Pride & Prejudice

In Jane Austen's novel "Pride & Prejudice", Elizabeth has to choose among M. Colins, M. Wickham, and M. Darcy. M. Colins is a fine man with a very stable yet bland life. He represents convenience and practicality in life. In other words, not someone to get excited over or losing sleep for. On the other hand, M. Wickham is the charismatic and dashing handsome man. Smooth talking and the charmer, M. Wickham easily impresses everyone. Of course, as we eventually find out, M. Wickham is only an illusion and a façade with only words to show for. It is like those bridges in developing countries. Looks good at first, but after a couple of years, will depreciate quickly due to its lack of proper structural design.

Contrary to M. Wickham, M. Darcy lacks the charismatic persona. He seems cold and unfriendly initially, yet mysterious. But like a gift with a not so impressive wrapping, we find out that M. Darcy is someone who is an absolutely sincere person. A gift full of good surprises. Not out to impress everyone with his wealth and with what he does to help others, M. Darcy is a genuine person, reflecting today's nice guys.

Regularly at work, we often are reviewed annually by management. My management claims that I am hard-working, trust-worthy, and a highly competent person??? Humanly speaking they say, never change, for I am a sincerely appreciated for my personality? However, they say, I lack communicative and assertive skills to be in the spotlight, and should improve on that.

I have seen many assertive and communicative people throughout my career. Many have indeed evolve quite rapidly, and many of them, quite deservingly. It is true that with the flattening of the world, many of us need to acquire new skills to survive all the outsourcing and offshoring that is happening today. Does that mean we need to be self-promoting and show-offs to evolve in this constantly changing world? For all the Wickhams of the world, people eventually find out the truth one day, and come to appreciate all the Darcies around.

In the end, our dear Elizabeth, in Jane Austen's famous novel "Pride & Prejudice", chooses the sincere and romantic guy over convenience and illusion. Who says nice guys never win?