Jane Austen discussion

I have been thinking about this lately, while re-reading all Austen novels for the Nth time.
Seriously just for fun. What do you think is Darcy's zodiac sign and Elizabeth's? All the others? Maybe ascendants could be added? :)
As far as I can remember, only Fanny's birthmonth (July - she must be Cancer, surely!) and Anne's birthday (beginning of August, so she is a Leo) is actually mentioned by Austen.
I am posting a few suggestions, but feel free to differ. I would be glad to know your opinion and discuss it with you.
I would like to dicuss Pride and Prejudice characters - major and minor as well- first, and then switch to another novel...

For reference, I am currently using this site, but would be happy to check out anything else, if you can reccomend something better (I am sure, there are plenty).

http://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/

I am not that much into astrology and I am also undecided about most of the JA characters, however, I am pretty sure that Elizabeth (like JA herself is a SAGGITARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

Strengths: Generous, idealistic, great sense of humor

Weaknesses: Promises more than can deliver, very impatient, will say anything no matter how undiplomatic

Sagittarius likes: Freedom, travel, philosophy, being outdoors

Sagittarius dislikes: Clingy people, being constrained, off-the-wall theories, details

Curious and energetic, Sagittarius is one of the biggest travelers among all zodiac signs. Their open mind and philosophical view motivates them to wander around the world in search of the meaning of life.

Sagittarius is extrovert, optimistic and enthusiastic, and likes changes. Sagittarius-born are able to transform their thoughts into concrete actions and they will do anything to achieve their goals.

Like the other fire signs, Sagittarius needs to be constantly in touch with the world to experience as much as possible. The ruling planet of Sagittarius is Jupiter, the largest planet of the zodiac. Their enthusiasm has no bounds, and therefore people born under the Sagittarius sign possess a great sense of humor and an intense curiosity.

Freedom is their greatest treasure, because only then they can freely travel and explore different cultures and philosophies. Because of their honesty, Sagittarius-born are often impatient and tactless when they need to say or do something, so it's important to learn to express themselves in a tolerant and socially acceptable way.

Also, for me, Darcy reads like a "typical" Capricorn. (Dec 22 -
Jan 19)

Strengths: Responsible, disciplined, self-control, good managers

Weaknesses: Know-it-all, unforgiving, condescending, expecting the worst

Capricorn likes: Family, tradition, music, understated status, quality craftsmanship

Capricorn dislikes: Almost everything at some point

Capricorn is a sign that represents time and responsibility, and its representatives are traditional and often very serious by nature. These individuals possess an inner state of independence that enables significant progress both in their personal and professional lives. They are masters of self-control and have the ability to lead the way, make solid and realistic plans, and manage many people who work for them at any time. They will learn from their mistakes and get to the top based solely on their experience and expertise.

Belonging to the element of Earth , like Taurus and Virgo, this is the last sign in the trio of practicality and grounding. Not only do they focus on the material world, but they have the ability to use the most out of it. Unfortunately, this element also makes them stiff and sometimes too stubborn to move from one perspective or point in a relationship. They have a hard time accepting differences of other people that are too far from their character, and out of fear might try to impose their traditional values aggressively.

Saturn is the ruling planet of Capricorn, and this planet represents restrictions of all kinds. Its influence makes these people practical and responsible, but also cold, distant and unforgiving, prone to the feeling of guilt and turned to the past. They need to learn to forgive in order to make their own life lighter and more positive.

Capricorn – the Goat of Fear A goat with the tail of a fish is created to face fear and create panic. It is the sign of decisions made to be protected from monsters in our minds, lives, and immediate physical surrounding. Always ready to transform into something that scares those scary things off, Capricorn speaks of each natural chain reaction of fear, where one scary thing leads to many others, rising up as defensive mechanisms that only make things worse. Immersed in their secrecy, they face the world just as they are – brave enough to never run away, but constantly afraid of their inner monsters.

Ha ha - well before I even saw your choices my first thoughts were Elizabeth=Sagittarius and Darcy=Capricorn so I think you are spot on.

