Darcy – 5-Minute History

In the 1995 BBC rendition of Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy includes a notable cream linen shirt. This attire takes center stage in a celebrated scene where Darcy emerges drenched from the Pemberley pond, coincidentally crossing paths with Elizabeth Bennet. Regarded as one of the most iconic moments in British television history, this particular sequence has etched itself into the collective memory of viewers.

The famous Regency period shirt turned British actor Colin Firth into an international heartthrob virtually overnight.

The shirt worn by actor Colin Firth during his portrayal of Mr. Darcy as he emerged from the Pemberley pond in the BBC’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice production. Credit Folger Shakespeare Library

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Considered by many to be the definitive adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 BBC/A&E co-production is one of the most successful period dramas ever created.

And it’s not hard to see why: superlative acting, attention to detail in costume and sets, and faithfulness to Jane Austen’s 1813 novel … that is, except for one scene—the Lake Scene.

One of the most unforgettable moments in British TV historyThe Guardian

An amusing moment in which Darcy tries to maintain his dignity while improperly dressed and sopping wetWilliam Grimes, NYTimes

Although absent from Jane Austen’s novel, the Lake Scene has garnered adulation the world over from an army of fans, and spawned a host of imitations, including this reenactment by Benedict Cumberbatch for charity.

Benedict Cumberbatch becomes Mr.Darcy for #giveupclothes by @jasonbellphoto a partnership with @TKMaxx_UK and @CR_UK pic.twitter.com/czBkVEMem0
— DundasCommunications (@DundasComms) September 16, 2014

It’s one thing to see Colin Firth donning a wet shirt clinging to his well-honed physique in today’s context, but from the perspective of the early 1800s, what we’re really looking at is Darcy in his underwear. Prior to the 20th century, shirts were worn as undergarments. Not until the seventeenth century were men’s shirts allowed to show; but when they did, it carried the same suggestive undertone as visible underwear today. And as late as 1879, a shirt with nothing over it was considered improper.

Did you know?

It was quite common for men of the eighteenth century not to wear any underpants. Shock, horror! They relied instead on the long tails of their undershirts and on lining sewn into their breeches to perform the same function as drawers.

Showing the typical cut of the late 18th century, this finely finished shirt has gussets below the arm for freedom of movement and a shoulder gusset for a better fit through the neck and chest. Approximating the shape of the body, it allowed for more fullness at the front without adding bulk at the waist.

Created from linen fiber in 1816 by Elizabeth Wild Hitchings for her husband Benjamin Hitchings, a sea captain. Hand-stitching shirts for the family was common practice for wives or servants prior to about the mid-19th century. Elegant stitching was a hallmark of the care taken prior to the widespread use of the sewing machine.

Do not presume to understand a mannequin’s feelings. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love youMr. Mannequin

1816. Shirt. American. Linen. metmusem

References

Some Thoughts on Men’s Shirts in America, 1750-1900 by William L. Brown III The History of Underclothes by C. Willett and
Phillis Cunnington What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America by Linda Baumgarten

Mr Darcy is the quintessential British romantic hero and one of two central characters in Jane Austen’s late-regency novel Pride and Prejudice.

Tall, dark and handsome—not to mention exceedingly wealthy—Darcy’s initially haughty manner is softened when his proposal of marriage is rejected by Elizabeth Bennet, the novel’s protagonist.

There is something magical about a relationship that starts off on the wrong foot.

Mr Darcy’s “pride” clashes with Miss Bennet’s “prejudice”.

But when the two overcame their predispositions, they were a love match made in heaven.

Two British actors of the last 20 years have become synonymous with Mr Darcy—Colin Firth in the BBC’s 1995 TV Series, and Matthew Macfadyen in the 2005 British film directed by Joe Wright.

Reviews of the 1995 TV Series were overwhelmingly positive on both sides of the Atlantic.

John O’Connor of The New York Times said Colin Firth “brilliantly captures Mr. Darcy’s snobbish pride while conveying, largely through intense stares, that he is falling in love despite himself”.

The official A&E Network magazine summarized a year later that “critics praised the lavish production, audiences adored it, and women everywhere swooned over Darcy. So much, in fact, that newspapers began to joke about ‘Darcy fever.'”

Joe Wright, director of the 2005 film, called Matthew Macfadyen “a proper manly man … a great big hunk of a guy”. He said he didn’t want a “pretty boy kind of actor”.

Entertainment Weekly’s Alex Bailey agreed, remarking that Macfadyen was “sensational, with a noble profile just this side of surly and a plummy voice of such sullen quietude that you see how Lizzie might take it as dismissive.”

Who was your favorite Darcy? If you already know, scroll down and cast your vote. If not, take a moment to watch these video clips before you vote.

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References

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