George Wickham Quotes

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way…His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15. The reader is introduced to George Wickham for the first time. The reaction of all the young ladies is very favorable towards Wickham. Although he is a scoundrel and cad, they don’t see beyond his handsome appearance which deceives them into thinking that he is a good person. First impressions don’t always prove right. In this passage note the narrator’s emphasis on Wickham’s outward appearance and superficiality – "gentlemanlike appearance," "fine countenance," "good figure" and "pleasing address." This foreshadows that the handsome Wickham turns out to be completely different than what he appears to be.

When Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the -shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. We see two of the novel’s major themes at play here, prejudice and first impressions, when Elizabeth finds herself with George Wickham at dinner. Based purely on his looks and appearance, she finds him the most admirable of all the officers in his militia regiment. Her hasty first impressions turn out to be completely wrong when she learns to her horror and shame that he is a sexual predator and scoundrel.

"Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"
"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth very warmly. "I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable."

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. Seated next to George Wickham at dinner at her aunt’s home in Meryton, Elizabeth strikes up a conversation with the handsome army officer who has charmed her. She reveals to Wickham that she is not at all well disposed towards Mr. Darcy and finds him most disagreeable – after knowing him for only four days! As well as displaying her blatent prejudice against Darcy, Elizabeth’s comments also turn out to be rather ironic – she falls in love with the "disagreeable" Darcy and they end up happily married!

I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this – though I have never liked him. I had not thought so very ill of him. I had supposed him to be despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as this.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. This is Elizabeth’s reaction when George Wickham tells her that Mr. Darcy ignored the wishes of his father’s will to provide money to Wickham to pursue a career in church ministry because Mr. Darcy disliked him. Elizabeth appears to be taken in by the good looks and charm of Wickham and she doesn’t see him for the real cad and liar that he is.

A young man too, like you, whose very countenance may vouch for your being amiable.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. Elizabeth seems easily fooled by the charming and handsome George Wickham’s outward appearance, when he spins his lies about Mr. Darcy. He has told her a completely false story about Darcy cheating him. Elizabeth who prides herself on being a good judge of character is too mesmerized by Wickham to see him for the deceiver he is and how she is being cleverly and subtly manipulated. She is exhibiting a prejudice towards Wickham, just as she has developed one against Darcy.

It has often led him to be liberal and generous, to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor. Family pride, and filial pride – for he is very proud of what his father was – have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also brotherly pride, which, with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16. George Wickham does have some good things to say to Elizabeth about Mr. Darcy, particularly regarding his family pride. He is proud of his father, kind and caring to his sister Georgiana and would not do anything to disgrace his family or injure the reputation of Pemberley House. What a shame that Wickham doesn’t have similar good qualities.

It was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 17. Elizabeth is prejudiced against Darcy. So she believes George Wickham’s story that Darcy acted cruelly to him and refused to honor the wish of Darcy’s father that finance be provided for Wickham to become a clergyman. By emphasizing Wickham’s "amiable appearance," the narrator is hinting that he is not quite the person that Elizabeth believes. This foreshadows Wickham being outed later as a scoundrel and deceiver.

"They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side."

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 17. Jane says this to Elizabeth, when she hears from her sister of George Wickham’s accusations about Darcy. Wickham alleges that Darcy used a loophole in a will to stop Wickham getting money left him by Darcy’s father to pursue a career in the ministry. However, Jane prefers to keep an open mind and suggests that they both have been deceived. She turns out to be right about Darcy. But she fails to see the true character of Wickham, who is an unprincipled liar and deceiver.

I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley’s being imposed on, than that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me last night; names, facts, everything mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 17. Elizabeth shows her naivety here when she finds Mr. Darcy guilty of treating George Wickham badly, solely on the word of Wickham and without hearing the other side of the story. She doesn’t consider that Wickham may be lying and deceiving her – which he is! She remains blind to her prejudice against Darcy.

"It is difficult indeed – it is distressing. One does not know what to think."
"I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think."

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 17. Jane Bennet debates with Elizabeth the credibility of George Wickham’s allegation made to Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy cheated him out of an inheritance. The more steadfast Jane hesitates to condemn Mr. Darcy, but Elizabeth shows her prejudice towards Darcy by siding with Wickham, who has deceived her with a false story.

The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every female of the family…Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and the attentions of their brother; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham…The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended less on any single event, or any particular person, for though they each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them, and a ball was at any rate, a ball.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 17. Dancing was a very important part of the courtship ritual during Jane Austen’s time. So the Netherfield ball is a hugely important event in the social calander and an opportunity for single men and women to mingle and get to know one another. The Bennet sisters look forward to a night of pure joy and happiness, with Jane hoping to attract the attentions of Charles Bingley, and Elizabeth dancing the evening away with George Wickham. Though things don’t quite turn out as planned – especially for Elizabeth, as we shall soon hear.