Great Minds think alike! :)

How about Bingley & Jane?

please add the month you are talking about thanks

Mrs wrote: "please add the month you are talking about thanks"
I have updated the relevant posts with the dates, as you suggested, Mrs.

I am more undecided about Bingley. For some time I considered him a Pisces, but on reconsideration, I think he fits more into the LIBRA (Sept 23- Oct 22) sign.

Strengths: Cooperative,diplomatic, gracious, fair-minded, social
Weaknesses: Indecisive, avoids confrontations, will carry a grudge, self-pity
Libra likes: Harmony, gentleness, sharing with others, the outdoors
Libra dislikes: Violence, injustice, loudmouths, conformity
People born under the sign of Libra are peaceful and fair, and they hate being alone. Partnership is very important for Libra -born, and with their victorious mentality and cooperation, they cannot stand to be alone. The Libra is an Air sign, with expressed intellect and a keen mind. They can be inspired by good books, insurmountable discussions and interesting people.
The ruling planet of Libra is Venus, who is a lover of beautiful things, so the quality is always more important than the quantity for people born under the Libra sign. They are often surrounded by art, music and beautiful places. They are cooperative by nature, so they often work in teams.
Libra is fascinated by the balance and symmetry. Libra-born prefer justice and equality, and they cannot tolerate injustice. They avoid indulging in all types of conflicts and prefer to keep the peace, where this is possible. They like to do everything in pairs and not alone.
The biggest problem for Libra-born, is when they are forced to choose sides, because they are very indecisive and sometimes they forget that they have their own opinion.

I am also not 100% sure about Jane, but I tend to cast her as a TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

Strengths: Reliable, patient, practical, devoted, responsible, stable
Weaknesses: Stubborn, possessive, uncompromising
Taurus likes: Gardening, cooking, music, romance, high quality clothes, working with hands
Taurus dislikes: Sudden changes, complications, insecurity of any kind, synthetic fabrics
Practical and well-grounded, Taurus is the sign that harvests the fruits of labor. They feel the need to always be surrounded by love and beauty, turned to the material world, hedonism, and physical pleasures. People born with their Sun in Taurus are sensual and tactile, considering touch and taste the most important of all senses. Stable and conservative, this is one of the most reliable signs of the zodiac, ready to endure and stick to their choices until they reach the point of personal satisfaction.

Taurus is an Earth sign, just like Virgo and Capricorn, and has the ability to see things from a grounded, practical and realistic perspective. They find it easy to make money and stay on same projects for years, or until they are completed. What we often see as stubbornness can be interpreted as commitment, and their ability to complete tasks whatever it takes is uncanny. This makes them excellent employees, great long-term friends and partners, always being there for people they love. Earthly note makes them overprotective, conservative, or materialistic at times, with views of the world founded on their love of money and wealth.

The ruler of Taurus is Venus, the planet of love, attraction, beauty, satisfaction, creativity and gratitude. This tender nature will make Taurus an excellent cook, gardener, lover, and artist. They are loyal and don't like sudden changes, criticism or the chase of guilt people are often prone to, being somewhat dependable on other people and emotions they seem to be unable to let go of. Still, no matter their potential emotional challenge, these individuals have the ability to bring a practical voice of reason in any chaotic and unhealthy situation.

I also thought Pisces for Bingley, maybe Gemini? Although I think Libra could fit too. Taurus or Libra for Jane.

What about Taurus for Charlotte?

Laurel, you are absolutely right. Charlotte cannot be anything else, but a Taurus.

This paragraph is spot-on for her:
Taurus is an Earth sign, just like Virgo and Capricorn, and has the ability to see things from a grounded, practical and realistic perspective. They find it easy to make money and stay on same projects for years, or until they are completed. What we often see as stubbornness can be interpreted as commitment, and their ability to complete tasks whatever it takes is uncanny. This makes them excellent employees, great long-term friends and partners, always being there for people they love. Earthly note makes them overprotective, conservative, or materialistic at times, with views of the world founded on their love of money and wealth.

Laurel wrote: "I also thought Pisces for Bingley, maybe Gemini? Although I think Libra could fit too. Taurus or Libra for Jane."

