***CHECK DESCRIPTION FOR SENSORY-FRIENDLY VERSION*** Why Autistic people relate to Mr. Darcy

SENSORY-FRIENDLY VERSION HERE: • 7 Character Traits tha...
It's Autism Acceptance Month, and Cassiane is here to talk about famous literary characters with Autistic traits, starting with Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."

[@teawithcassiane8431]

Everyone - I've made a sensory-friendly version of the video. Please watch that instead! kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5vMhmObfN2AnqM

[@staceycarless5193]

Thanks Cassiane 😊

[@kashcole5038]

Dunno if anyone cares but if you guys are bored like me atm you can watch pretty much all of the new movies and series on InstaFlixxer. Been watching with my gf for the last weeks :)

[@madduxhayden7326]

@Kash Cole Definitely, I have been using InstaFlixxer for years myself :)

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

Thank you, I was wondering about that: a video about autism with background music? Wouldn't that be too much? It is too much for me and I am not even autistic.

[@athenenoctua75]

I think Mr. Darcy shows some more traits in his love language and his way of communication. His love language is acts of service but he tries to do it in a hidden way. He is more comfortable writing about his thoughts and feelings, than talking about it. This are some things i relate to. I can talk to people i trust, but as soon there is only one person near that i don't trust i fall into my usual masking habits.

[@sunflowersandstorms5608]

This comment makes me wonder if there are patterns in autistic love languages, if we tend to fall to certain ones or if we tend to prefer others that aren't described by neurotypical society. This could be an interesting thing to explore.

[@athenenoctua75]

@@sunflowersandstorms5608 Every language i know of has dialects and accents. i think live has many shapes, colors, and shades. and every being that is able to feel love in one or more of its many forms is an unique individual person. Maybe you like Star Trek too, the Vulcans might see a possibility of IDIC in something as irrational like this.🤔

[@margaretwalters6757]

I, an actor on the spectrum, recently got cast as Darcy and this video made me realize how similar to Darcy I am.

[@theroseofversailles]

I am so late but this is so wholesome.

[@Iyad46gamer]

Oh and when he says "Are you laughing at me? Are you rejecting me?" Those were genuine and not rhetorical questions. He've been rehearsing the proposal and didn't imagine her response as a possible outcome, and didn't know what to make of it. However, he was so in love that he trusted her as a source for social clues in order to interpret her own response. So cute 🥰 Do you agree?

[@sandracraft517]

I never thought of Darcy as having any traits other than snob, but now that you point it out it does make sense to me. On the other hand, ever since I first heard of autism and Asperger's I've wondered about Mary Bennett. Altho reluctantly, I've always identified most with Mary and she seems very much on the spectrum.

[@AnastaciaInCleveland]

I agree. I always thought of Mary as being on the spectrum and Darcy as just being horribly shy. Now I see that they are both on the spectrum. ~ Anastacia in Cleveland

[@2degucitas]

I think he had the general spectrum of qualities most people have, but his parents' deaths and Wickham's deceit spun him into a hurting depression. It came out as anger inflicted on other's below him, and isolating himself with friends in his circle who reinforce his snobbery, except for Bingley. I think he hasn't had anyone to guide him in understanding emotional intelligence. Now he has Elizabeth who is his match and will help him with this.

[@unicornishcornish]

I'm not neurodivergent but I am introverted and despise meaningless conversations. It's particularly hard when colleagues tell me about their food, their kids and their weekend plans which rarely go beyond partying, drinking or watching telly. I suffer when I have to listen and pretend that I care. Why are they telling me boring details of their lives?

[@mht2166]

Your neurodivergent. Because most of their interactions are nothing more than narcissistic supply trading.

[@juliec8090]

Oh wow, this whole video was fantastic! The intro specifying the difference between neurodivergent, neurodivergent-coded, and neurodivergent traits was INCREDIBLY helpful. The first time I heard this headcanon my mind was blown, specifically when thinking of the proposal scene. As you mentioned in points 4&5, not only was everything he saying technically true (if extremely hurtful to Elizabeth), but he’s *baffled* by how hurt she is! He starts floundering in that “oh no, why are you mad, I was just saying true stuff, did you want me to lie or something,” way, and that kind of solidified the headcanon for me. But him asking if she FEELS like dancing and the whole misunderstanding therein, that part never occurred to me. This... gosh this video was such a brilliant analysis. Bravo. VERY looking forward to your Jo March analysis!

[@teawithcassiane8431]

So glad you liked it!

[@jscott9457]

I am so pleased to see everything I have always thought about Darcy put into a video. I have always related to him as I see all these traits in myself. I would add to your list that Darcy doesn't recognize Jane's affection for Bingley as she is shy and not overly demonstrative. He also appears to like the company of those who are slightly below him on the social ladder like Bingley. They will always look up to him because of who he is and he is not so required to make a great first impression.

[@athenenoctua75]

Thank you, your comment made me realize something about myself.

[@academicant6438]

My favorite Mr. Darcy is Colin Firth--although autism and Asperger's weren't much known at the time of the making of the film, I think he had an intuitive grasp of these characteristics. What a talented actor!

