http://randombitsoffascination.com/2014 ... shed-lady/“A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, all the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address, and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.”
(Jane Austen, Vol. I, Ch.
...Darcy’s addition to the already long list... “all this she must possess…and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading”
So on one hand we have someone defining, let's get to the heart of it, desirability as:
Be thin
Be able to cook
Have long hair
Wear make-up
Be feminine
Be graceful
Be sensual
Shave (should without saying)
Be fashionable
Wear pink and feminine colors
Love men
Listen to men
Which lists 6 physical attributes, 5 character attributes, and only one actual ability, none of which have anything to do with education, intelligence, or understanding of the world. What this man wants is an image, not a person.
Contrasted with:
thorough knowledge of music
singing
drawing
dancing
all the modern languages
a certain something in her air
and manner of walking
the tone of her voice,
her address, and expressions
the improvement of her mind by extensive reading
There is arguably 1 that deals with her actual physical attributes which would be the 'manner of walking', 6 which deal with education and knowledge, and 3 which could be grouped into personality or charisma. What Darcy wants is Super Woman, not just any of those ordinary normal women who aren't thoroughly knowledgeable in all these areas.
But where both of these lists seem identical to me is that they put ridiculously high and exacting standards on women, the first one saying if you are not all of these, you are not desirable! (Don't like pink? You ugly!) The second being a ridiculously long list of requirements for a woman to achieve, but Darcy had to go and one-up it by saying it isn't the knowledge of music, singing, dancing, drawing, and all the modern languages which are enough, you have to improve your mind even more than that! (Don't sing or draw? You suck at being a woman!)
What's funny is his aunt didn't even live up to this list! I wonder what Darcy's ideal man would have been...