(no subject)

[heidi]

In response to a totally random discussion that cropped up on a livejournal today, I was asked to explain my Darcy-Draco Parallel Argument a bit more extensively than I had in the LJ. As my argument is pushing 5000 words, though, I thought it a bit unfair to post it to the livejournal where the discussion was taking place, so instead, I'm posting it here, so I can post a link to it over there. Feel free to read and comment - it's all canon discussion (we don't see that much here (although marysia has a wonderful canon!Draco-analysis which I'm off to comment on in a few...)

Anyhow, so here's the overview of the explanation, extrapolated from some posts I'd made to the HPforGrownups Yahoogroup earlier this year, all of which are vaguely based on canon and the fact that JKR is a Jane Austen fan:

If Draco follows in the footsteps of Fitzwilliam Darcy, he'll be a
better match for Hermione, if she continues to have her parallels to the character of Elizabeth Bennett, than anyone else in the books could be. Yes, I admit it's a big if... but they've both got a bit of growing up to do, and it could happen.

Following in the footsteps of is different from "is a complete
parallel to". While I see that there are parallels in the descriptions
about Darcy provided by Elizabeth, or in his statements from the early
parts of the book, it's more that I see in the narrative the ability
to modulate Draco's character to give him a chance to separate the
principles that he was raised to believe were right (in this case, the
belief that he could act with self absorbtion and in pride and
conceit) from the way that one actually *should* behave.

I have never said, and I do not think, that she's rewriting the
character of Darcy through Draco Malfoy. I do, however, think that the
sharp shock of Elizabeth's denial of Darcy's proposal, which caused
him to make a sea change in his outward personality (at least towards
her or for her benefit), may be paralleled in the narrative by having
Draco experience something that shakes the foundations on which he
lives his life- and thus cause him to make a sea change as well.
That's the fundamental parallel, at it's basest level. It's not
superficial, it's an underlying narrative structure.


Darcy is in his late 20s, a gentleman whose father has died at least five
years before the novel begins. Draco is, when we last see him, fourteen years
old and still quite under his father's (eye/control/thumb/financial
grip/demands) (choose whichever one you feel most appropriate). Draco's
father is abusive, at least to the servants (slaves, if you prefer Hermione's
term) and many see him as also having been at least emotionally abusive to his
son.

Draco is, as I've said elsewhere, fourteen! And the only time he said he
wished Hermione dead was when he was *twelve*. He didn't say it as a "wish"
think in the end of GoF, he was just "predicting" what he saw to be the likely
consequence of Voldemort's return. And he was actually accurate in his
supposition - those who are muggles and muggle-lovers are actually most at
risk now.

And while you may dismiss Darcy's original reaction to Elizabeth as mere
dislike, and note that he liked her not long after meeting her, even when he
first proposed, he said that such a marriage - her connections and family -
were a significant impediment to a marriage. "His sense of her inferiority --
of its being a degradation..." to wed her, were things that he discussed while
*proposing*. So I don't think it's fair to even describe his feelings toward
her as blooming with love and sunshine when he proposes, much less at any time
before. Indeed, he says about Elizabeth and the other women at the assembly,
"and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment
to me to stand up with."

Punishment to stand up with? Sounds much closer to at least despairing of and
hoping to never come in contact with than anything else, doesn't it? Darcy is
clever/bright (we're given the impression that Draco isn't a complete loser in
academia as his name isn't mentioned with Crabbe & Goyle in the list by Harry
& Ron at the end of PS/SS, and it is implied in CoS that only Hermione beat
him in all his classes). Darcy is also "haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and
his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. . . . Darcy was continually
giving offense."

hen I say, as I have done, that there is a possibility of a romantic
relationship between Draco and Hermione, I am not speaking of something in
Book 5, or even in much of Book 7 - I do think, though, that JKR has created,
in Draco, a character who can overcome his pride *and* his prejudice. The
critical descriptions of Darcy throughout the book resonate in the
descriptions of Draco - family pride, the belief that others are not good
enough to associate with, the tendency to pass judgments about people and
situations without looking too closely - all those things apply to both Darcy
and Draco. And nobody has even bothered to criticise the very obvious
parallels in personality between Elizabeth and Hermione - they are both
cynical and idealistic at the same time. If JKR wanted to create a resonance
between P&P and a relationship in her books, she could easily and reasonably
do so.

