Why We Still Need Dating Etiquette

Courtship rules might ironically result in more freedom for young people to feel. Illustration by Noah Hickey/The Dispatch (Photos via Getty Images). Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. If one were to identify the most memorable marriage proposals in literature, Mr. Darcy’s first declaration of love to Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice would rank, if not at the top, then certainly close to it. Other contenders might include Mr. Collins’ stilted, uncomfortable proposal in the same novel, or Laurie’s heart-wrenching one to Jo in Little Women. LuElla D’Amico is an associate professor of English and coordinator of women’s and gender studies at the University of the Incarnate Word. She is the author of Wondrous Reading: Encountering the Catholic Faith in Children’s Literature and writes widely on faith, girlhood, pop culture, and storytelling. More Monday Essays