An accomplished woman

Mr. Darcy

"Then," observed Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman."

"Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it."

"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant [Miss Bingley], "no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and 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."

"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."

By this provision Darcy means to imply that even if a woman can play the compositions of J.S. Bach on the church organ, has diligently studied the drawing techniques of the old masters, and can quote Dante and Ariosto in the original, it is not substantial if she's only learning to impress eligible bachelors. It is a waste to become fluent in French if you're only going to use it to read La Fontaine's fables, novelists &c - she must sharpen her mind against a whetstone like Rousseau, even if his controversial ideas are not to be mentioned in polite company during the War.

Justice4243

But can Mr. Darcy see why kids love the taste of cinnamon toast crunch?

Justice4243

...Or an accomplished woman, whichever.

Mr. Darcy

Insofar as we know him from the novel, probably not. He seems to have little experience with kids, though that is set to change after his wedding.

Justice4243

After the wedding, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth plan to lure children into their salt mines to capitalize on cheap labor?

 

Clearly, Elizabeth's command over philosophy, music, and languages means she's perfect for luring foreign children into salt mines.

Mr. Darcy

^ Now that's an accomplishment!

LeighSabio

Would Mr. Darcy be more or less attracted to a woman who could bench press him?

Justice4243

If Mr. Darcy lived in modern times, what do you think his standards would be?

 

Multi-lingual, instrument playing, philosophe,r astronaut women? 

LeighSabio

Be able to build her own computer?

Justice4243

Out of raw materials, too, I bet. He'd only have respect for a woman who could smelt her own silicon.

Mr. Darcy

This is getting steampunk...

Obā-san

Mr. Darcy said:

This is getting steampunk...

Section42L

Justice4243

Now I want to read a Steampunk version of Pride and Prejudice. 

RocketRunner

I actually just thought of an idea for a Steampunk-ish weapon: basically, a raygun with a mouthpiece like a brass instrument. You fire it by blowing into the mouthpiece.

Justice4243

The laserphone.

LeighSabio

Doesn't that exist? Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I think it was.

Misery

Strong Independent Woman Who Don't Need No Man™

Justice4243

Sredni Vashtar

Kate Beaton is just splendid.