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George Wickham By: Cindy & Elisa
HIS BACKGROUND • His father was in the legal profession, most probably as a lawyer’s assistant, before he became steward to Mr. Darcy’s father at Pemberley and took responsibility for management of the estate, a position of considerable power and influence. Yet, his father did not earn sufficient money to support the extravagant spending habits of his mother. Wickham grew up at Pemberley as Mr. Darcy’s childhood friend and developed all the manners of the aristocracy.
APPEARANCE • He is described as a handsome officer in the militia with "a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address."He attracts Elizabeth immediately as shown at an evening party. Even though they talk about the weather, "...[his] conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.“ He can make the weather an interesting topicdemonstrating his charming skills. Even Mr. Darcy’s father was taken in “...My father was not only fond of this young man’s society, whose manners were always engaging, he had also the highest opinion of him.”
THE TRUTH • “His countenance, voice, and manner had established him at once in the possession of every virtue. She tried to recollect some instance of goodness, some distinguished trait of integrity or benevolence, that might rescue him from the attacks of Mr. Darcy.”- when Elizabeth realises he is not the man he deceived her to be. • But as a man who… • …mooches off of every wealthy connection possible by scoping out marriage candidates with money due to his debt (a reflection of his mother’s inability to limit her expenditures within the family’s income). • “…it was yet a well known fact that on his quitting Derbyshire he had left many debts behind him, which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged.”
THE TRUTH Cont… • An example of when Elizabeth starts to see through him is when She sees that his actions contradict what he says: …She remembered that he had boasted of having no fear of seeing Mr. Darcy-- that Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but that he should stand his ground; yet he had avoided the Netherfieldball the very next week. • Also.. • Elizabeth is not pleased when he returns his attentions to her after Mary King has left town, considering that he had turned from Elizabeth to Mary King when the latter had inherited £10,000.
THE ELOPEMENTS • During Mr. Darcy’s letter, he informs Elizabeth that Wickham is a liar and that the real cause of their disagreement was Wickham’s attempt to elope with his young sister, Georgiana Darcy. “…whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen…” • Wickham was in financial trouble in Brighton (he had not paid gambling debts, which were considered debts of honor), and was fleeing creditors. He never intended to marry Lydia but their 'elopement' was a good reason for him to get out of town.
SIGNIFICANCE • Jane Austen uses the character George Wickham to set up crucial points of the novel-- they are almost all in some way connected to him, such as: • Elizabeth's bad opinion and rejection of Mr. Darcy • Mr. Darcy's letter • Elizabeth's development as a person in realizing her judgment isn't as clear as she thought • Lydia's 'elopement'
