Pride and Prejudice: Mr Wickham Essay

In the novel Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, in that respect are galore(postnominal) different characters, separately with their own types to gaming in order for the story to slay its terminal product. Among these many characters is George Wickham. Though chiefly brushed off as a minor character, George Wickham plays a vital fictional character in the relationship betwixt Elizabeth white avens and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Through some(prenominal) his lies and his amatory mis destinys, Wickham is the writer of both Elizabeths loathing and discern for Mr Darcy.Throughout the novel, Elizabeths opinion of Mr Wickham replaces spectacularally. For the offshooting signal half of the novel, Elizabeth adores Wickham and believes him to be the perfect gentleman. He achieves this high appraisal mainly by means of his false recount of his previous personal matters with Mr Darcy, saying of Darcy It is wonderful, for almost all his actions whitethorn be traced to pride and pride has a great deal been his best fri complete. It has connected him nearer with impartiality than with any other feeling (page 75).The false recount of Wickhams affairs with Fitzwilliam Darcy confirms Elizabeths previous opinions of Darcy, which she presents by saying I throw spent four eld in the same house with him and I think him really disagreeable (page 71). She is ace to believe that Darcy reserves only the slightest realization of anyone but his closest friends and family the people of his class. Wickham stock-still appears, to Elizabeth, to be quite the opposite of Darcy and she thinks of him that whatsoever he says is said well and whatever he does is done gracefully (page 77).The dramatic antitheses between each mans personalities highlight the gentlemanlike poise of Wickham, fashioning him the more attractive of the two. What then alternates Elizabeths attractions to Mr Wickham, is the discovery of his previous amatory adventures. Wickham was multif orm in three amatory adventures, custodytioned end-to-end the course of Pride and Prejudice. The firstborn of these escapades was his failed elopement with Georgiana Darcy. This played a vital intention in Darcys opinion of Mr Wickham and at long last led to Elizabeths realisation of Wickhams true character as well.Elizabeths opinion of Wickhams past with Georgiana is unembellished toward the end of the novel, when she says to Mr Darcy that I might have prevented it I, who knew what he was (page 236) Wickhams second adventure was very short lived and is often overlooked. It was his crusade at marrying Miss King who, fit in to Elizabeth, is a good sort of girl and the inheritor of her Grandfathers fortune (page 134). This escapade is significant as it approximately shapes Elizabeths opinions and affections towards Mr Wickham.Where she once thought of him as a possible husband, after this escapade, she says to her aunt, I am now convinced that I had never been in love (page 1 32) His final and most significant of his adventures was Wickhams elopement with Lydia Bennet. This elopement is very significant as it shapes Elizabeths opinions of both Wickham and Darcy, greatly. Elizabeth was frightened when she heard of Wickhams failed elopement with Georgiana and when he runs away with Lydia, her fright elevates to utter detestation and loathing.When, however, she experiences out Darcys part in the whole affair, Austen hints of disappointment from Elizabeth, that she had treated him so impartially. Elizabeth is really made to think round these two men before her, each so different in both personality and in appearance and she begins to find it easier to see the good in Darcy and her affections toward him heighten. This is shown at the end of the novel when Elizabeth sees Darcy again and thinks to herself, A man who has one been refused.How could I be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love? (Page 290) It is not and the results of Wickhams elopement with Lydia, however, that makes Elizabeth rethink her answer to Darcys previous sentiments. The extreme difference in character of the two men withal highlights Darcys integrity. The extreme differences in Wickhams and Darcys personalities are the source of Elizabeths feelings towards them both. At the start of the novel, Wickhams rude(a) manners and easy going temper highlight the pride and arrogance of Mr Darcy.Darcy tries to rationalize his awkward personality to Elizabeth, saying We incomplete of us perform to strangers (page 153). Elizabeth however is interpreted by Wickhams cordiality and brushes Darcy off. Towards the end of the book however, events change and the two men swap personalities completely. Wickhams evident greed and self-centredness is then highlighted by Darcys change in air. Austen highlights Darcys personality change through his conversations with the Gardiners.Mrs Gardiner says of Darcy But how come you told us he was so disagreeable he has not an ill -natured look. On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks (page 219). For a long time, Wickhams agreeable nature caught Elizabeth up in preconceived idea and she avoided Darcys ill-natured countenance. Her prejudice however, degraded when she saw both mens true personalities and the dramatic difference between Darcys air made Elizabeth rethink her opinion of him and her affections towards him heightened greatly.It was because of Wickham that these changes in Darcy were so conspicuous. In conclusion, Wickham played a vital role in the relationship of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. At the start of the book, through his lies and manipulations, Wickham confirms Elizabeths loathing of Mr Darcy. By the end of the book however, Mr Wickham has unconsciously changed Elizabeths opinions of Mr Darcy through the results of his three amatory adventures and through the obvious change in Darcys countenance highlighted by Wickhams woeful qualities.