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The characters in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen follow a ballet style in self-revelation through their actions and discourses. Though Austen’s novels are most distinctly known for her female characters (for instance Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice), her male characters were equally important to the development of the plot. However, the male characters, like Austen’s female characters, show striking contrast to one another. This essay compares and contrasts the characters of Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Wickham.
Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley “emerge together through a series of reports and rumors” in the plot in the first two chapters and are ultimately physically appear at the ball (McKeon 519). It is in the third chapter of the novel that Austen builds the characters of Bingley and Darcy through their manners: “Mr. Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance and easy, unaffected manners” (Austen 7). Darcy attracts more attention at the ball due to his attractiveness and greater fortune. However, he is found to be proud, while Bingley is amiable. In describing Darcy, Elizabeth states: “His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again.” (8) Therefore, Darcy and Bingley perfectly balanced each other’s characters:
“Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character.-Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy’s regard Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offence.” (Austen 11)
The indecisiveness of Bingley and strength of Darcy’s convictions are shown in the novel as the plot advances. Bingley demonstrates a lack of strength and personality when he is persuaded by Darcy to leave Jane and go back to London. His weak convictions are further demonstrated when he is easily influenced by Darcy in matters of love and marriage. Bingley is extremely social, while Darcy obstinately remains out of the society in his moodiness and indifference. Though Bingley is persuaded by Darcy to leave Jane, he remains faithful to her for he genuinely loved her. However, the character of Mr. Wickham is a stark contrast to Bingley as both being charming and social the latter is kind and genuine while the former is conniving.
Mr. Wickham though a marginal character of the novel assumes greater importance as it is his presence in the plot helps in “Elizabeth’s “moral enlightenment” through Darcy’s courtship” (Woloch 103). When Wickham enters, the plot Austen points out the character’s efforts to seem “agreeable” and “amiable’ (Stasio and Duncan 141). His appearance was an instant attraction for the ladies: “Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned … With such rivals for the notice of the fair, as Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed likely to sink into insignificance; to the young ladies he certainly was nothing” (Austen 51) however, unlike Bingley and Darcy, Wickham possessed no fortune.
The plot itself brings forth the contrasts in Darcy and Wickham’s character. It is Darcy who first points out at Wickham’s “individually grounded moral qualities” (Woloch 103) and brings forth the asymmetry between the characters. Darcy’s character is again a contrast of Wickham’s. Darcy’s goodness stands in sticking contrast to the lack of honesty in Wickham’s character. Thus, Austen plays with these asymmetrical characters by making one disappear when the other appears. Darcy and Wickham represents the moral quality of the novel which is reinforced through Darcy’s letter:
“I thought too ill of him, to invite him to Pemberley, or admit his society in town. In town I believe he chiefly lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation … After this period, every appearance of acquaintance was dropt. How he lived I know not.” (Austen 131)
Wickham disappears from the plot and the social scene and he confirms all that Darcy relates in the letter by marrying Lydia Bennet. Thus, Wickham is presented as an insincere character as opposed to Bingley and Darcy’s morally upright and kind characters. Darcy transcends all others in his kindness when in the end of the novel he helps the Bennet family by getting Wickham and Lydia back and then proposes marriage to Elizabeth: “Darcy increases the scope of his freedom by enlarging his society to include not only Elizabeth, but her family as well. And in Wickham he creates a brother. By his freedom Darcy establishes and vindicates his position in society.” (Weinsheimer 419). Therefore, a comparison of the three characters shows their contrast and asymmetry. However, in case of Bingley and Darcy the contrasts were complementary; however, in case of Wickham and Darcy theirs created a stark otherness and morality.
Works Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. London: Wordsworth Classic, 1993.
McKeon, Richard. “”Pride and Prejudice”: Thought, Character, Argument, and Plot.” Critical Inquiry, Vol. 5, No. 3 (1979): 511-527.
Stasio, Michael J. and Kathryn Duncan. “An Evolutionary Approach To Jane Austen: Prehistoric Preferences In Pride And Prejudice.” Studies In The Novel, Vol. 39, No. 2 (2007): 133-146.
Weinsheimer, Joel. “Chance and the Hierarchy of Marriages in Pride and Prejudice.” ELH, Vol. 39, No. 3. (1972 ): 404-419.
Woloch, Alex. The one vs. the many: minor characters and the space of the protagonist in the novel. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2003.
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