Full of wit, wisdom, and romance, Jane Austen’s novels have captured the admiration of generations of readers. Fans of Austen’s work may have noticed that she recycled themes and even personality types for many of her stories. The handsome but heartless rogue is probably the most recognizable of Austen’s recurring characters.
Wickham in Pride and Prejudice
As Mr. Darcy’s archenemy, George Wickham makes a wickedly charming villain indeed. The attractive military officer sweeps Elizabeth off her feet, spreads lies about the much misunderstood Darcy, and eventually persuades fifteen year-old Lydia Bennet to run away with him.
Wickham is, perhaps, the most odious of Austen’s rogues, refusing even to marry the disgraced Lydia until he’s received a payment in return. Elizabeth, unaware of the financial arrangement, is still able to guess rightly that “his flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstance…” (213).