Sorry for the length of this - but I just wanted to put all my eggs on the table - this is an issue I've been running around with for coming on two years, so as you can tell, I've been through the wringer on it - it's a fun topic to play around with - literary archetypes, I mean - and Draco is at least three of them.

Comments

[steerpyke.livejournal.com]

Damn.
Why must that argument be so good?
I am not a big fan of Hermione's so it is almost a squick to see or think about her with Draco...
But, yeah.
It makes good sense.

[ex-marvolo22.livejournal.com]

*dabs at eyes* You know, my first fandom ship was Hermione/Draco. Your Darcy/Draco comparisons have always amused me, but you really have a point with them.

[heart-of-wine.livejournal.com]

This was brilliant, Heidi. Thanks. I am a huge P&P fan, and I really enjoyed reading this. You make some excellent arguments. I'm off to ponder the Hermione and Elizabeth parallels.

Elia

[isilya]

Interesting what you say both about the first proposal and Darcy's comments at the assembly room.

Firstly, I've always seen Darcy's first proposal as kind of romantic: Colin Firth, talking about his approach to the character, says that he sees the proposal Darcy saying: Look, I'm not blind. I can see why this is a bad idea, I can see that my family will disapprove, that there are obstacles to us getting together. So I don't want you to think I'm some stupid lust filled boy who hasn't thought about consequences. But despite all that, I find that my love for you is overwhelming.

I'm paraphrasing a bit, but you get the general idea. Extrapolating this to apply to Draco: well, if there is going to be any redemptionsist romance for him, he's going to facing similar issues; he finds aspects of Muggle culture distasteful, he'll be flying in the face of years of family expectation, he'll be the subject of many money/power hungry girls being thrown at him.

The question is whether he'll be able to face up to these issues and decided in favour of love, as Darcy does.

*thinks*

Also, the scene at the assembly room: I see to be all about face. Darcy's supposedly the most powerful, the most eligible, and yet his less eligible friend immediately hooks up with the best looking girl at the party. How is Darcy supposed to save face? He's awkward because he doesn't know how to act around these people, which makes them see him as a villain, which makes him more awkward.

Easy once again to relate this to Draco, who has been given the same conditioning to see himself as only able to accept the best, and also has similar social awkwardness; he has never experienced the open, easy friendship the Trio has, or indeed, that the Gryffindors have; and has no idea how to behave appropriately.

Hmmmm.

I'm just rambling now!

[raincitygirl.livejournal.com]

Re: the assembly room stuff, it could be seen as saving face, and that's a really good idea, putting it that way. Let's face it, Darcy even at his best is keenly aware of his own importance. But at the same time I've always seen it as being more about sheer nerves. And one thing I really liked about Colin Firth's Darcy was the way he came across as nervous and ill at ease.

Here he is, at a provincial assembly, not presumably the type of gathering with which he's very familiar. He knows exactly four people out of the whole bunch of them. Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley, as newcomers and as women of high status would presumably be engaged much of the time. Mr Hurst he doesn't exchange two words with in the entire book, and is a complete nonentity, so he can't hang around with him. And Bingley, the one person in the room he actually likes, has dragged him here and promptly buggered off with the prettiest girl there, leaving him stranded in a sea of strangers.

I thought Firth did a really good job conveying not only Darcy's feelings of superiority, but also the fact that he was ill at ease and socially inept. If there's one thing the book proves it's that Darcy isn't at his best in social situations. He is capable of being nice, and open, and friendly, but he only seems to actually act that way with family, very close friends, or family retainers. His public persona is much stiffer, but it may be less a question of being aware of his own importance and more sheer discomfort.

