For awhile now, I've wanted to do a post highlighting some of my favorite proposals from film and literature. Actually, this post idea has been in my drafts for
months. Then, I had the
idea inspiration to use it for my Valentine's Day post!
Last year on Valentine's Day I did
a super long and picture-laden post on my favorite couples. So check that out if you'd like to read about some of my favorite couples, and not just my favorite proposals.
I'm going to try to highlight any proposal that ever made me squeal or sigh or smile in delight. I will probably, nevertheless, leave out some favorites, so don't consider this an all-extensive list. ;)
And it's not in any particular order. Just FYI. :)
Oh, and this may be rather obvious, but be forewarned that most of these proposals are
plot spoilers.
"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
First up, we have Mr. Darcy's famous (and justly so) proposal to Lizzie. I couldn't decide whether to include just his first proposal (which, in case you didn't know...didn't go well) or the second, much more-well-received (although I love both proposals ;)) one.
And then I thought, hey, why not include both?
Anndd, the second one!
Aren't they just so perfect??? And the second proposal! "Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth." -happy sigh-
I could have included the book excerpt too, but it's rather long. And you should just read the book yourself anyways. :P haha
"And marry you?"
Eeeeee, this
scene! The Young Victoria makes me cry. At many scenes. This is one of them.
It's just SO precious!! She's so nervous about "proposing" to him (being the queen, it was proper protocol for her to propose to him and not vice versa. Yeah...) and Albert, in his amazing-ness, immediately knows what she means and helps her out, almost asking the question himself.
-happy tears-
"If I loved you less..."
He stopped in his earnestness to look the question, and the expression of his eyes overpowered her. "My dearest Emma," said he, "for dearest you will always be, whatever the event of this hour's conversation, my dearest, most beloved Emma—tell me at once. Say 'No,' if it is to be said." She could really say nothing. "You are silent," he cried, with great animation; "absolutely silent! at present I ask no more."
Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment. The dread of being awakened from the happiest dream, was perhaps the most prominent feeling.
"I cannot make speeches, Emma," he soon resumed; and in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing. "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me. I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it. Bear with the truths I would tell you now, dearest Emma, as well you have borne with them. God knows, I have been an indifferent lover. But you understand me. Yes, you see, you understand my feelings—and will return them if you can. At present, I ask only to hear, once to hear your voice.
.......(shortened for brevity's sake)....
What did she say? Just what she ought, of course.
~Emma by Jane Austen
How could I not include Mr. Knightley's sweet proposal to Emma? And the clip from my favorite movie version of Emma. :) It's an altogether wonderful story. I can't wait to re-read it someday!!
"Together we're stronger."
This proposal!! It gets me every time. Robiiiin. <3 Marian is so surprised and taken off guard and yet you can tell she's the happiest she's been in a long, long time. It's just the best part in the whole episode. :)
"Will you please be my wife?"
Anyone who's been following my blog for a long amount of time should know that I adore
William William and Peggy in
Return to Cranford. Theirs is one of the
sweetest proposals ever (though also the shortest in this post heh heh) and I get squee-ful and happy
every time I watch it.
"Darned if I don't love you with my whole life."
He started to walk away, but I caught him from behind. "Luke, quit teasin'!" He held the box in front of him now, so I stood on tiptoe to peer over his shoulder, wrapping both my arms around his waist to give myself two chances at grabbing it.
But before I could wrap my hands around it, he took hold of my left hand and slipped something onto my finger.
I stood there motionless with my arms around him, afraid to take my hand away and find anything less than what I'd suddenly hoped be there.
But Luke didn't wait. With my hand still
in his, he turned to face me, cupping my cheek with his other hand. "Jessilyn Lassiter, you're stubborn and impatient...and darned if I don't love you with my whole life."
....(shortened for brevity's sake)....
Luke laid my hand on his chest, let his forehead settle against mine, and whispered, "Marry me."
-
Catching Moondrops by Jennifer Erin Valent
Squueee! This proposal!! Luke and Jessy are such an adorable couple and the last book in the series holds so many sweet moments between them.
"I don't want to possess you, I wish to marry you because I love you!"
