Hail to the Chief. . . Mr. Darcy?
Our Jane’s opening line of Pride and Prejudice is universally acknowledged as one of the most memorable in literature, but an article in today’s Guardian provides some pretty good competition:
George Bush makes an unlikely Mr Darcy.
(Oh Most Wonderful Editrix, can I please have Dorothy and a pot of hot tea? My nerves aren’t quite up to this particular comparison!)
The author of this article goes on to liken diplomatic relations between the United States, the EU, and NATO to one of Jane’s “English country dances,” and makes a reasonable, if not believable, case for President Bush resembling our own Mr. D. Lizzy, who isn’t one to be easily overlooked, gets the last word:
But after the ball, many differences will remain. As Elizabeth Bennett knew, it takes more than a twirl to build a lasting relationship.
What a Lizzy-esque way to finish things off!
February 23rd, 2005 at 12:15 am
I thought the reporter was absolutely desperate to come up with yet another take on yet another over-reported diplomatic trip.
February 23rd, 2005 at 10:55 am
What were we saying about a slow news week again?
Dorothy will be over with a pot of tea directly.
February 23rd, 2005 at 11:27 am
Isn’t President Bush is more of a Mr. Hurst than a Mr. Darcy? But anyway, if you take the Darcy/Lizzy analogy to its logical conclusion, does that mean that Europe will eventually accept and become the 51st state?
February 25th, 2005 at 2:19 am
Well, he’s definitely not a Darcy–an introvert he is not. I don’t see him as a Hurst either. Perhaps it’s the dearth of Texans in the Austen canon that has me unable to come up with a good comparison.
I am quite confident, however, that Bush doesn’t want Europe’s affection as much as Darcy wanted Lizzy’s.
(And yes, it is a slow news week….)