Fitzwilliam Darcy Esquire, generally referred to as Mr. Darcy, is one of the two central characters in Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. He is an archetype of the aloof romantic hero, and a romantic interest of Elizabeth Bennet, the novel's protagonist. Brooding, reserved, and magnetic, Darcy initially deeply offends and vexes Elizabeth, but their paths diverge and his character deepens as the two grow closer and mend their differences. Usually referred to only as "Mr. Darcy" or "Darcy" by characters and the narrator, his first name is mentioned twice in the novel.Pride and Prejudice. Chapters 25 and 35. Mr. Darcy has been portrayed in film by Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, and Laurence Olivier.
Character
Mr. Darcy is a wealthy, tall, and handsome young gentleman with an income exceeding £10,000 a year Pride and Prejudice. Chapter 59. (equivalent to over £800,000 a year in relative income). The Darcy family have long owned Pemberley, a large estate in Derbyshire, England. As the head of the family and single, Mr Darcy is a highly attractive marital prospect; but is widely expected to marry his first cousin, Anne de Bourgh. He is also being pursued by Caroline Bingley, the sister of his close friend, Charles Bingley.
Darcy first meets Elizabeth Bennet at a ball, where he makes rather demeaning remarks about her while she is within earshot. As Mr. Bingley becomes interested in Elizabeth's sister Jane, Darcy continues to interact with Elizabeth and feels drawn to her despite their differences and banter, and is unaware of her confused perception of him. Mr. Wickham, Darcy's childhood friend and now enemy, influences Elizabeth against Darcy by accusing him of betrayal. Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship builds until Darcy declares his love for her and proposes marriage.
Eventually, Mr. Darcy declares his love for Elizabeth and asks for her hand; but in the very course of proposing, he reminds her of the large gap in their social status, insults her family, and is unaware of her negative image of him. Elizabeth is offended and vehemently refuses him, expressing her reasons for disliking him, including her knowledge of his interference with Jane and Bingley and the account she received from Mr. Wickham of Darcy's alleged unfair treatment toward him. Insulted by Darcy's arrogant retorts, Elizabeth says that the rudeness in his proposal prevented her from feeling concerns for him she "might have felt had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner". Darcy departs in anger and mortification; the next morning, he writes and hand delivers a letter to Elizabeth in which he defends his wounded honour, reveals the motives for his interference in Jane and Bingley's relationship, and gives a full account of his dealings with Wickham, who had attempted to seduce and elope with Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana, the previous summer.
Although initially angered by Elizabeth's vehement refusal and harsh criticism, Darcy is shocked to discover the reality of how his behaviour is perceived by others, particularly Elizabeth, and commits himself to re-evaluate his actions. A few months later, Darcy unexpectedly encounters Elizabeth when she is visiting his estate in Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle. Elizabeth is surprised to discover a marked change in Darcy's manner. Having responded to Elizabeth's criticism, Darcy is now determined to display the "gentlemanlike manner" she accused him of lacking and astonishes her with his kindness towards both her and her relations. She is impressed with his patronage of the arts, relationship with his sister, dynamics with his house staff, and beautiful garden.
On discovering that Elizabeth's youngest sister Lydia has fallen prey to and run off with Mr. Wickham, Darcy tracks them down and induces Wickham to marry Lydia, saving both Lydia and her family from social disgrace and assuaging his own guilt for not preventing Wickham's actions. Despite having to pay upwards of ten thousand pounds, Darcy's intervention was done secretly and he did not want anyone to know. After learning of this selflessness, Elizabeth realises she is in love with Darcy. He has relinquished his pride, and she, her prejudice. Bingley returns to Longbourn and becomes engaged to Jane, admitting his misjudgment of her character. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth again, who happily accepts his proposal.
Depictions in film and television
Film Year Actor Role Film Notes1940Laurence OlivierFitzwilliam DarcyPride and Prejudice2001Colin FirthMark DarcyBridget Jones's DiaryAn adaptation of the novel Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. Fielding's novel is loosely based on the novel Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 BBC TV series, and Colin Firth's portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy.2003Orlando SealeWill DarcyPride & Prejudice: A Latter-Day ComedyA Modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.2004Martin HendersonWilliam "Will" DarcyBride and PrejudiceA Bollywood adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.Colin FirthMark DarcyBridget Jones: The Edge of ReasonAn adaptation of the novel The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding and a sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary.2005Matthew MacfadyenFitzwilliam DarcyPride & PrejudiceA Joe Wright adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.2016Sam RileyColonel Fitzwilliam DarcyPride and Prejudice and ZombiesBased on the parody novel by Seth Grahame-Smith.2016Colin FirthMark DarcyBridget Jones's Baby a sequel to 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, based on an adaptation of the novel Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. 2022Conrad RicamoraWillFire IslandA queer romantic comedy retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in New York's Fire Island Pines.2025Colin FirthMark DarcyBridget Jones: Mad About The BoyThe last movie adaptation of Helen Fielding's final novel in the Bridget Jones's Diary series.