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

Colin Firth is a total gem and my favourite Darcy as well!

[@trishayamada807]

And I guess it’s a non important movie but I adore him in Nanny McPhee.

[@jezpin3638]

The pond scene is so much funnier when I think he is a water baby who was riding past and just went 'look the water, I must touch with my whole self' and the just went full sensory input.

[@candymax2065]

I actually never knew why some of the things Darcy did were considered rude or inappropriate. I always related to him and thought he made good points. This video provided some good insight on this behaviour, and in parallel on my own way of presenting in the world and why people find me callous or rude sometimes

[@bethieandbooks]

I relate to Darcy so damn much. ‘We neither of us perform to strangers’ breaks me every time.

[@NevenOfSine]

Darcy may not even realize Lizzy is mocking and teasing him most of the time. He may think she's doing exactly what he is.

[@kahkah1986]

I think Lizzy quite often misreads Darcy as well, she thinks he is laughing at her/ criticizing her when he isn't.

[@arianewinter4266]

@@kahkah1986 the whole point of the book is, that lizzy missreads him ^^

[@Tinymoezzy]

His urge to move to a separate area away from crowds once conversation has changed to a subject he can not learn at that moment or has background knowledge of.

[@renatanovato9460]

Looking from this perspective made it clear why i thought many time Lizzie and the narrator were unfair to Darcy.

[@megronson1274]

This is my absolute favourite kind of video! Literary analyses by a competent, intelligent and well-spoken youtuber that educates on an important social topic AND includes dramatic and artistic flair??? The best. I have several friends and acquaintances on the spectrum and just love getting to see evidence of their lived experience peppered into literary history like this. Bravo, and encore!

[@LusiaEyre]

Would this play into his friendships/ close relationships? Bingley is easy-going and extroverted, runs point at parties taking some burden off Darcy's shoulders and never judging him. Colonel Fitzwilliam is also the outgoing cousin. Wickham on the other hand was most likely using Darcy's "awkwardness" and his forward behaviour presented as threatening? And Lizzie was not a pushover, ready to banter with him and yell at his aunt... kind of seems like he's gravitating towards outgoing but kind people like his safety net?

[@Lily-ni5po]

That works out well with Elizabeth who prefers quiet, reserved, and analytical people (Jane, Mr Bennet, Charlotte).

[@OstblockLatina]

People who don't take one's shyness and awkwardness as signs of hostility or rudeness and don't jump to negative conclusions, thus having the autistic individual feel even more distressed or shut down completely are like diamonds for autistic people. I'm pretty sure Bingley and Fitzwiliam were two of such rare people.

[@elizabethgodwin7679]

Hi, I'm the extrovert who adopts all the introverts, so I agree with your theory about Darcy and Bingley and I add to it that I think Bingley probably initiated the friendship and just would not stop being nice to Darcy until Darcy was sure Bingley actually meant it.

[@elewysoffinchingefeld3066]

Perfect example for when Darcy gets aggravated when people break the rules--Mr. Collins goes up and starts a conversation with Mr. Darcy when they hadn't yet been introduced. Darcy cuts the conversation short and walks away. I mentioned these points to my two neurodivergent kiddos and they were both "same..." Well done analysis!

[@lilith3953]

I'm autistic and I've always strongly related to Mr Darcy (even though I'm female and he's a man).

[@Vexmybeloved_]

Great video! I had a friend in high school with autism (PDDNOS) and a lot of traits he displayed seemed to also be displayed by Mr. Darcy, so the first time I truly watched this movie it instantly occured to me that he might have some form of autism. It really made me much more sympathetic to him from the beginning, and even in the book I couldn't help sympathising with Darcy more than Lizzie haha. Edit: Another thing I noticed that may hint at Darcy being on the spectrum is that he doesn't seem to be open to change or sudden activities a lot. He seems to have a disdain for spontaneous balls or run-ins with people because he has little time to prepare for the interactions mentally and they mess up his routine or plans for the day. I also think this is a hidden reason as to why he did not want Jane to marry Bingley so soon, as it would mean that Darcy would lose his closest friend to a woman in a very short amount of time without giving Darcy time to get used to that change. But that's just a theory that I have haha.

[@staceycarless5193]

Just wondered if you have a version of this video without the background music that you could post? I’m finding it too distracting and having sensory overload from it. Thanks

[@tatjanavukcevic9972]

Yes, very distracting! Even more when english is not your native language!

[@nebucamv5524]

The same with me! I get a little headache of it.

[@janessister]

I totally agree, I can not concentrate!

[@bethieandbooks]

The closed captions are good, if you don’t mind watching with no sound 😊

[@gogbpackers12]

I find the info great and want to share w my mom, but she hates dialogue competing with music. She has hearing issues.

[@sottosopravoce]

I'm autistic, I love this, and my autistic headcanon is Catherine Moreland. She can never tell if Mr. Tilney is teasing her or being serious, and she takes people at face value. But she's also passionate and has a wild imagination. Her literal-minded responses to Tilney comparing dancing to a marriage is every conversation I had with an interested dude before the age of 28 or so.

