Elise, I think you are correct about Mr. Darcy. There is a character that a man can aspire to in reality. Sure, he was silent and brooding, but his character, like you said, was honest, humble, and full of integrity. There is no character in the world that I love AND respect more than Mr. Darcy. He is intense with his emotions, but in a responsible, silent way. He loves with his whole heart, he is endlessly kind to those who are kind, and will carry the burden of anger to those who deserve it. But still, throughout the book, he makes mistakes. Elizabeth is there to help point out those mistakes. Just as Elizabeth makes mistakes, and he is there to set her straight. What a glorious example of a relationship and how two people can make the other better, not just to themselves, but to those around them, simply by loving each other.