How about Pisces for Jane?

She seems to fit in well with the description below.

Pisces:
Strengths: Compassionate, artistic, intuitive, gentle, wise, musical
Weaknesses: Fearful, overly trusting, sad, desire to escape reality, can be a victim or a martyr
Pisces likes: Being alone, sleeping, music, romance, visual media, swimming, spiritual themes
Pisces dislikes: Know-it-all, being criticized, the past coming back to haunt, cruelty of any kind
Pisces are very friendly, so they often find themselves in a company of very different people. Pisces are selfless, they are always willing to help others, without hoping to get anything back.
Pisces is a Water sign and as such this zodiac sign is characterized by empathy and expressed emotional capacity.
Their ruling planet is Neptune, so Pisces are more intuitive than others and have an artistic talent. Neptune is connected to music, so Pisces reveal music preferences in the earliest stages of life. They are generous, compassionate and extremely faithful and caring.
People born under the Pisces sign have an intuitive understanding of the life cycle and thus achieve the best emotional relationship with other beings.
Pisces-born are known by their wisdom, but under the influence of Uranus, Pisces sometimes can take the role of a martyr, in order to catch the attention. Pisces are never judgmental and always forgiving. They are also known to be most tolerant of all the zodiac signs.

Yes, I could see that for her. But I think I'm leaning toward Libra.

Mr. Collins' sign? What say you?

He's a hard one. I might say Capricorn, but then we may have to reconsider Mr. Darcy! :-D

Tina wrote: "Mr. Collins' sign? What say you?"
:D certainly a challenge, but we'll come up with something.

If you lot say Aries, I'm jumping out a window. Never mind that I'm on the first floor. It's the thought that counts. LOL

No way. I am thinking Earth-signs. :)

Melindam wrote: "No way. I am thinking Earth-signs. :)"

Thank you. lol

Melindam wrote: "No way. I am thinking Earth-signs. :)"

Maybe he's just out of this world and has no sign. Or from that planet, Uranus. A Martian sent to earth to study humankind and pick up a few tips from Mr. Darcy.

Okay, I'm low on sleep hence all the above. lol Good night, luvs.

Completely agree, Tina. Mr Collins definitely deserves a Sign of his own. :)

Melindam wrote: "Completely agree, Tina. Mr Collins definitely deserves a Sign of his own. :)"

LOL

I agree with Elizabeth as Sagittarius and Darcy as Capricorn (my moon sign is Capricorn and I can see some similarities between us haha). Lydia strikes me as a Gemini and Wickham an Aries. Mr. Collins could be an Aquarius - they are very unique people.

I view Marianne Dashwood as a Leo and Elinor as a Virgo. Willoughby seems like a Taurus, Colonel Brandon a Pisces, and Edward Ferrars a Cancer.

I would say Mr Darcy is a Leo with a Capricorn ascendant/rising. "Leo and Capricorn share the same sense of duty and the same aristocratic vision of the world. They constantly strive to live up to expectations and to never disappoint because otherwise, they would resent it forever. Your Capricorn Ascendant projects the image of a loner which is often considered as misanthropy, rightly or wrongly. Moderation and detachment are the attributes of your Ascendant, and it is only when people get to know you better that they discover your chivalrous and warm traits, because Leo has a big heart and it can but be demonstrative."

It is important to grasp the difference between the Ascendant sign and the Sun sign. Unlike the Ascendant, the Sun sign refers to the deepest part of us which is more genuine but less accessible because it is meant for our friends and relatives only. That’s why Mrs Reynolds who has known Mr Darcy since he was 4 years old has a very different account of him to that of the people of Meryton for instance. “The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent, that it would be the death of half the good people in Meryton to attempt to place him in an amiable light.”

The zodiac part is extracted from this link: https://www.astrotheme.com/sign-and-a...

