It’s Day 3 of our Pride & Prejudice contest. After yesterday’s eye-candy I hope this post isn’t a disappointment!
Since we’ve talked about heroines and heroes, I’ve decided to talk about villains.
Years ago, I read about a scholarly debate as to who is the villain of P&P. Is it Wickham, Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Lydia, Mr. Collins, Miss Bingley or Lady Catherine De Bourgh? I laughed, because I doubt Jane plotted her story around any literary concept of protagonist/antagonist. She was writing about people. More specifically, about families.
You have Elizabeth and Jane—two perfectly lovely sisters with a most Embarrassing Family. Mrs. Bennet–the archetypal foolish, matchmaking mamma. Mr. Bennet, the witty but lax father. Younger sisters including poor, pedantic Mary and the terminally featherheaded Kitty and Lydia.
This mix doesn’t surprise me. As the eldest of 4 (and the only girl) I know that the oldest siblings often turn out more responsible than the rest.
Then let’s not forget the other relative, the painfully pompous Mr. Collins who pays court to Elizabeth once he’s told Jane is taken.
My favorite Embarrassing Family moment from P&P is the Netherfield ball. Poor Elizabeth! Not only does she not see Wickham there, but Mr. Collins makes a fool of himself trying to seek Darcy’s favor. Her mother openly boasts that Jane will marry Mr. Bingley. Her younger sisters behave like hoydens, except for Mary, who shows off at the piano until her father admonishes her, perhaps a bit too glibly “You have delighted us all enough.”
(That last incident reminds me of my once-little brother, who liked to come to the door to entertain my dates with solos on his recorder. One of my own Embarrassing Family moments.)
But Darcy himself isn’t immune to the Curse of the Embarrassing Family. He’s got the stiff, censorious Lady Catherine De Bourgh trying to match him up with her “sickly and cross” daughter. His little sister Georgiana, though sweet and inoffensive in herself, has a potentially embarrassing secret in her past.
Even Wickham is related in a sense; he’s Darcy’s father’s godson. He and Lydia nearly ruin things for Elizabeth and Darcy.
Then in the secondary romance of the story, you have poor Mr. Bingley, a darling of a young man with two poisonous sisters, one of them with the hots for Darcy, or possibly, for Darcy’s ten thousand a year.
I was relieved Jane and Lizzie got the happy ending they deserved…far away from their relations!
“Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper, or her affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified: he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire; and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.”
If you’re interested in what happened to the rest of the characters, check out Chapter 61 at the Pemberley website.
So who’s the P&P villain you most love to hate? Who do you think played the role best?
What is your favorite Embarrassing Family moment in P&P?
Any other favorite Embarrassing Family moments (real or fictional) you dare to share?
Answer any or all of these questions for a chance at one of TWO 10th Anniversary Collector’s Editions of A&E’s Pride and Prejudice. If you haven’t already, check out the contest rules and learn more about the prizes at the A&E store. Comment on each of this week’s posts for more chances to win!
Elena Greene
LADY DEARING’S MASQUERADE, RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Regency Romance of 2005
www.elenagreene.com
As far as villains go, they were all so great that I just can’t choose.
A favorite embarrassing–or potentially embarrassing–moment is when they are at Pemberley and Georgiana is playing the piano. There is mention of Mr. Wickham and she hits a discordant note. Now the situation could have become very embarrassing if certain information came to light but Elizabeth smoothes it over and the look on Darcy’s face as she does this is priceless.
For villains, it’s a tossup between Lady Catherine De Bourgh and Mr. Wickham.
So who’s the P&P villain you most love to hate? Who do you think played the role best?
Whickham and Lydia
What is your favorite Embarrassing Family moment in P&P?
Oh so many, especially involving the Mother!
When she makes the girls leave Jane and Bingley alone in the parlor for a preqequiste time.
OR Mrs. Bennet talking about D’arcy being Proud in front of him.
OR Mrs. Bennet talking outloud at the Netherfield Ball dinner, so that all can here her talking about how Jane and Bingley will get together, “which will throw the girls into the path” of other rich men.
She was a mess!
Any other favorite Embarrassing Family moments (real or fictional) you dare to share?
I have sooo many embarrassing family stories.. usually revolving around something my father says. But once, we had over extended family over for a holiday, and while my father was praying before a meal he thanked God for the weather that day.. and my aunt interrupted in a loud, rude voice “Have you looked outside?!” (It was a rainy, dreary day.) Everyone just sat in silence and shock.. then, my dad continued and finished up his prayer. No one said a word for a few minutes after that.. just uncomfortable silence.