I couldn't find a video of John Thornton's proposal to Margaret Hale (why...?) so a gif will have to suffice. I would include the book proposal, but I haven't read it yet and would rather wait until I do so. :)
But oh. The movie proposal. Poor Mr. Thornton! It's when he says "I love you!" in his deep, accented voice, brimming with emotion, that my heart breaks for him.
"The Great War is on but I hope ours is over."
In the altogether sweet and simply but beautifully written Betsy-Tacy books, World War I is declared while Betsy is traveling in Europe. Joe, unaware of her address, finally asks Betsy to forget their past quarrel—in a newspaper advertisement.
Mr. Dick came in, wearing his new ill-fitting uniform. He walked over to Betsy, smiling.
"Still keep up with the Agony Column?"
"Heavens, no!" Betsy answered. "I'm trying to learn how to sew."
"Well, it's a good thing I clipped this," he said and reached into his pocket. "Of course," he added, "I know you aren't the only Betsy in London. But do you know anyone named Joe?"
Betsy stared at him for a long unbelieving moment. Without a word she put out her hand.
Joe hadn't forgotten her! And he had found a way! Holding the clipping fast, she ran out of the garden and up to her little white room. She sat down, with tears running down her cheeks.
'BESTY. THE GREAT WAR IS ON BUT I HOPE OURS IS OVER. PLEASE COME HOME. JOE.'
~Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace
"I don't want sunbursts. Or marble halls. I just want you."
Now, Gilbert proposes....2 times in the Anne movies. And then, at the end of Anne of Avonlea, he....well, he doesn't propose exactly, as it's understood now that she loves him (FINALLY). And we all know Gilbert has never wavered in his love for her. (awwww)
So, as I couldn't find a video of any of his proposals, I included the end scene AND I'm including an excerpt from the book.
"I think," said Anne softly, "that 'the land where dreams come true' is in the blue haze yonder, over that little valley."
"Have you any unfulfilled dreams, Anne?" asked Gilbert.
Something in his tone—something she had not heard since that miserable evening in the orchard at Patty's Place—made Anne's heart beat wildly. But she made answer lightly.
"Of course. Everybody has. It wouldn't do for us to have all our dreams fulfilled. We would be as good as dead if we had nothing left to dream about. What a delicious aroma that low-descending sun is extracting from the asters and ferns. I wish we could see perfumes as well and smell them. I'm sure they would be very beautiful."
Gilbert was not to be thus sidetracked.
"I have a dream," he said slowly. "I persist in dreaming it, although it has often seemed to me that it could never come true. I dream of a home with a hearth-fire in it, a cat and a dog, the footsteps of friends—and you!"
Anne wanted to speak but she could find no words. Happiness was breaking over her like a wave. It almost frightened her.
"I asked you a question over two years ago, Anne. If I ask it again today will you give me a different answer?"
Still Anne could not speak. But she lifted her eyes, shining with all the love-rapture of countless generations, and looked into his for a moment. He wanted no other answer.
~Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery
Did you see that?? Er, I mean read that? Anne Shirley couldn't speak! For once in her life, she couldn't find words to express herself. What more fitting way could L. M. Montgomery shown how moved and truly happy Anne was than by that nonverbal action?
This proposal is so sweet. While I love the movie version of "diamond sunbursts and marble halls", I have to say that I MAY like the book version (the true version) better. I'm not sure. It's rather a tie. :)
"I would feel like a king if you...would be my wife."
A rather new favorite, this proposal is SO sweet and especially poignant as it displays Henry's change of attitude. His character arc reaches its peak here—this is where he finally exercises the humility he's learned. And, as a side note, isn't it so adorable how Danielle cries and puts her face in her hands? It's such a realistic response!
"My heart is...and always will be....yours."
Guys, I couldn't find a clip of the 2008 Sense and Sensibility proposal!
Here's a couple of pictures to make up for it, because it is SUCH an adorable version of the proposal. Their hug!!! It's just so cute!!
Although I think I prefer the 2008 proposal, I do still love the 1995 proposal too. So, here it is. :)
Now, as a side note, I ADORE the book,
Sense and Sensibility. It may be my favorite Jane Austen book. But, the proposal is only narrated in the book. There's no dialogue or smiles or joyful tears. So, that's why I didn't include the book excerpt. :)
"Say you'll marry me."