Thank you, Corinne for your insight. In this case, Darcy & I share the same sun sign (Leo) & ascendant (Capricorn), lol. My vanity is tickled by this comparison. :)

You make me laugh dear Melindam! Indeed, your vanity is rightly tickled ;)

My two cents..... Darcy-Scorpio with Leo Moon
Elizabeth-Sagittarius with Scorpio moon
Lydia- Virgo with Leo Rising
Mary-Sagittarius with Taurus moon
Jane-Pisces
Charles Bingley-Cancer
Caroline Bingley-Capricorn
Mr. Bennett-Aquarius
Mrs. Bennett-Aries

Thanks for the comment Dara.

Though I am no expert on astrology at all, however, in my opinion there is no way Lydia is "Virgo".
I think she is Gemini, not only because she's one of the very few characters whose birthmonth we are told by JA (June), but also because she doesn't possess either the more general traits of Virgos (Loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, practical, shyness, worry, overly critical of self and others, all work and no play).

Good insights! I agree, Gemini fits much better! Thanks!

Thanks David & Dara for your insight/suggestions. Food for thought indeex. :)

Here are my reasons for assigning some of the signs as I did.
Darcy-Scorpio sun-Private, brooding, holds grudges
Leo Moon-Proud, doesn't like to be laughed at, and both Scorpio and Leo like a challenge and strong women.
Elizabeth-Sagittarius sun-tomboyish, fiery,sincere, bookish, sharp-tongued. Scorpio moon-strong willed, proud, keeps her feelings to herself, recognizes underlying motivations in others.
Jane and Bingley can either be Cancers or Pisceans, but they are definitely watery in a non-Scorpio way

Melindam wrote: "I am also not 100% sure about Jane, but I tend to cast her as a TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

Strengths: Reliable, patient, practical, devoted, responsible, stable
Weaknesses: Stubborn, possessive, u..."

I definitely agree with this! Spot on!

I think Mr. Darcy is 100% Capricorn... I see myself entirely in him! Ascendent in Taurus, so double stubborn

Not sure if this debate is still going, but just in case....(!)

I always think of Darcy as a Scorpio (deep, brooding, passionate, begrudging etc)

I would agree Lizzy could be Saggitarius very easily (like Austen herself, indeed!), but it's hard for sun signs immediately next to each other to get on well (different elements for a start). Not sure if this is true or not (as in, if any of astrology is!), but I find it's the preceding sign that is harder to get on with or 'approve of', as the virtues of one are the faults of the other. (eg, Thrifty Virgo regards Leo's generosity as mere extravagance!)(mind you, generous Leo probably thinks Virgo's are mean skinflints!)

I definitely don't think for a moment that Anne Eliot is a Leo -she is the least Leonine character in all of Austen! (Along with Fanny Price).

Anne could be a Cancer (as she is very emotional beneath her protective shell), but Cancer women are very 'Daddy-oriented' (as Cancer males are 'Mummy-oriented')(for good and ill in both), and of course Anne has absolutely zilch relationship with her dreadful father.

To my mind she is more Virgo (modest, self-effacing, loyal, etc)

Not sure what Captain Wentworth might be? Aries perhaps? (I don't know that sign very well though). Something 'extrovert' at least, but again, I don't see him as a Leo. (Sir Walter might be a Leo - he's spendthrift enough!)

I suspect, overall, that whatever signs we assign to the characters depends a lot on who we ourselves are - we assign characters we like to our own personal 'favourite' signs, and vice versa.

Mr. Darcy for sure is a Leo, no way he can be a Scorpio, Taurus or any other sign. Loyal, not revengeful (Mr. Wickham situation), brave and noble attitude, takes lead responsible decisions, aristocratic taste, easy way of getting money (usually Leos attract wealth), artistic and kind and for sure people's opinion on his looks and his look itself matters for him. Plus everyone speaks about him and try to be around, so he is charismatic. And yes, he has a lot of PRIDE which stands with Leos. Not all Leos are playful, sick attention and are extroverts, he is a perfect example of an introvert Leo. I hope now no one doubts Mr.Darcy's zodiac sign ;)
As for Elizabeth, I think she is an Areas. Sagittarius, may be, but Sagittariuses doesn't seem prejudgemental or having prejudices or any principles at all, but Aries does. As Virgos are, but Elizabeth is too free and fun for a Virgo. So funny, smiling, playful, bold free nature suits fire signs. May be it is been called "Pride and Prejudice" like "Leo and Aries" ;)

Thanks for all the comments. :)

It's so interesting to see these different POVs. :D

Beth-In-UK wrote: "Not sure if this debate is still going, but just in case....(!)

