Age
Darcy says he would have been spoiled “from eight to eight and twenty,” if not for Lizzy, also telling us how old he is by the end of the novel. Presumably, he’s only 27 at the beginning.
Family and Situation
Fitzwilliam Darcy is the son of Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne Darcy and the brother of Georgiana Darcy. This means he’s also the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the Earl of ---- and the first cousin of Anne de Bourgh, Col. Fitzwilliam and at least one other Fitzwilliam brother. We also know that Darcy has a great uncle who was a judge whose portrait is hanging at Pemberley, the ancestral home (more on this below).
Much of the information we are given about the immediate Darcy family actually comes from George Wickham who grew up alongside Darcy as the son of the Pemberley steward and has a tendency to lie and misrepresent. Wickham insists that Darcy has “a thorough, determined dislike of [him] -- a dislike which [he] cannot but attribute in some measure to jealously,” even going to say that Darcy has “not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which [they] stood.” Though we do ultimately discover that Darcy has more immediate reasons for this dislike, we never rule out conclusively that there is some early jealousy about Mr. Darcy’s affections. We do know that Darcy refers to his own father as “Mr. Darcy” what explaining past events to Elizabeth and that he does explicitly state that there were traits of Wickham’s of which Mr. Darcy was unaware, though he cites age as the primary reason, rather than a preference for a favorite. In Darcy’s large portrait, he’s smiling in a way that Lizzy’s only ever seen him do whilst looking at her; Mrs. Reynolds says it was taken during his father’s lifetime; this leads the reader to believe that, despite other issues, Darcy was essentially a happier man when his father was living than he’s been for the past few years.
Darcy says of his own upbringing “As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own.” We’re given almost no information about Darcy’s relationship with his mother specifically. We know, though, that he had to be at least 11 when she died, so he certainly would have known her and Lady Catherine insists that she and her sister Lady Anne plotted a marriage between their children.
Darcy has custody of his younger sister Georgiana, which is shared with his cousin Colonel Fitzwiliam. By the beginning of the novel, Darcy is very protective of his sister, though it’s unclear whether this closeness is longstanding or a result of events which occurred at Ramsgate. In his letter to Elizabeth, Darcy says that Georgiana “almost looked up to [him] as a father” due to their age gap of “more than ten years.” We also know that Darcy buys her a new instrument shortly before they remove to Pemberley and that he already has hopes that Georgiana and and Darcy's friend Charles Bingley will ultimately marry. It’s unclear why Fitzwilliam, the younger son, has custody instead of his brother but he and Darcy are at least friendly enough to tease each other a bit, brag about exploits and visit their difficult relatives together, based on what we see at Hunsford.
The Darcy family estate is Pemberley House which, everyone seems to know, brings in at least £10,000 per anum which even Wickham agrees with. We also know from a conversation between Darcy and Sir William Lucas that he has a house in town, which, given the period, would almost certainly be in Mayfair. Caroline Bingley tells Jane Bennet that Darcy was planning to refurnish this London house in December, after the Netherfield Ball, though it’s never clear if this actually happens or whether Caroline made it up. Charlotte Collins either knows or suspects that Darcy has “considerable patronage in the church” and actively cultivates the Collins’ relationship with Darcy towards the end of the novel in our to forward her husband’s career.
Other Connections
Though not a family member per se, George Wickham has had a major influence on Darcy’s family life. Wickham says that they “were born in the same parish, within the same part” and that “the greatest part of [their] youth was passed together; inmates of the same house, sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care;” Wickham later implies that Darcy was constantly jealous of the attention from Mr. Darcy that Wickham's jovial manners were able to attract. We can guess that Darcy went to Cambridge alongside Wickham (though we’re never told as much explicitly) and we know that by this time Darcy would have begun to realize Wickham’s habits were not well-suited to the church. This issue comes to the fore when both men’s fathers die and Wickham initially opts to study the law (for which Darcy gives him £3,000) though later comes back and demands a living about two years prior to the beginning of the novel. Darcy again encounters Wickham in the summer before the novel as he’s attempting to elope with Georgiana.
After the Lydia Bennet affair, we know that Darcy shells out £1,000 to cover Wickham’s debts, another £1,000 to settle on Lydia, plus the purchase of a commission and occasional assistance later in life for the sake of their wives. In contrast to the openness with which Wickham discusses the relationship, Darcy is often pretty cagey about this relationship. That said, Bingley is able to tell Jane that the living was left to Wickham “conditionally only,” suggesting that at least some of the particulars have been explained. We’re told of the whole Ramsgate affair “To no creature had it been revealed, where secrecy was possible, except to Elizabeth.”
Appearance
At the Meryton Assembly, Darcy is first apprised to be a “fine, tall person” with “handsome features” and a “noble mien”. Bingley later reiterates this, describing Darcy as “a great tall fellow.” We also know he resembles his sister, though he’s more handsome than she is.