[@teawithcassiane8431]

I relate to everything you just said! Including the state of my love life in my 20s!

[@p1rgit]

catherine is not autistic... she is just naive.

[@zazubombay]

@@p1rgit I think she is both. Lots of people on the spectrum are socially naive. Learning how to navigate social reality comes with time and practice.

[@msinvincible2000]

I too identify with Darcy, and the funny thing, is that 20 years ago (before I read the book), I did exactly what Darcy did at the assembly, insulting Lizzie. When I read the book, I was quite surprized to see the almost exact thing, written 200 years before my gaffe!

[@BeardedBarley1]

I’m not on the spectrum and have been tested several times but still have some traits that I deal with (which really just falls under the heading of being introverted) yet am physically related to quite a few people who are on the spectrum. I love them all. What I find somewhat humorous is that the people who have minor forms of autism often think I’m the one who has it...quite a bit of projecting going on there let me tell you. Upth! So when I test out as simply ‘introverted’ and ‘assertive,’ it tends to set them off a little. Hahaha! I just laugh a bit and take it all in stride, knowing they don’t at all mean to put me down but instead feel as if they can relate to me. However, I have to tell you I feel for Darcy when he misreads people and sometimes says things somewhat awkwardly and expects people just to tell the truth because he simply tells the truth all the time and doesn’t really understand why people don’t. I am soooooo like that! Also I’ve noticed that autistic people tend to gravitate toward me. I think they feel safe around me, knowing I won’t write them off or browbeat them because of a little social faux pas but am assertive enough to let them know when they are out of line. In fact, I’m married to a man who is slightly on the spectrum. The resemblance to Darcy in personality and character is at times uncanny. One trait that we tend to go back and forth over sometimes is, when people or I try to carry on a conversation with him, he doesn’t put in those little conversational cues that encourage people to continue in conversation with him like a slight nod of the head as people begin to open up to him or a quick “uh-huh” to show interest in what someone is saying or a “I know what you mean” to share camaraderie over something. I often find myself repeatedly saying “you know what I mean?” almost like a broken record in order to get some kind of feedback from him. Hahaha! But like Darcy, people who work for him and he feels comfortable around develop an unusual kind of deep uncanny loyalty to him once they get that he’s not arrogant or being a jerk or offish. He’s sincerely just silently listening and taking in all of the information to process it all. Then he comes up sometimes with the most ingenious insights that no one else could possibly come up with because he thinks outside of the box. When he does that, people just want to grab him and hug him and lift him up off the ground and hoist him up in the air. I’m not kidding. It’s really quite humorous when it happens. And his sense of humor is genius. It’s like he’s got it down to a science. I just love it...and it’s all partly the reason I fell in love with him...as I’m sure most people do with Darcy’s character. And you did likewise with thinking outside of the box in having this keen insight into Darcy’s character as shown in this video. Great work! Thanks.

[@melodyclark1944]

All these little miscommunications show how Pride and Prejudice is a classic. I don't know if any movie can capture this, but most do try. The comedy one really changed his personality. Thank you for pointing these out.

[@darth-imperius]

The 2005 film captured it best - Matthew Macfadyen is the best asd Darcy. He's so awkward. 😍 So me.

[@maryedwards543]

His best way of communicating his love for Elizabeth was to show her with actions, towards the end. Not sure where that falls on the Spectrum. Definitely a whole other element to think on! Thank you for this video!

[@NevenOfSine]

I will move mountains for the people I love, unconditionally. That's what I found to be the most unrealistic part od the book: That he would not just be used again...

[@sarasolomon4812]

I loved this video! The points you made were very insightful. I have also thought of Mr Darcy as on the spectrum, and your video cements my headcannon. There is another thing about Mr Darcy that reminds me of a family member who is on the spectrum. But I'm not sure if it's an actual autistic trait, or something this family member randomly has in common with a fictional character. The point is this: Mr Darcy gets things DONE, and doesn't talk much about it, or want praise or recognition for it. He thinks methodically how he may fix the problem, and goes about fixing it, without explaining or asking for input. When he finds out about Lydia's elopement with Mr Wickham he doesn't explain anything to Lizzie, he doesn't get emotional or angry (after all, Wickham is getting close to ruining the life of yet another woman he loves). He would undoubtedly dearly love to punch Wickham in the face, but he puts his emotions aside and gets the job done, in a methodical manner. Afterwards he didnt want thanks or appreciation, he felt he was just doing his duty. But he also does the same thing in regards to Mr Bingley and Jane. He decided his best friend is in danger of marrying a gold-digger who doesn't actually love him. He thinks he can "fix" the issue, and does so in a seeming emotionless and methodical manner. He doesn't ask for input or advice, and just assumes he's right. He felt he was doing his duty for his friend. Is this an autistic trait? Is this just Mr Darcy being high handed? Is it both? I'm not sure. Let me know!

[@teawithcassiane8431]

Anecdotally among my Autistic friends, some of us have noticed we can turn off our emotions when we're really concentrating on a task. It's not a conscious decision. It just happens. People are sometimes amazed at my ability to be "cool under fire" but sometimes I come off as cold and clinical. So yeah, it's definitely something I've noticed.

