Jane Austen's Heroes

I think it's safe to assume that we've all heard of Jane Austen. Pride & Prejudice is one of the most popular and highly regarded works of fiction, and if you didn't know that, you at least know that it's been adapted for big screen and small screen dozens of times. The characters are among the most memorable and popular, too.

Take Mr. Darcy. Not only do female readers love him, he's actually an interesting character. Unlike the heroes of many romantic novels, he is well-rounded and far from bland. He can be pleasant and noble, but he also has a darker, less approachable side. He isn't the constantly perfect sort of fellow that can get boring halfway through the book. One of the things that I like about him is how he changes throughout the book as the reader's understanding of him deepens. By the end of the book he's no longer the cold, arrogant man that he was at the beginning. His faults have been tempered and his virtues, by comparison, are greater.

I like Mr. Darcy very much, and I understand why he seems to be the most popular of Jane Austen's heroes. Hey, he's one of my favorites, too! However, I do think it's unfair that the heroes of her other books are continually in his shadow. So, in an attempt to level the playing field a little, I want to take a little time to examine some of Miss Austen's other masculine characters.

Sense & Sensibility

Colonel Brandon - I've always had a soft spot for Colonel Brandon. He's brave, noble, and incredibly wonderful. His love is constant and tender, and he's a true gentleman. Somehow, in spite of all his merits, I don't think he's boring at all, and, unlike Mr. Darcy, he is proud without being arrogant.

Edward Ferrars - No competition for Darcy in this character. Edward F. really is fairly boring, so we'll just move on past him.

Pride & Prejudice

Mr. Bingley - Another who isn't much competition, but I think that's mostly due to the fact that his character isn't give much time to be developed. He's very much a supporting character, but judging from what the reader is told about him, he seems like he "could'a been a contender," if only given a chance. He's open and friendly, and his love is true. I wish more time had been spent on developing him. Before we move one, I just have one question: why is he always portrayed onscreen as an idiot? Austen and her characters describe him as a charming, intelligent man, yet every time I've seen an actor play him, he's goofy and annoying. What's with that?

Mansfield Park


Edmund Bertram - Likable enough - even if he is a little too willing to delude himself. It's obvious though, why Fanny loves him. He's considerate and gentlemanly, and he's intelligent, for the most part. Just keep him away from scheming, self-centered women and he'll be fine.

Emma


Mr. Knightley - Another favorite of mine. One of the things that I love most about Mr. Knightley (besides him being so thoughtful, intelligent, and all-round wonderful) is that he's always saddened when Emma behaves badly, but that never changes how he feels about her, and he never stops believing that she will learn from her mistakes and become a better woman. Isn't that just so sweet?

Northanger Abbey


Henry Tilney - Another character who isn't very well developed, but he's a good character in spite of that. He has a sense of humor; he's kind and sensitive; he has discretion; he's well read, and he follows his own conscience and heart instead of letting himself be swayed by the opinions of others.

Persuasion


Captain Wentworth - Now we come to my personal favorite of all Jane Austen's heroes. Like Darcy, he's proud, but, unlike Darcy, he isn't brooding and aloof - not even in the beginning. Also like Darcy, Wentworth struggled against his feelings for the woman he loved, but his reasons had less to do with prejudice and rank and more to do with a justified resentment and fear of being rejected again. Oh, and Wentworth wasn't arrogant and unpleasant when he admitted his love.

So there you have them. Some are uninteresting; some are fascinating. Of all Austen's heroes, Wentworth and Darcy are definitely my favorites. They're the best developed of her male characters, and each has his merits and his weaknesses that make him not only interesting but human.

_________________________

If you're wondering why I'm writing about Jane Austen's characters when this is a movie blog and I've barely mentioned the movies based on her books: that's the whole point! Meredith of Or Maybe Eisenstein Should Just Relax (read her post here) and I have made an agreement to post once a month about something totally off-topic. Our mission is to have fun with these posts and keeps our writing skills sharp by talking about something other than our usual topics. If you feel like shaking things up a bit, too, feel free to join us! All you have to do is sit down at your computer and have fun.