Television YearActorRoleTelevision programNotes1938Andrew OrbornFitzwilliam DarcyPride and PrejudicePerformance broadcast live.1949John BaragreyFitzwilliam DarcyThe Philco Television PlayhouseSeason 1, Episode 17 – "Pride and Prejudice"1952Peter CushingFitzwilliam DarcyPride and Prejudice1957Franco VolpiSignor DarcyOrgoglio e pregiudizioItalian adaptation1958Alan BadelFitzwilliam DarcyPride and PrejudicePatrick MacneeMr. DarcyGeneral Motors TheatreEpisode – "Pride and Prejudice" (Originally aired on 21 December).1967Lewis FianderFitzwilliam DarcyPride and Prejudice1980David RintoulFitzwilliam DarcyPride and Prejudice1995Colin FirthFitzwilliam DarcyPride and PrejudiceThrough his loyal depiction, Colin Firth's adaptation is widely known as the best portrayal of Darcy. The acting is largely beloved and remembered as one of the best performances of the classic romantic hero.
In addition, Colin Firth portrayed the character of Mark Darcy in all three film adaptations of Fielding's novels. The adaptation and Colin Firth's portrayal of Fitzwilliam Darcy inspired Helen Fielding to write Bridget Jones's Diary and The Edge of Reason. 1995Soccer/Larry BrantleyMr. DarcyWishboneSeason 1, Episode 25 – "Furst Impressions" 2008Elliot CowanFitzwilliam DarcyLost in AustenA fantasy adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in which a modern woman trades places with Elizabeth Bennet.2012–2013Daniel Vincent GordhWilliam DarcyThe Lizzie Bennet DiariesA modern adaptation where the main character Lizzie tells the story of Pride and Prejudice through video blog format.2013Matthew RhysFitzwilliam DarcyDeath Comes to PemberleyA continuation based on P.D. James' book with the same name.2013Dallas SauerMr. DarcyOnce Upon a Time in WonderlandA brief appearance in the episode "Who's Alice" as a potential suitor for Alice.2016Ryan PaeveyDonovan DarcyUnleashing Mr. DarcyTelevision film.2018Thiago LacerdaDarcy WilliamsonOrgulho e PaixãoA telenovela based Jane Austen's works.2018Ryan PaeveyDonovan DarcyMarrying Mr. DarcyTelevision film.Jack LowdenFitzwilliam DarcyPride and Prejudice A Netflix adaptation of the novel2026Victor PilardFitzwilliam DarcyThe Other Bennet SisterA television adaptation
Audio YearActorRoleTelevision programmeNotes 2025 Harris Dickinson Mr. Darcy Pride and Prejudice An adaptation on Audible
Analysis Mr. Darcy is a proud and arrogant man, particularly to those that he considers of lower social status. It is suggested that he is a member of the old Anglo-Norman aristocracy, as indicated by his own name as well as that of his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.Doody, Margaret (14 April 2015). Jane Austen's Names: Riddles, Persons, Places. University of Chicago Press. p. 72. . Retrieved 27 January 2018. At the dance, he does not dance with any ladies outside his own party because he believes them to be beneath him in class and beauty. He does, however, mention later on to Elizabeth that he does not find it easy to make new acquaintances and finds it hard to converse with people he does not know. This shows a sort of shy, perhaps even reclusive nature in Darcy that is not illustrated before this point in the book. After receiving Mr. Darcy's letter of explanation, Elizabeth notes: that she has never "seen anything that betrayed him to be unprincipled or unjust—anything that spoke him of irreligious or immoral habits; that among his own connections he was esteemed and valued". For example, his behaviour with Bingley is more than brotherly as he rescues him from what he believed was a bad marriage and is a constant companion at his side. Through Elizabeth, he learns to be less boastful and arrogant because he realizes that his actions have deeply affected others. This arrogance is seen in his first proposal to Elizabeth whereby he acts with more pride rather than in a loving manner. Despite the way in which Elizabeth often mocks him, she is surprised by his "gallantry" as he persists in pursuing her.Brower, Reuben Arthur "Irony Reveals Character and Advances the Drama" page 144-152 from Readings on Pride and Prejudice edited by Clarice Swisher, San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999 page 149.
Vivien Jones notes that Darcy's handsome appearance, wealth and original arrogance signify to the reader that he is the hero of a romance novel. Wickham's irresponsible elopement with Lydia allows Darcy to demonstrate that he now feels responsible for Wickham's continued bad behaviour by his silence – if he had made Wickham's bad character known, Lydia would have been safe. Darcy chooses to involve himself in arranging Lydia's marriage, risking his own reputation. Elizabeth dismisses him at first as "intricate", though she adds that "intricate" men are at least "amusing".Brownstein, Rachel "Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice" pages 32-57 from The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 page 52. Though Darcy treats Elizabeth with contempt, he always finds her to be "uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes" and is "caught by the easy playfulness of her manner".Hardy, John ""Elizabeth's Teasing Charms Darcy" pages 61–67 from Readings on Pride and Prejudice edited by Clarice Swisher, San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999 pages 61–62. At one point, Elizabeth notes that "Mr. Darcy is all politeness" and speaks of his "grave propriety".Brower, Reuben Arthur "Irony Reveals Character and Advances the Drama" page 144-152 from Readings on Pride and Prejudice edited by Clarice Swisher, San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999 page 148. The term "grave propriety" is meant ironically, noting that Darcy is polite, but only in the sense that he possesses the mere civility of "the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world". However, despite his barely tactful behaviour, it is implied he has deeper feelings of affection for Elizabeth, which he has difficulty in expressing and which she often does not notice.