[@zazubombay]

Very insightful! I was always a little confused about why Mr. Darcy left Elizabeth without a word about seeing her again after hearing about Lydia.

[@shelbymachado8712]

My friend and I are both neurodivergent and our FB chat to one another entitles each of us as "Awkward Darcy" and "Slightly Less Awkward Darcy" so this video is a treasure.

[@emmasloan4868]

Other autistic traits: generous and protective of those he loves; he doesn't see the point in adhering to arbitrary hierarchies (He treats his household staff like family; his main complaint about both Wickham and the Bennett family was actually their behavior and not their relative station--Austen provides Caroline Bingley's actual snobbish remarks as a contrast to his in this regard); cares about justice and doing the right thing; has trouble taking responsibility for the negative impact of his actions if he believes his motives were justified (e.g. when Lizzy charges him with breaking Jane's heart) Thanks so much for making this. I'm going to use it in the future when I want people to understand the ways we autistics are misunderstood by society. Mr. Darcy makes a really great concrete example of how people showing autistic traits can be badly misjudged and in turn misjudge others, and lots of people are familiar with at least an adaptation of P&P.

[@teawithcassiane8431]

Yes, definitely for the extreme generosity and loyalty to people they love! These are all great points! I love it.

[@DaisyNinjaGirl]

I totally agree with you about Mr Darcy - Austen has a *lot* of characters with spectrumy traits, but he's the number one. But actually, I really feel that Miss Jane is there for us. The whole way through, she's pointing out what people say about themselves, and then what they do, and why, and spelling out the motivations for people who find people as peculiar as she does. I only just found your channel - are you planning on a video on Jane Eyre? She's got the big savage feelings, and the obsession with books and art to guard herself from awkward situations, and the whole first act is about how she gets thrown out of Mrs Reed's house because she's a poor relation who can't manage to be engaging enough to earn her keep; and she only really opens up to someone enough to fall in love when she gets to Thornfield and she has fewer people in her life to track. (Plus, her cousin St John, is quite... determined to get his own way over things that shouldn't be a huge deal.)

[@lalas181]

This was _so_ not the point of the video, nor of the character I'm talking about, but... Y'all, I think maybe Inspector Javert has Autistic behaviors. The one about "super-strict adherence to rules" just _clicked_ this in my head. I'm gonna have to consume like _all_ the Les Mis stuff now to try and puzzle this. Legit I think I've figured out why I'm so attached to the character now! And from a video about Mr. freakin' Darcy, somehow! You're a genius! edit: _I JUST REMEMBERED THAT JAVERT ALSO HAS TROUBLE WITH LYING IN THE BOOK FROM WHAT I KNOW._ He also takes Valjean at his word on not being Valjean because he's been given no reason to think he's being lied to, even though Valjean is very much himself.

[@kimquinn7728]

Brilliant! I loved Philip Quant as Janet. My favorite.

[@EmoBearRights]

It makes Javert even more tragic and makes sense of why he can't adapt his moral code when confronted with contradictions and nuance.

[@DariuszotkaMU]

Not only was I amazed by the contents of your video, but also by how little cuts it had. It looks almost like a one take. You have prepared your narration like a professional TV presenter.

[@zazubombay]

Agreed. Awesome work!

[@phyllisferguson8734]

Thank-you for your excellent and enjoyable presentation on this topic. As a speech language pathologist I realized a number of years ago that there was an overlap of traits between some of my clients and some of the characters whom Austen had created two centuries earlier. You may find it interesting to read my book "So Odd A Mixture: Along the Autistic Spectrum in 'Pride and Prejudice'" which was published in 2007 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

[@ForestCraftLore]

Loved this! Have you seen the Queen's Gambit? I can see some traits in Beth!

[@acutee2]

I love this! My big brother is on the spectrum and we have discussed Mr. Darcy is this way since we were in high school. Thanks.

[@katheller4982]

Oh my God! I never thought about it. It is so obvious now! Great analysis!

[@flibbertygibbette]

So many of these overlap with many ADHD brains! Difficulty with small talk, social awkwardness, relational difficulties, etc. I just discovered your videos and hope you end up making more.

[@lilith3953]

there is controversy in psychiatry about weather or not ADHD should be seen as part of the autistic spectrum or not (it isn't according to the DSM). Also about 80% of people on the autistic spectrum also have ADHD.

[@bookmouse2719]

I love how you imitate Mr. Darcy...:-) You never mentioned the first movie P & P with Sir Laurence Olivie ...I know the costumes were off, but they had dancing in it.

[@teawithcassiane8431]

Laurence Olivier is my Favorite Golden-Age actor, so of course I've seen that version (meh). I actually am making a video on it for my Pride and Prejudice series. I have notes written and everything. I teach Victorian ballroom dancing as well IRL, so that version was particularly interesting to me.

[@rae3781]

Hi! I just stumbled upon your channel and I saw this and I was like, "Another autistic person who has an interest in classic literature and relates to Mr. Darcy? Yes."

