I heard it said that women want to be Elizabeth and men fall in love with her: virtuous, strong, independent, fiery, dignified. She stands out beyond her circumstance. Sure, she speaks her mind when decorum would indicate she should not, but she rises in her dignity. She holds her own in the highest social circles, despite the fact that her mother is obnoxious and class-less or that her younger sisters run wild. She knows who she is and won't be demeaned by anyone. She challenges Mr. Darcy, but she inspires him too.

So, why do all fall in love with Mr. Darcy? When he realizes he is in love with Elizabeth, he owns her pain. Her family heartache and scandal becomes his. He storms off into the night to do everything in his power to rescue her sister and save her family from the shame that will come from her sisters' indiscretions. His character awakens my very own desire to be so loved by a man of that kind of character.

You're rooting for truth to come to light and true love to win out over all of their flaws, the social constraints, their pride and their prejudices.

~ Ivette Diaz

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