His pleasant, open behaviour towards Elizabeth and the Gardiners at Pemberley is the product of conscious effort. His interactions with his sister, however, seem quite similar to the way he acts with Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle. Note that as soon as Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley re-enter the equation, his behaviour at Pemberley he becomes more remote again. He's once again in a social situation, with people he doesn't particularly like, and he's just not comfortable enough to act differently, even though he's still trying very hard to impress Elizabeth.

Also, bearing out the shyness theory, when Elizabeth meets Georgiana, she comments that her manner, described by some outsiders as proud, seems actually to just be very shy. Perhaps it's a Darcy family trait, and Elizabeth just finds it easier to identify in a girl, and someone younger than her, rather than in a man who's older than she is.

Yes, Darcy is keenly aware of social position, and he is anxious to save face. But at the same time, I think a lot of his behaviour at the assembly can be classified as sheer unease in a social situation where he knows nobody. The one person there that he actually likes is absorbed with a pretty girl. He can talk with Bingley's inane sisters, or he can make smalltalk with a bunch of total strangers (and Darcy doesn't seem to have mastered the art of smalltalk) or he can stand around by himself being conspicuously miserable, and hope that Bingley will get so sick of it that they can go home early.

Yet another thing I liked about Firth's performance (although actually I think it was a directorial choice) was that after Elizabeth overhears Darcy insult her, she goes over to Charlotte and they giggle over it. They also look over at Darcy as they're laughing and he notices it. He momentarily loses his composure as though to say "Oh Christ, those girls are talking about me. They're laughing at me. I'm a joke. I'm a figure of fun." Which isn't hte reaction of somebody who's genuinely contemptuous, more like the reaction of somebody who's neurotic about social situations and paralyzed in large group settings.

[isilya]

Yes, Darcy is keenly aware of social position, and he is anxious to save face. But at the same time, I think a lot of his behaviour at the assembly can be classified as sheer unease in a social situation where he knows nobody.

Yes, although to a great degree, I don't think Darcy is aware of what exactly it is making him awkward and miserable. He feels both painfully shy and watched- he know that there are eyes always watching him and he becomes a bit contemptuous of that- after all, he does consider himself to be superior to these people.

The very rich can afford to give offense whereever they choose (unsure of quote but my copies of P & P seem to have evaporated into the ether).

I don't think Darcy, up until Elizabeth, is the type for deep self examination; similarly with Draco. Although I do feel that in some way they are aware that they are exacerbating the awkwardness of their situations by their behaviour, a large part of them still cannot see another way to act.

Hence Darcy first proposal. Which I think to him, sounds perfectly reasonable. I don't think he has any idea of how hateful he sounds. He's literally gobsmacked when Elizabeth cuts him down.

So I think that a key turning point for the character is self-realisation; that *yes* he feels awkward and shy and horrid in social situations and around the banter and easy going friendship of say, Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam, but that his own behaviour *that he can change* is responsible for much of his own misery.

Draco in the book seems much less dignified that I imagine a young Darcy would have been at eleven. Granted,he's used for comic relief, it's easy to extrapolate his shadowing of the Trio, his telling tales and his smug pleasure at their disgrace, into a very deep desire to be part of that.

*thinks*

And again with the rambling.

It will be interesting to see if Draco will ever have a Dracy-like realisation that the reason the world doesn't like him is that he is a prat. And! Surprise! He actually cares.

Re:

[raincitygirl.livejournal.com]

Great points. And of course Darcy doesn't analyze his own behaviour, or realize that he's helping to make himself miserable.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

he has never experienced the open, easy friendship the Trio has, or indeed, that the Gryffindors have; and has no idea how to behave appropriately.

This actually meshes well with some things I've learned since May - from a few of Jason Isaacs' interviews, he's made it clear that at least he (and now Tom) see Draco in this way: "He gets no love at home, it's a horrible loveless place, and suddenly he' at school and he's not going to let anyone else enjoy themselves, he's resentful of real friendships for instance..."