[@myragroenewegen5426]

I'm laughing, but this points to why I often find fluffy romantic-comedy chick flick movies and such incredibly stressful to watch. I'm on the spectrum struggle with uncertainty about balancing enjoying socializing with not sticking my foot in my mouth. Because it's so worrying to me that I might blow something and not know it, It's hard not to worry for anyone I see heading for the social suicide zone, even if I know they are a flimsily-written character in a light-hearted movie. It's just a cleche of romance fiction to make people unaware of their own romantic feelings and those of others and have them present in seemingly heartless ways, when they, in fact are well-meaning. How better to give the reader a privileged perspective on main characters, or manufacture conflict? Although he is the prototypical knight in shining armour, nobody wants to be Mr Darcy. He misreads Wickham, who bleeds him dry and threatens his sister, then he misreads the love of his life for the duration of the plot that we read. There's no end of shame when you suspect you're your own worst enemy. Poor guy -- he can't get a break!

[@VideoSaySo]

You would enjoy Lost in Austen...it's absolutely hilarious and the way the character Amanda is so out of place in comparison to the others around her, the first time I watched it I thought about my son...who has a few little social...things....lol. I think you'd be quite amused by it. To me, the Darcy in Lost in Austen is the best Darcy out of every Darcy that's ever graced the cinema! It's really lighthearted and you meet WIckham and Mr. Collins within two minutes of each other...both of them are something else! They cast it so well and Hugh Bonneville is a hilarious Mr. Bennet. I always suggest it to Jane Austen fans. They make references to other Austen works and it's one of those movies where something is going on in the background. let me know what you think afterwards if you watch it or even if you've seen it before...it's one of my absolute favorite movies but not many people have seen it. You can watch it here on KZbin...I downloaded it from here so I have my own copy! Lol!

[@zazubombay]

But Mr. Darcy DOES get a break, that's the beauty of it. In the end he gets the love of his life! This was because he was honest and showed Elizabeth who he really is (highly intelligent, trustworthy, loyal) through the channels that worked for him best other than social discourse-- writing (his letter after the proposal) and actions (saving Lydia). I don't think it would be so bad to be Mr. Darcy! Austen shows us that even though socially adept people succeed initially (WIckham) they don't necessarily receive a happy life.

[@myragroenewegen5426]

@@VideoSaySo thanks for the tip! Will watch!

[@myragroenewegen5426]

@@zazubombay Can't read after the break in this comment. But what I mean is that he does SO darn much failing in all his life quests here before anything succeeds and the way he's striving for love is a common romance lit pattern and supposed to be romantic, by prolonging the suspense. I'm not saying it doesn't work and give catharsis to some extent, but, to the extent that people have real pain from real consistent awkwardness and the fear of it, the pain of that same journey as a writing choice can smart regardless of happy endings, and endings don't solve the cost of those fears, those inordinate paranoid efforts, the entrenched distrust of self and others that comes from worrying about being "that guy (girl)" in a room. As a convention, I'm not sure there's enough awareness of that.

[@ricktownend9144]

Very many thanks for your usual perceptive and entertaining analysis. So many people agreeing with you - me too! I expect JA had many male acquaintances of the type to draw on - and there must have been at least one that she liked, as she has given Darcy a very good character as to the 'important' things. She also has made him very well-off ('odd' people who are rich are just eccentric, those at the bottom of the social scale get less attractive epithets). Do you think, in view of the universal acceptance of your thesis, that the next P&P edition should be entitled "Autism and Prejudice"?

[@passiert1027]

I've honestly never thought of Darcy in this light, but it's so clear!

[@zuzatrelove]

I'm so happy that I found this. I study special education and rehabilitation AND I love Jane Austin. Thank you for this interesting video!

[@elizabethdrz3953]

Wow, I loved this discussion and could relate to a lot of this. Have you read the book, ‘So Odd a Mixture: Along the Autistic Spectrum of Pride and Prejudice’? If not, I’d recommend it. My favorite line from that book is one I have put on my wall as inspiration to help me try to talk with others when they talk with me even when it is challenging: “Failing to converse with others weakens the sense of communal life. If we do not share some of our thoughts and feelings, others feel held at a distance, so an opportunity to create more of the myriad threads that weave us together is lost.” Thank you for sharing this video.

[@PaperbackWizard]

I loved reading "Pride & Prejudice" in high school. I loved how Darcy seemed to thrive on his "battles of wits" with Elizabeth, even when they "weren't getting along". I was confused when Jane Austen wrote him as being so standoffish in public but so...warm and friendly at home. After I was diagnosed as autistic (when I was much, much older) and I started revisiting the character, I realized how much both of those things made sense. If a girl had challenged me mentally like Lizzie challenged Darcy, I probably would have fallen for her, too, and been just as stunned as Darcy was when he realized that it *wasn't* a sign that Lizzie liked him back. And of course now it makes perfect sense that he's much more open and relaxed in private than in public. So, yes, I absolutely headcanon him as autistic.

