So, if you have read or seen any rendition of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice you are familiar with Mr. Wickham's "infamous elopement" with Lydia Bennet. The question for today is: Why did Mr. Wickham choose Lydia in the first place? Was it to get revenge on Mr. Darcy? True affection for Lydia? Hmmm, food for thought. We would looove to read any thoughts you might have in the comment section :)
Also, a book review of Parson Austen's Daughter by Helen Ashton is coming soon!
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Wow, this is a good question. I had never though of that side of things.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on this lean more towards him getting at Lizzie. He truly liked Lizzie, if only for her mutual disdain of Darcy. When she began to show disdain for him, I do believe that was a knife in the heart.
Wickham was a self serving, insecure man, who was not very bright. I do believe that his stupidity lead to the marriage to the youngest, most ridicules Bennett sister. I do not believe he truly intended to marry her. It was forced on him, and was essential punishment for his wicked ways.
It's been awhile since I read the book, but I'll take a stab at the question anyway. I think Mr. Wickham's relationship with Lydia was an example of two thoughtless, irresponsible people doing something thoughtless and irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteThere doesn't seem to be much evidence that their elopement was motivated by revenge. If Wickham didn't know that Mr. Darcy was in love with Elizabeth (which I assume he didn't), then why would hurting the Bennet family help Wickham get revenge on Darcy? It doesn't seem like Wickham is mad at Lizzie either; in fact, when she gives him the cold shoulder after he and Lydia are married, he seems genuinely baffled. The reader is left mostly to guess at the details of how Wickham and Lydia ended up running away together, but I've always thought that Lydia presented an easy "fling" for Wickham, and he didn't have the will or the character to resist her temptation.
I agree with Janet (hi Janet!) that marriage was never Wickham's intent, and he only married Lydia for the money he was offered by Darcy.