Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet and George Wickham

            Some people believe that “love at first sight” is a real thing. Others would dissuade this notion and be practical in saying that love is developed over time and after getting to know a person. The people we first see as amazing individuals may turn out to be the complete opposite once we get to know them better. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice depicts many characters in various stages of relationships throughout the book. In particular,  Jane Austen uses Elizabeth and Wickham to create a happy relationship in which people meet and immediately fall for each other, without even knowing the background of either person. There was never true love between the two characters, but definitely some affinity for one another. It didn't take long for Lizzy to know that Wickham was “the one.”

Lizzy’s first impression of Wickham was one she would never forget. Austen’s use of reverent tone lets the reader know that the officers of the ‘shire were quite respectable. These men had a reputation of honor and flawless character. When Lizzy sees Wickham for the first time, at the Philips’s household, she thinks to herself that, “Mr. Wickham was as far beyond [the other officers] in person, countenance, air, and walk.” (Austen 66) Austen’s use of a reverent tone lets the reader know that Lizzy respects Wickham solely on his looks and not on anything else. Lizzy is quick to judge people and believes that Wickham is a man who is respectable in terms of position and appearance. This is the beginning of a temporary relationship between Lizzy and Wickham. The only problem with this relationship is that Lizzy doesn’t know Wickham’s dark past and that he covers it up by being very jovial and respectful towards others.  

Lizzy is quickly exposed to the other side of Wickham by other characters who know about Wickham’s dark past. Elizabeth was expecting Wickham to be at the Netherfield Ball, but alas he never showed. Miss Bingley hears that Lizzy is quite impressed by Wickham’s persona and goes on to tell Lizzy that there is more to Wickham than meets the eye. Miss Bingley says that Lizzy should, “not give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy’s using him ill, it is perfectly false; for on the contrary, he has been always remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner.” (Austen 82-83) Miss Bingley explains to Lizzy that Darcy was never rude to Wickham and that, on the contrary, Wickham was the one who was disrespectful towards Darcy. Lizzy immediately goes on to deny all that Miss Bingley has said and conclude that Darcy is still the bad man. Austen’s use of irony comes into play in these chapters. Lizzy is criticizing Miss Bingley for being prejudiced against Wickham (when in fact, Miss Bingley is telling the truth). On the other hand, Lizzy is being prejudiced towards Wickham and against Darcy. At this point, we can see that Lizzy is starting to consider whether this relationship is based on lies or truths.

Lizzy continues to dissuade the notions that Wickham is a bad person with a dark past until Mr. Darcy proposes to her and tells her the truth about his and Wickham’s past. Austen’s use of characterization depicts Lizzy as a person who judges others like one would typically judge a book, by its cover and not its contents. “Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd. “How despicably have I acted!” she cried.” (Austen 176). Austen’s characterization of Lizzy as being pre-judgmental is accurate because Lizzy thought that Wickham was the best match for her and that Darcy was a creepy, rich man who despised Wickham. At this point in the novel, the “relationship” between Wickham and Lizzy has been shredded and burnt to ashes, figuratively speaking. Lizzy cannot forgive herself for the prejudice that she has shown and (SPOILER ALERT) ends up marrying Darcy in the end of the novel. Overall, the relative success of the relationship between Lizzy and Wickham is none that can be appreciated.