The concept of friendship, at this point, isn't something that Draco has any understanding of - of which there are some indirect Darcy parallels - I mean, the kid who he grew up with tried to seduce his much younger sister for her money, and betrayed him in what was, to the times, one of the worst ways possible, and then lied about him regularly. Draco hasn't actually had an on-the-page betrayal by a friend to date, perhaps because we haven't seen him having any real friends - and therefore, not having any opportunity to grasp the concept.

[phoenixsong]

bad, bad heidi. making me want to go drag P&P off my bookshelf! (i've got a nice hardcover of it and sense & sensibility that i picked up at borders cheap a few years ago.)

why bad? oh, i've only got a stack of other books that need reading first. like a re-read of CoS, and finishing american gods, and studying for the compTIA network+ exam. *sigh* *g*

i know, my life is so hard, isn't it? s:)

[raincitygirl.livejournal.com]

Interesting take on it. I don't know that Rowling will redeem Draco, but she may do so.

literary archetypes, I mean - and Draco is at least three of them.

Forgive my ignorance, as I'm brand new to the whole HP thing and I'm sure this has been discussed a hundred times, but which three would you say?

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Although you understand what archetypes are, I'm going to throw this definition out there for anyone else wandering by:

an archetype is a pattern from which copies can be made. That is, it is a universal theme that manifests itself differently on an individual basis.

IMHO, he's the Hero's Foil, the Outcast and the Scapegoat (but the latter mostly in Book 1 - it's because of him that they lose the 50 points and that they find Fluffy - Draco sets those events in motion).

And on the scapegoat issue... WHY did JKR bring him into the woods that night? Why not just have Harry go off with Neville, let Draco get away with his sneaking out after hours, have Neville pitch a fit of fear and run for help, as Draco did? Is this a setup for something in a later book, perhaps a negative reaction of Voldemort to Lucius' weak and neurotic son?

Re:

[raincitygirl.livejournal.com]

Interesting stuff about book 1. I hadn't really thought about that.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

I think I spend far too much time thinking about it. But that's ok - I have a justification.

Whee!

[twelveeyes.livejournal.com]

*likes* Meh. Plot bunnies are starting to breed...

[ex-mahoney365.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I still really don't see canon-Draco in a redeemable light, but after watching CoS I'm hoping for a mini-revelation in Book 5. Hoping that Draco shows signs of not being a complete nasty little creep. Because every time I saw Draco & Hermione anywhere near each other in the movie, I thought "Oooooo! Heidi's right! That needs to happen!" and felt all warm and Pride & Prejudice-fuzzy about it. (Which also demonstrates the fact that I took the fandom to the movie with me. Erm.)

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Yay! I went to the movies with Mahoney, in a weird and sort of in absentia way.

It really did feel, all through the movie, that he was weirdly attuned to her, almost as if they were trying to set us up for some more sparks flying between them in Book 5 and beyond. But even in Book 3, his reaction to her has always been different from his reaction to anyone else. I mean, she *slaps* him and what does he do? Complain? Yell? Fight back? Gripe to Snape?

He just walks away and says nothing.

In fact, I'm not sure that canon has him speak to her again until he warns her to get away from the Death Eaters at the QWC. He certainly doesn't talk to her in the top box - he doesn't talk to anyone, poor t00blet.

[kokopoko.livejournal.com]

I am a huge Pride & Prejudice fan, even own the 6 tape BBC miniseries (Colin Firth lake scene!). So I really appreciate your comparison of Draco & Darcy. I fell in love with both in their books. It does make sense that it is to be Hermione. She even slapped him!

Lake scene?

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Did someone say "lake scene"?

As they walked across the lawn towards the river, Hermione turned back to look again; Neville and Susan stopped also, and while the former was conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself suddenly came forward from the road, aboard a quick-moving new model Firebolt, which he was threading slowly through the trees.