Character
Darcy’s character is first described to us by the narrator set in contrast to that of his friend Charles Bingley. Of Bingley, we’re told “Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offense.” This description is born out in his first several scenes; he manages the offend the entire Meryton Assembly when he is “discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased,” leading the locals to insist that “not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance.” We’re also told much later in the novel that Darcy had formed a plan to set up Bingley with Georgiana and that “it is probable that it might add something to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend.”
We know that this impression is not unique to the Meryton Assembly. Darcy seems to have a tenuous relationship with the ladies and specifically says that he hates to dance with women who he doesn’t know particularly well, reinforced later when he avoids dancing at Lucas Lodge. Later on, in the context of ladies employing arts for attracting a spouse, he even goes so far as to say that “Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable”. While all of this is understood by his friends and family, it’s likely that the empty conversationalists of high society do not know what to make of him.
Further insights into Darcy’s character, however, suggests that this may stem more from discomfort around people. Bingley tells Jane that Darcy never speaks much unless he’s with intimate acquaintances (with whom he is remarkably agreeable). Darcy says of himself “I certainly have not the talent which some people possess...of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done," and while contemplating his strange silences at Hunsford, Charlotte concludes that “Colonel Fitzwilliam's occasionally laughing at his stupidity, proved that he was generally different, which her own knowledge of him could not have told her”. This is supported by the eventual revelation that Darcy is much more relaxed at Pemeberley. We’re told that when he talks to Lizzy his accent had none of its “usual sedateness” and Mrs. Gardiner notes “There is something a little stately in him, to be sure...but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming” she later adds “he is not so handsome as Wickham; or, rather, he has not Wickham's countenance, for his features are perfectly good” and that “there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks. And there is something of dignity in his countenance that would not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart.” Mrs. Reynolds, who may well know him best, says “He is...not like the wild young men nowadays, who think of nothing but themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but will give him a good name. Some people call him proud; but I am sure I never saw anything of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away like other young men.”
A number of characters testify to Darcy’s kindness and generosity, as do many of his own actions over the course of the book. Mrs. Reynolds says “I have never known a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever since he was four years old...If I were to go through the world, I could not meet with a better [master]. But I have always observed, that they who are good-natured when children, are good-natured when they grow up; and he was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world,” later adding that as a master, he “will be just like [his father] -- just as affable to the poor”.
All of this aside, Darcy certainly does have a healthy self-respect and even pride in his name, reputation and achievements. He insists that “To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either [the yielder or the person asking them to do so].." Later on, after haggling over who will pay for the Wickhams, Mrs. Gardiner quips that “obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all.” Wickham says that Darcy’s pride “has often led him to be liberal and generous, to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor. Family pride, and filial pride—for he is very proud of what his father was—have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also brotherly pride, which, with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers."
Despite how refined Darcy seems to be, he has bad moments as well; overall, though, he tends to be ashamed of these lapses. At the end of the novel, Darcy is concerned that his letter to Elizabeth was written in “dreadful bitterness of spirit” and hopes that she will burn it. Even Bingley tells us that “I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, when he has nothing to do;” in response to which Darcy pretends to be amused but Lizzy thinks he is really offended.
All of these traits come to the fore as Darcy courts and eventually marries Elizabeth Bennet. Initially, he says very little to her, leaving her to think of him as an “acute and unembarrassed...observer” which Charlotte more charitably thinks of as an “an earnest, steadfast gaze.” Darcy seems, throughout, to think that he’s sending clear messages about his preference, which Elizabeth consistently does not interpret to mean that he approves of her. Among other things, he seems to think she has the potential to achieve things beyond her sphere; Lizzy observes “that in speaking of Rosings and her not perfectly understanding the house, he seemed to expect that whenever she came into Kent again she would be staying there too” but she doesn’t know what to make of it at the time. Darcy also assumes that she’s traveled more widely than Hertfordshire, suggesting that he’s aware of his cosmopolitan lifestyle and can’t conceive of how a country girl would interest him unless she weren’t really a country girl. By the end of the novel, Mrs. Gardiner writes “His behaviour to us has, in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him very sly;—he hardly ever mentioned your name.”
Habits and Hobbies
Superficially, we have some information about Darcy’s habits. Caroline Bingley tells us that Darcy is “always buying books” to which Darcy responds “I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.” We also see him reading several times at Netherfield and he praises Elizabeth for improving her mind through reading. We do see Darcy play loo at Netherfield in a game where Lizzy is fairly sure they’re “playing high”, so it’s likely he does gamble occasionally. Mrs. Reynolds tells us Darcy spends about half his year at Pemberley which may simply allude to his attention to estate matters or preference for minimal society, but may also indicate an interest in the countryside and outdoor pursuits. We do know he and the men in the Pemberley party go fishing with Mr. Gardiner and that Darcy hunts with the men at Netherfield.