Now it was my turn. Char knelt, holding the slipper. I extended my foot and he guided it. The slipper fit perfectly, of course. What was I going to do?
His face was close to mine. He must have seen my terror."You needn't be Ella if you don't want to be," he said softly.
He was so good.
"I'm not," I said. But in spite of myself, tears streamed down my cheeks. I saw hope spread across his face. "That letter was rubbish. A trick." He glared at Hattie, then turned to me, his look probing."Do you love me?" He still spoke softly. "Tell me."
An order. "I do." I was sobbing and smiling at once. How was I going to give him up again?
Char was jubilant. His voice rang out. "Then marry me!"
Another order. I nodded and continued to weep. But my hand found its way into his.
"Don't marry him, Ella," Hattie commanded, giving my name away once and for all.
I withdrew my hand. "I can't," I said. Perhaps Hattie would save us.
"Hattie, don't be a fool," Mum Olga snapped. "Don't you want to be stepsister to the queen and make her give you whatever you like?" She smiled at me. "His Highness is kind enough to want to marry you, Ella, my sweet."
It had begun. The curse would make Hattie and Mum Olga as grand as they wanted to be, and it would provide endless wealth for Olive.
Char was looking at me with such gladness, and I loved him so. I was the cause of his joy and would be the cause of his destruction: a secret delivered to his enemies, a letter written in my own hand, a covert signal given by me, poison in his glass, a dagger in his ribs, a fall from a parapet.
"Marry me, Ella," he said again, the order a whisper now. "Say you'll marry me.
~
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Ahhh, this book!! One of the best retellings of
Cinderella that I've ever read, this book is funny, adorable, sweet and just
perfect. Ella has been cursed with the magic "gift" of total obedience since her childhood. She obeys any order that anyone gives her. I'm sure you're dying to know what happens after the above snippet, so I heartily encourage you to read the book. :)
"Before I go on, I should tell you there's a pretty good chance of disinheritance."
Goodness, this proposal scene in the 2008 Northanger Abbey is just SO CUTE. He's so excited and a little nervous and she's still so shocked that HE'S HERE and then he proposes and.....gah. Just watch the clip. It's adorable.
(I thought of making the heading "I felt myself bound to you" etc. but I always loved the disinheritance line. haha)
"Everything's political!"
Ahh, hahaha. This proposal. :D It's adorable and awkward and un-romantic and yet somehow still ends up to be romantic. Perchik gives the impression that he thinks of everything in terms of politics, and yet we all know he
does love Hodel. I think he's just a little too shy to truly say it. :)
"I offer you my hand, my heart and all my possessions."
'Oh, Jane, you torture me!' he exclaimed. 'With that searching and yet faithful and generous look, you torture me!'
'How can I do that? If you are true, and your offer real, my only feelings to you must be gratitude and devotion—they cannot torture.'
'Gratitude!' he ejaculated; and added wildly—'Jane, accept me quickly. Say, Edward—give my my name—Edward, I will marry you.'
'Are you in earnest?—Do you truly love me?—Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?'
'I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it.'
'Then, sir, I will marry you.'
~Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I included both a snippet of the book and the 2006 movie proposal (although I like the movie very much, I cannot entirely condone it due to a lot of skip-able scenes).
Mr. Rochester's proposal to Jane might be as famous in the literary world as Mr. Darcy's to Elizabeth, although very different in both circumstances and style. I love
Jane Eyre. :) It's a beautiful, stunning book and the proposal is definitely one of my favorite scenes.
"Let me stay with you all your life."
My friend
Naomi reminded me in the comments of the scene between Arthur and Amy in the marshalsea. Now, I
had thought of this proposal, but by the time I finished the post I forgot. I also wasn't sure if it applied since...well, since
she kind of proposed to him! But, it's just too adorable to not include. And they are one of my favorite couple ever. So here it 'tis. Thank you for reminding me, Naomi! :D
~~~~
Well, that's about it. I'm sure there are other proposals from literature and film that I love, but I can't remember them all. And this post is already very long. ;)
By the way, I noticed that only ONE of these proposals included a ring! I found that rather humorous, since nowadays we hardly ever separate proposals from "the perfect ring".
Happy Valentine's Day!
Are any of your favorite proposals mentioned in my post?
What are your other favorites?