[@PaperbackWizard]

Another character I've come to see as autistic is Gadget Hackwrench from "Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers". She hyperfocuses on inventions, obviously, and is very confident when it comes to things she knows a lot about, but is very "spacey" when it comes to making decisions about other things. She's also very empathetic towards others, which I was saddened to learn is *not* seen as an autistic trait. (It totally is, though.)

[@MADEbySOUL]

Out of all the Pride and Prejudice, I always joked that I would be Fitzwilliam Darcy instead of any of the Bennet sisters.

[@fishstick7104]

I hear "neurodivergence in literature" and instantly- LIKE! I must SUBSCRIBE! Thank you for talking about neurodivergence! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@royalpython1736]

I'm on the spectrum myself, I often rely on others to tell me when I've said something wrong (I often ask people I'm close with to kindly correct me, so I can learn). Whether they know I'm on the spectrum or not. I think because of his wealth and high status the majority of people will not correct him for rudeness. Another thing, I myself am sometimes aware of social conventions I just don't follow them. At least the stupid ones. I think Mr. Darcy does a little bit of this too.

[@khbgvc]

… Everything makes so much sense now. That is a brilliant breakdown of Mr. Darcys character. When I was a kid I was obsessed with The Last Unicorn. Unicorn gets turned into a woman in the course of her quest to free all the other unicorns and she has to like learn how to act like a human. She avoids talking to the prince and they never physically touch and they fall in love when he’s teaching her to ding duets with him to help her forget the nightmares she’s having about the more harrowing parts of the quest that happened earlier in the book. In the very beginning of her being a woman she dispells the magic of a wizard who’s upset about being basically fired from his job and she just quietly does it without saying anything to anyone. The king who is holding the other unicorns prisoner says he can’t see himself in her eyes. As if shes staring past him instead of looking into his eyes. The Unicorn also has a friend who she asks for help in how to deal with the prince trying to court her. He kills a dragon to try to impress her and she just glares at him without saying anything. Because dragons are fellow magical creatures. I always related to the unicorn a lot but never thought of any of the traits as being autistic before.

[@e.urbach7780]

What an interesting take on literary analysis! Now, I'm thinking of all sorts of characters from literature: Jane Eyre or Mr. Rochester? Miss Deborah Jenkins from _Cranford_? Dorothea Brooke in _Middlemarch_?

[@teawithcassiane8431]

Dorothea - definitely! Jane Eyre is some flavor of neurodivergent for sure. I need to go back and re-read Cranford now, because it's been over a decade, and I don't remember much.

[@ourladyofthemountainashlan4837]

@@teawithcassiane8431 I am reading Middlemarch, and I actually had this thought about Mr. Casaubon, Dorothea's husband.

[@madshorn5826]

And from more modern literature I can think of Lisbeth Salander from Stieg Larsson's "The girl with the dragon tattoo" and Murderbot from Martha Wells' "All systems red". Murderbot is SO cute and relatable :-)

[@TheSamistarkey]

I was also thinking of Gaskell's Mr. Thornton in "North and South" - the miniseries doesn't show as many of those traits as the novel does, but his focus on all Margaret's little faux pas, and his tendency to literally argue with people's jokes, even when on some level he recognizes they're joking, all read on the spectrum to me.

[@annlidslot8212]

Hi, Thank you for this and thank you all in the comments. I'm the wife of a man on the spectrum, not so it's debilitating but is there no less. I'm also the aunt to two nephews that are on the spectrum in a very debilitating way and may never be able to become independent. This has given me more insight into the world that I'm not in. Stepping away from a messed up fringe on a rug without straighten it has taken me years of training though, but that is a different discussion. My husband could be Mr Darcy, and I've often sympathized with Lizzie, in the books. Even her relationship with her father is somewhat similar to ours. Yours, Ann

[@p1rgit]

why should one step away from a messed up fringe on a rug without straighten it? i do it all the time, straightening, that is, esp. when there's real danger that somebody will trip on it and never thought twice about it; why i shouldn't do this? no big deal - or is it? :) (generally i am not very tidy but some things are just meant to be - rugs are not meant to be messy.)

[@annlidslot8212]

@@p1rgit Hi, Well, In my life it would be going from rug to rug all day and not get anything else done. I completely agree that the natural state of a rug, is with the fringe is every single stand parallel to the to the next just like the gods of floor covers intended😊. Yours, Ann

[@p1rgit]

@@annlidslot8212 oh... sorry, my comment was many hours past midnight my time and i think i misunderstood fringe for edge or corner or whatev is outermost part of a carpet. fringe actually is those... strands fixed to carpet by one end, right? :) and when messy, well... i'd still like to straighten them but also can understand why not everyone is happy when i get busy with their carpet instead of ... smth they consider normal, and why one sometimes has to force onself to step away from this enjoyable occupation of getting fringe straight.

[@annlidslot8212]

@@p1rgit Hi, Don't worry about it. Thank you for understanding my decision to try to unlearn that behavior. Some people are a bit strange and can't understand why you want to spend all that time combing their carpet. I still have to close my eyes when crossing a floor or I'll be there for the next nobody knows how long. Yours, Ann

[@upperroomprints]

Good video and is definitely head canon for me now. I've always been a huge Jane Austen fan (name my son after her) and Pride and Prejudice is my favorite of her work. I wonder if she knew someone that had similar traits as Mr. Darcy and that was the inspiration for the character. The traits are so spot on (I'm on the spectrum as well).