They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight, when he halted the broom's movement in mid-flight and dismounted in a graceful leap. As his feet touched ground, their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immoveable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Hermione, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility.

She had instinctively turned away; but, stopping on his approach, received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be overcome. Had his first appearance been insufficient to assure the other two that they now saw Mr. Malfoy, changed as he was from the last time Neville and Susan had seen him, the gardener's expression of surprise on beholding his master in such a state of disarray must immediately have told it. In this moment, his hair was almost dark with water and his robes dampened and windblown where they were hanging from the broom's tail. He was clad only in a shirt that was transparant with lake water and riding breeches of the sort that had been used by the fliers in the Kopparberg-to-Arjeplog Broom Races in decades past. They stood a little aloof while he was talking to Hermione, who, astonished and confused, scarcely dared lift her eyes to his face, and knew not what answer she returned to his civil enquiries after her family, and Harry. Amazed at the alteration in his manner since they last parted, every sentence that he uttered was increasing her embarrassment; and every idea of the impropriety of her being found there recurring to her mind, the few minutes in which they continued together were some of the most uncomfortable of her life. Nor did he seem much more at ease; when he spoke, his accent had none of its usual sedateness; and he repeated his enquiries as to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of her stay amid the moors, so often, and in so hurried a way, as plainly spoke the distraction of his thoughts.

At length, every idea seemed to fail him; and, after standing a few moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and took leave.

From Congruity, the third part of my Homage.

*schnoogles Heidi*

[metaphoracle.livejournal.com]

All the more reason to kidnap Darcy!Draco and make him slashy. Did someone say
Facade? Oh yes.

[sari-malfoy.livejournal.com]

Got re-directed here via hp_essays.

I know this is a very old discussion and by now somewhat moot, but I just have to say it's a shame Draco didn't go Darcy(ish) in canon. I don't mind R/Hr actually, but the fic scene that they have isn't much to my taste. But as for Draco...it's a shame overall. Receding hairline, too (just to underline he is supposed to be the little bit pathetic villain).

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Wow, six years on, how did it come up? I'd love to see what linked you here - can you give me the url?

I have to say, with a sense of distance, I am perfectly happy with the stories, such as they are, but the Draco situation has always made me feel like she had this character with potential (as a character, not as a "person) to be so interesting - and in some ways, he really was!) but she didn't do as much with it as she could have. But people can, and do, say the same thing about Snape, Voldemort, Ginny, Tonks, etc.

Hence, hurrah for fanfic!

[sari-malfoy.livejournal.com]

It's the same for Snape, in my opinion...or even worse for Snape probably :((


As for Ginny, many of us already gave up. Personality transplant, anyone?


I got redirected here, which ís undner masterlists

http://community.livejournal.com/hp_essays/48467.html

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's nifty!

Sigh, I don't believe in soulmates - it happens in my favorite book in life, The Eight, too, and it almost threw me out of the story when it happened - so her statements about Harry and Ginny being soulmates does nothing to convince me of their True Lurve. I know, I know, it's a quirk, but...

[sari-malfoy.livejournal.com]

What does not convince *me* of their true lurve is how Ginny was completely different in the last book. She had little importance, little room and basically all she did was snog Harry (and got interrupted and instead of shoving Ron out, she just took it all) and then listen to everyone tell her what to do.

We've been told that not only was it supposed to be important that Ginny was the 7th child of a 7th chld, also that she was written as a perfect girl/woman for Harry. They have a perfect luuuuurve, but even at the end of the DH main text Harry leaves her out there, instead to be with just Hermione and Ron. I *do* get that sentiment, but it doesn't do well for Ginny and her already seeming quite detached to Harry and the whole story by that point.

AND...Harry's ideal woman likes quidditch, does what he says and looks curiously much like his dear departed mother?

(Not to mention allows him to name two children after BOTH of his parents!?)

Sorry if I sound a bit miffed, it's not directed at you; just at JKR's botching up the Harry&Ginny-thing IMO.