By: Cindy & ElisaGEORGE WICKHAM

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.

HIS BACKGROUND

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 topic

demonstrating 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.”

APPEARANCE

“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

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 Netherfield ball 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 TRUTH CONT…

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.

THE ELOPEMENTS

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'

SIGNIFICANCE

THE END