The Dating Game - Austen Style

...Swoon.

Whilst it seems that the language of romance today is simpler on first glance (consider, “He’s hot,” compared to, “Tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,”) is it really? It is doubtful that there is a single person out there, male or female, who has got to grips with the true meaning of seemingly casual phrases such as the infamous “I’ll call you,” (will you though?), “See you soon,” (how soon is soon?) and other deceptively ambiguous favourites of Cupid’s often misguided arrow. Throw suggestive text symbols such as ;-) and :-p in there, and we’ve no chance really.

In many ways it can be argued that men have it better now; there are very few women who would expect, or even allow, a man to pay for everything in this day and age. (Although guys, take note: the odd cinema ticket or pair of shoes here and there wouldn’t go amiss!) Skip back even 50 years and this was most probably not the case, as men would have been expected to foot the bill for the entire courtship. Furthermore, although to a lesser extent, men are no longer expected to make all the moves.

But whilst the crazy world of dating seems to have improved in many ways as a result of increasing gender equality, I cannot help but feel that we are sacrificing some of the finer things in life. Compare and contrast a lengthy, Austen-esque style courtship to the brief encounters of modern dating, and I know which one I’d prefer. The old adage that ‘Good things come to those who wait’ hasn’t yet failed to ring true.

There are very few women out there - and even fewer who are willing to admit it - who have not compared their man to the delightful Mr. Darcy at one point or another... Sorry modern men, but you have some very high expectations to live up to!

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