[@user-xh4os4sx1v]

I am amazed that despite the definition of your disruptive, intrusive mind you can master its quirks by the application of your overriding interests. One could say you are brave but actually you are adventurous and put your nemesis in its place. Keep it going, the beautiful mind syndrome.

[@OstblockLatina]

If I was given a penny for each time my shyness, awkwardness and social phobias were taken for rudeness or hostility and in result had people judge and get prejudiced against me, I could've retired at 40. On Seychelles. It's infinitely awful how one's Autism Spectrum works like a snowball against people with it. Now I am not officially diagnosed, but I have my very many and very serious suspicions and I've definitely had a lot of its symptomes ever since I can remember. In case of Darcy, or any other men who suffer from crippling shyness, especially if they live in times and places where men have to act macho and not express their feelings, their shyness and insecurity in social situations is absolutely doomed to be read as hostility and lead to their vilification.

[@Aurelia2147]

I love this video! Could you make one about Jane Eyre? I used to relate to her a lot as a teenager 😊

[@teawithcassiane8431]

She's on my list! I want to do a lot of female characters because neurodivergent women are so under-represented in media!

[@Aurelia2147]

@@teawithcassiane8431 Totally agree and sounds like an amazing idea!

[@amandaboody5855]

I wish the music were not so loud. It was distracting from your excellent presentation. I was unable to finish it.

[@teawithcassiane8431]

Thanks for the feedback! I will make the music quieter for future videos. In the meantime would you like me to post a transcript of this episode for you?

[@amandaboody5855]

@@teawithcassiane8431 Yes! I love it when there are transcripts!

[@andiew.3657]

i only recently realized im autistic and i related to ALL the examples you gave of mr darcy!! A+ video!!!!

[@Erlrantandrage]

Headcanon accepted...also Mr. Bingley is his ADHD friend because every ADHD person needs an Autistic friend they can be real with (speking from my own ADHD experience)

[@maryeckel9682]

Yes!

[@RoxieRHeart]

This was so much fun to watch, thank you for making this

[@KierTheScrivener]

I love this! Thank you 💕

[@suonatar1]

As for #5 - His literal responses: I thought you're going to speak about the scene, where Bingley says, he could spend his entire life in the country, and Darcy chimes in "You would?" But then I remembered the scene which you mentioned, with Sir Lucas and that one was way funnier. 😆👍

[@upclosebyilhaan2946]

this video was a lovely reminder to complete my annual rereading of the novel before the new year! 2020 has been so wild I almost forgot

[@liaschug]

I never thought about this, but totally make sense! Love your video-essay, thank you!

[@charlesjohnson9879]

Outstanding analysis. Well done!

[@albatechnique]

Well done, Ms. Cassianne; thank you!

[@sakura_mw]

This really fits and was a new way for me to assess Mr. Darcy as a character - I will be keeping this in mind next time I read Pride and Prejudice. Subscribed 😄

[@foreststream818]

Loved this analysis. I think you are spot on!

[@beetorstevie]

You are brilliant and this is fascinating. Thanks!

[@johnpepple3456]

Very insightful. Thanks.

[@kimquinn7728]

Really enjoyable and understandable. Thanks so much!

[@chriseleuterius]

Thank you, Cassiane. My son is autistic. I shared your video with him and he loved it.

[@eleanormccarthy2713]

Thanks! This was very helpful.

[@shelbymachado8712]

I love the nuance you approached this with. Wonderful video.

[@moniMoni-rx2cd]

Very educational! I really enjoyed your video. More please!

[@margaretmorris2944]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@nocomment2468]

Thanks for the vid, this was a very interesting interpretation.

[@AndrewWyld]

I really enjoyed this! I can't think of a specific character I want to hear about, but I would love to hear about a character in Dickens, if you have one that interests you? In particular, I remember reading several Dickens novels after having read some Oliver Sacks books and thinking that Dickens had created recognisable types that you might find in one of Sacks's romantic case histories; Dickens also wrote very sympathetically of visiting and talking with people in asylums. Again, I have no particular character in mind, but if you do, I would love to hear about that.

[@adapollock294]

Looking forward to your next video!

[@jackfruth3738]

Love your work, watch your audio balance. Make sure your background music doesnt drown out your well written speech. Subbed!

[@theladybaltimore]

Wow, that was really insightful!! Thanks. I really enjoyed it. :-)

[@roxanne533]

What a great video. Thank you.

[@Hadas1976]

INFJs hate small talk because he is an introvert. Introverts hate it because they feel stress of not knowing what to say next and feeling stress and resposibility to fill the void but being in blackout state of mind while at it. I am myself an INFJ, have been in this situation a lot of times especially in social events with strangers you feel you need to impress but do the complete opposite when you choke on your words.