She had dressed with more than usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than might be won in the course of the evening. But in an instant arose the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted for Mr. Darcy’s pleasure in the Bingleys’ invitation to the officers; and though this was not exactly the case, the absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend Denny, to whom Lydia eagerly applied, and who told them that Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the day before, and was not yet returned; adding, with a significant smile, "I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here."

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 18. Elizabeth’s romantic feelings for George Wickham suffer a setback at the Netherfield ball. Displaying her vanity by dressing "with more than usual care" to capture his heart, she is disappointed to discover that he isn’t there. Immediately her blatent prejudice against Mr. Darcy causes her to blame him for Wickham’s "omission" from the invitation list.

"I remember hearing you once say, Mr. Darcy, that you hardly ever forgave, that your resentment once created was unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its being created."
"I am," said he, with a firm voice.
"And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?"
"I hope not."
"It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first."

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 18. Elizabeth challenges Darcy on his being quick to judge and refusing to change his mind once he forms an impression about a person’s character. She questions if he is ever blinded by prejudice. She puts it him that those who never change their opinion have a responsibility to ensure that they form the correct judgment in the first place. She is referring to Wickham’s claim that he has been been mistreated by Darcy. But Elizabeth shows her prejudice by accepting Wickham’s word and making up her mind without hearing Darcy’s side. Her advice on hasty judgments is ironic, given that she is guilty of exactly that with Darcy. Her criticism of him shows her own lack of self-awareness, for she equally is quick to make up her mind about others and stubborn about changing it.

Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 24. Mr. Bennet, who is fond of teasing his daughters, is being sarcastic when he says this to Elizabeth. But as always there is some truth in Mr. Bennet’s sarcastic humor. Mr. Bennet’s ironic comment is also foreshadowing of Elizabeth’s growing attaction for Wickham and her losing him to another woman. Irony is embedded in the soul of Austen’s novel and is one of her most important tools.

Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself, or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against him; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is, you must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 26. Mrs. Gardiner speaks to Elizabeth over her attraction to George Wickham and warns her against marrying him. She points out that his lack of money makes him an unsuitable match. The Bennets’ economic situation – Longbourn is entailed to male heirs and will pass out of family hands on the death of Mr. Bennet – puts pressure on them to marry someone who is wealthy.

I am not in love with Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But he is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I ever saw – and if he becomes really attached to me – I believe it will be better that he should not. I see the imprudence of it.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 26. While Elizabeth thinks that George Wickham is the "most agreeable man" she ever set eyes on, she declares that she is not in love with him. She says this to her aunt Mrs. Gardiner, who has cautioned her not to grow too attached to him.

I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial towards him; they are even impartial towards Miss King.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 26. Elizabeth writes a letter to Mrs. Gardiner, on her losing George Wickham to Miss Mary King. Wickham’s romantic attentions have now turned to Miss King, who has just inherited a large fortune. Elizabeth jokingly tells her aunt that she couldn’t have loved Wickham, because she doesn’t hate him now that he is with someone else.

What is the difference in matrimonial affairs, between the mercenary and the prudent move? What does discretion end, and avarice begin?

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 27. Elizabeth says this to Mrs. Gardiner, when she labels George Wickham mercenary because he dropped Elizabeth for Miss King who has inherited ten thousand pounds. How does one tell the difference between the mercenary and the prudent and the discreet and the avaricious when it comes to marital affairs, she asks? Elizabeth is calling out the hypocrisy of her aunt warning her the previous Christmas against marrying Wickham because of "want of fortune."

In town I believe he chiefly lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 35. Darcy reveals in a letter to Elizabeth the truth about George Wickham’s slanderous and deceitful story to her that Darcy cheated him of an inheritance. Wickham resigned his church ministry studies in exchange for money for law school, said Darcy. But instead of using the money to attend law school, he squandered it on idleness and pleasure. When the money was gone, he asked Darcy for more, and when Darcy refused he was "violent in his abuse of me."

About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, 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, which must be her excuse…Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 35. Mr. Darcy, in a letter, reveals to Elizabeth how George Wickham attempted to elope with Darcy’s 15-year-old sister Georgiana, aided by his sister’s governess Mrs. Younge. Wickham’s sole aim was to obtain young Georgiana’s fortune. Darcy is explaining the reason for his quarrel with Wickham. This is foreshadowing that Wickham will later elope with Lydia Bennet, suggesting that Elizabeth and her family do not take seriously Darcy’s warning about Wickham.

What Wickham had said of the living was fresh in her memory, and as she recalled his very words, it was impossible not to feel that there was gross duplicity on one side or the other; and, for a few moments, she flattered herself that her wishes did not err.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 36. Darcy’s defense against George Wickham’s claims of mistreatment by him has certainly got Elizabeth’s attention. Darcy’s explanation turns out to be very different than the story Wickham told Elizabeth. She realizes that one of them is guilty of gross deception.
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