“Name a favorite literary couple and tell me why they are a favorite. If you cannot choose just one, that is okay too. Name as many as you like–sometimes narrowing down a list can be extremely difficult and painful. Or maybe that’s just me.”
Well, I haven’t read any other BTTs this week yet, but I have a feeling my response will not be original! Guess….
Yep, Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy. I just can’t help it! I wanted to choose Catherine and Heathcliff since their relationship is so twisted and wrong that it is like that sore tooth you can’t keep your tongue away from — compelling, alluring, disorienting…
But, in reality, Elizabeth and Darcy are my favorite. So the question is, why is this couple so timeless and eternally popular?
Well, I knew I needed a partner who would challenge me and even — eek! — disagree with me at times. I wanted to find someone who would assume the best of me and therefore expect and demand the best of me, even when I had forgotten what this was.
Too many times, as we get older, we tend to surround ourselves with people who think like we do — and therefore agree with us! Happily, my husband is willing to (respectfully) disagree with me. And he has brought a wonderful group of friends with him, too. So now I have widened my circle of acquaintances to include friends who hunt (the last time I ate meat was 21 years ago), friends who vote Republican and Democrat, (I consider myself gently liberal), and friends who are able to disagree and debate about all sorts of topics.
So, that is why I must choose P and P. Elizabeth desperately needed an economically advantageous union, yet courageously criticized Darcy for his arrogance and elitism, and turned down his proposal. Darcy, in turn, listened to this criticism and became a better person, yet was not blind to Elizabeth’s faults, either. At the same time, he allowed her to learn the true nature of Wickham’s character — and to realize that “charm” and “social graces” are only as substantial as the person they gild.
So, there’s my pick!
What about you? Who are your favorite literary couples? (No need to choose only one…)
I was afraid this would be voted the most popular answer so I made mine slightly different. ;D
I chose another.
I have lost count of how many people have picked Darcy and Elizabeth!
I also picked P and P but I didn’t go into the why. I like your reasons. My partner and I agree much more than we disagree, there is some give and take but no where near the level Elizabeth and Darcy have.
Still, it is a near perfect match.
Thank you for the comments! I figured ol’ Lizzie and Darcy would be pretty popular!
Sigh…