[@nicoleheymannweltgestalter]

I just saw your channel and subscribed right away :) My sister has autism in combination with other disabilities, and I exhibited "autistic traits" as a child. I always thought of Darcy as the misunderstood shy guy, and I related to him as partly autistic. Thank you for your analysis, it was very insightful :)

[@NedaMonshi]

That clears many things.

[@paysonmarosarioronquillo8229]

This video made my day Thank you

[@Iyad46gamer]

Oh gosh! I too thought that Elizabeth was flirting with him by teasing... I imagined myself in her place when he first proposed and I couldn't see why she was angry, because I thought he was laying the foundations, getting the facts out of the way in order to reach the core (emotions).

[@rd6203]

This is awesome. I've been wanting this to happen for years

[@meghanthestorygirl4581]

This was awesome!

[@mslauriedarlin]

This is a great video! Not only did I learn so much about Mr. Darcy and his interactions with Elizabeth, but I learned so much about autistic people/traits...so informative...thank you...👏🏼 BRAVO BRAVO! 👏🏼

[@canterlevi]

I think you can be neuro-typical and display many of these traits as well. Excellent and compelling essay!

[@Teej39]

Excellent explanation that gives some key insight to people with autism spectrum disorders. It's one thing to read about symptoms and diagnoses, it's something else entirely to hear it described in a well known and loved literary character.

[@elmirasmiscellaneous1129]

And this is the video that helped me realize I am autistic! Thank you so much.

[@camy1702]

Wonderful talk. Very informative and eye opening. Makes me reconsider so much of my opinion of D'Arcy.

[@SeasonsChange14]

Perceptive and intriguing. You clearly know the novel well and your perspective is fascinating. My adult son, very bright, is on the spectrum, and your comments ring true with regard to him. Thank you for educating us about this!

[@juliehodgkinson478]

So interesting! If Jane Austen wrote based on keen observation as I'd assume then I'd be curious about Lady Catherine de Bourgh. If her character and behaviours might be seen within a similar framework.

[@Barzins1]

Very very interesting. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@polkadot8788]

I've thought this for so long about Darcy becauseof all the points you mentioned...and I totally understand Darcy's point of view.

[@ZackRekeSkjell]

Very interesting video and concept! I always thought of Darcy as reserved and cold because of his wealth and his family. It seems to me that he is used to people just being interested in him because of his money and that he cares little for something so superficial. Also the fact that his sister has been used and he doesn't want that to happen to himself as well.

[@belindamay8063]

I think that you are entirely right. The autistic theory doesn’t quite cover the facts. We have to remember the knowledge, experience and ‘givens’ that Austen shared with her readers. Certain things were understood between them that are not immediately available to us in the 21st C. Unless we are social historians. Apart from all that you would have to explain, or infer, a number of significant facts. First, the Pemberley housekeeper’s deep affection for him since he was a boy - incompatible with the autistic analysis. Second, Lizzie’s honest love for him [she would not love the Darcy as described above. Nor would she love him for his generosity alone.] Third, his ‘changed behaviour at Pemberley, was quite fundamental. Autistic people do not change their character. If you understand his motivation, his behaviour is less mysterious. Modern readers don’t generally see that he was very young. Very early 20s I would say. One might suspect a degree of PTS. His almost insanely over-protective attitude to the naive Bingley is a clue. Darcy had lost his beloved father, and only mentor, leaving him with a huge estate, one of the largest in the North. The responsibilities were awesome, Austen and her readers would appreciate that. Not just money but dozens of tenant families dependent on his good management. Then he failed to protect his beloved sister - through inattention. The biggest trauma of the lot. He needed to grow up very, very fast, with no-one to turn to. Then there was the massive business of fending off ambitious mothers who would have had him in their sights since he was a boy and were ready to pounce. It was simply overwhelming. He trusted no-one, and was struggling with self-mastery. His failure with Georgiana was the key to his bossiness with Bingley whom he loved as a brother. He was sexually inexperienced. His extreme misogyny was understandable - all these greedy women, the dancing the parties. All socialising was a trap. He lost his judgment due to his state of mind. But only temporarily. Lizzie’s tirade woke him up from his bad dream.It was genuine native sympathy that caused him to save Lydia, not a simple desire to thrash Wickham. The change in his outlook was dramatic. His social conversation changed completely. At Pemberley he was empathetic with the Gardners, humble and eager for friendship. He had found his true self again. That is not autism.

[@angelwhispers2060]

I'm so happy that I found this channel in my recent obsession with Jane Austen because I now completely understand why I am just a poor female version of Darcy. Everyone assumes that when I bother to get dressed up and go out that I'm the richest person in the room no matter what I'm doing even though my bank account would very much like to disagree with that assumption. I took every opportunity possible to learn etiquette classes and figure out behavioral cues through therapy when I was growing up cuz I was diagnosed when I was only 12. And it seems like this comment section is completely full of female Darcy's also and it's completely gratifying to me that I am not alone in this.

[@Scotistani]

Absolutely enlightening ...I never looked at Austen’s characters from this perspective ...I wish we had a Cassiane in my country too..There is serious lack of autism awareness and no support services especially for autistic adults...

[@williamharveyhayes-arttalk5887]

Thank you.