call Lizzy "Elizabeth", and not "Mrs. Darcy", while

her own father calls her mother "Mrs. Bennet" in a strictly family setting - only the

two of them and their kids.

People were slowly becoming less formal, but within the older generation of the upper

class it's very likely that Darcy was never "Fitzwilliam" to anyone, not even his own

mother. He is "Darcy" to his aunt, and likely it's true that she's his nearly closest

relation. Georgiana might call him "Brother" instead of "Fitzwilliam". I.e. Fanny often

thinks of Edmund as "Edmund" but addresses him as "Cousin".

Additionally, the problem with Fitzwilliam is that it's not very personal a name.Actually it's stiff and official, since it's given after his mother's grand family. Perhaps

he had some second name women would use instead, but I think that if he did he'd use

it in his letter to Elizabeth. The fact that he used his first name at all makes the letter

more personal. People like him usually signed with their last name only.

On the other hand, the Fitzwilliam in him symbolizes what's grand and proud, linking

him to the Earl and Lady Catherine, while the Darcy part in him is less formal and

kinder, linking him to his father. Hmm... just musing aloud. See? Thats what happens

when peoples thoughtful posts make me think of the novel! :)

March 10, 2009 9:12 PM

Melissa Reneesaid...

Thank you! I try to be thoughtful in my posts.

You do have some good points. I'm not going to make any changes as yet, but I do

wish the novel included Georgiana or (post-engagement) Elizabeth addressing him by

name so we could know what they would call him, maybe Jane Austen herself wasn't

certain.

I agree that if he had some other name that the women in his life used, he would have

most likely used it in The Letter. I had never considered your final point that it is the

Darcy part of him that is actually less formal, though it would make sense since

everyone is always referring to his father's goodness and compassion etc. while his

mother's family does include Lady Catherine. ;)
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