I always think of Darcy as a Scorpio (deep, brooding, passionate, begrudging etc)

I would agree Lizzy could be Saggitarius very eas..."

I think for me Anne is Virgo: dependable, loyal, always placing others' interests before her own.

And Fanny is Cancer for sure. Very uncertain and emotionally vulnerable, shy, needs lods of security. Plus if we consider Daddy-oriented .. in her case, Edmund takes that place.

Yes, I can definitely see Anne Eliot as a Virgo, and Fanny Price as Cancer.

But no way Jose is Mr Darcy a Leo!!! Lazy Leos???? Extravagant wastrel Leos?? 'I am so wonderful!' Leos??? (And there's no such thing as an introvert Leo - contradiction in terms!)(Just like there's no such thing as an extrovert Virgo or Cancer!!!!!!)

Nope - he's a Scorpio for sure! Much better. :) :)

PS - you can probably tell I don't like Leos....the men are bad enough, the women are nightmares!!! (Born princesses - ghastly!) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL Beth, I am a Leo... and I am an introvert and shy... but that's probably because my ascendant is Capricorn and I was born in the year of the Rabbit... (snigger)

BTW and IMO Emma could be Leo as well as maybe Captain Wentworth. They like to be admired and be the centre of attention. On the other hand, and in defense of Leos, they are both warm-hearted and generous. While they may be vain, they can ve equally magnanimous.

Haha zodiac signs do not make you an introvert or extrovert, life does))
I have 3 Leos who are introverts in my surroundings, no, they are not all lazy, lol, and most of them are successful people)) I actually know many people of different signs who are lazy, including my cousin Scorpio;)
You think J.K.Rowling or Daniel Radcliff, for example, are lazy extroverts?:)
And I think Jacqueline Kennedy and Louis de Funès were quite introverts as well.
There are no extroverts virgo and cancer, really? Are you kidding?:) Ricky Gervais, Beyonce, Chris Pratt, Kristen Bell, Aidan Gallagher, Ramin Karimloo, Adam Sandler and a bunch of my friends;)

What makes a sign more or less introvert/extrovert is the rising sign.
For example, if a Leo has a Cancer ascendant (rising sign), their 'Leo-ness' will be toned down. The placement of the moon and the sign(s) in the moon also have a lot to do with it.

With that...I kind of like the idea of Elizabeth being a Sag (with an air sign ascendant, i.e. Gemini, Aquarius, or Libra), with Darcy being a Cap (with an air sign ascendant as well. Then again, he's pretty intense, so maybe he has a Scorpio ascendant, with or without an air sign nearby on his chart).
Fun thread!

Thanks Monique, that's a very interesting & valid idea. :)

Yes, good point about rising signs - very confusing. I know I'm horrid about Leos, but I hate over-confident people (being very unselfconfident myself in my youth....)

But I absolutely LOATHE 'princesses'....and the fact that they can embroil good kind men in their demanding and capricious toils. (Happened in my family, alas.)

Hey ho, well, that's my hang ups!!!!!

I think Leo's are fine when they are matched with another sign 'up to their weight' (eg, the other two fire signs, Sag and Aries, and, as I say, perhaps Scorpio - a 'power' sign - and maybe something like Aquarius (very elusive!)

Beth-In-UK wrote: "I think Leo's are fine when they are matched with another sign 'up to their weight' (eg, the other two fire signs, Sag and Aries, and, as I say, perhaps Scorpio - a 'power' sign - and maybe somethi..."

Agreed! :)

I think the worst would be Leo and Virgo, or Leo and Cancer.

It might just work if the Virgo and the Cancer were female, and the Leo was male, but not the other way round! A Leo woman would eat them for breakfast!