I think the most embarassing moment in P&P is Mr. Collins proposal. I cringe every time I think of it. Poor Elizabeth. She gets the most horrible series of proposals throughout. Luckily, Darcy’s second attempt is better than his wretched first.
I think, as far as villains go, it has to be Wickham. Everyone else is just silly in their own way. Selfish or mercenary, but not cruel. But Wickham… he is cruel. I sometimes feel a bit sorry for Lydia. Ultimately, I think the marriage would be very unhappy and even stupid Lydia would feel it in the end.
For me it was Caroline Bingley – who hasn’t met a woman like that?!
I agree that there was not specifically a ‘villan’ in P&P, but my favorite nasty/comic part was when Lady Catherine De Bourgh has come to Elizabeth’s home after she has heard Darcy is considering marrying her. Specifically, the end of the scene when she tells Elizabeth that ‘she does not send her compliments to her mother and that she is seriously displeased’ always breaks me up. I vote for Lady Catherine, everyone’s nightmare of a mother-in-law.
Can’t decide which P&P villain I love most to hate b/c I haven’t read them. Sorry.
One night my bf and I are watching TV in the livingroom(my parents bedroom is separated only by the wall) and out comes Mom and announces that it is time for bf to go home and me to go to bed; awful embarrassing. Or the time another bf and I pull up to the house and a while later the outside light is going on and off(Mom again) and out she marches and tells me to get into the house, yikes>
I chose Wickham and the most villanous.
Just about everything Mrs. Bennett did falls under the heading of embarassing.
I have too many embarassing family stories to share here.
See, I need to read this book so I can answer these questions!!!
Great blog today
Wickham is definitely the most villanous character by far. Mrs. Bennett is a total embarrassment to her family.
Wickham is the villain whom we love to hate. Mrs. Bennet has the audacity to speak loudly and embarrass her family.
I don’t think I could choose a favorite villian.
My favorite embarrassing family moment in P&P is probably the ball as well or anything Mrs. Bennet did…LOL.
The most intentional villain is Wickham who is the worst. Mrs. Bennett deliberately embarrasses her daughter every chance she can.
Wickham definitely has to be the best villain. Mrs. Bennett is a screeching magpie most of the time who is out to embarrass her daughters.
Wickham’s portrayal tops all with his attitude. He is the villain who tops all others. Mrs. Bennett is nothing but a predator, really a total embarrassment to all.
Ummmmmmm, I’m going to be unpopular and vote for Darcy, himself. Everyone else is wicked or evil out of stupidity or ego or greed. Darcy is willing to scupper his best friend’s relationship out of nothing but pride. It’s not even his life! He overcomes, and becomes the hero, but for a large chunk of the book he’s pretty clearly the villain (for me).
Sci Fi chick! Love the prayer story … sounds like my family!
I remember one day at my friends house her Dad was praying before the meal and he said ‘We thank you for Jesus’ except he has a pa dutch accent and it sounded like “We thank you for Cheeses”, one of the kids said, “Why’d he thank God for Cheese?” I smacked him under the table.
“So who’s the P&P villain you most love to hate?”
I would have to choose Miss Caroline Bingley. She tried her best to ruin both Jane’s and Elizabeth’s love life.
I pick Lady Catherine De Bourgh as the villian.
That’t the thing about families. There are so many embarassing moments that I can’t think of a single one. I know it’s easy to embarass our teenagers.
My own personal embarrassing family moment: I’m in a public ladies room with my toddler son. While patiently waiting for me to finish my business he says quite clearly, “Mommy, your bottom is too big for the potty.”
So who’s the P&P villain you most love to hate? Who do you think played the role best?
It would have to be Caroline Bingley or Mr.Wickham, followed by Lady Catherine De Bourgh. The casting was near perfect. I loved Judy Dench as Lady Catherine De Bourgh in the movie though.
What is your favorite Embarrassing Family moment in P&P?
When Lydia elopes with Mr.Wickham, and the family is put to shame. Actually, that would count as a shameful moment rather than an embarrassing one, I guess.
I like Kalen’s point. Hadn’t thought of it that way before.
Villain?! Is there one in P&P? No one particular character as such comes to mind, although Wickham comes closest in my opinion only because he nearly causes Lizzy and Darcy to never come together in the first place.
In that same context, Mrs.Bennet is an equally culpable culprit and the actress in the A&E verison has played that part superbly.
Most embarassing moment in P&P = I have two. One is when Darcy rejects Bingley’s suggestion that Darcy dance with Lizzy. (Lizzy doesn’t mind, but I did – mightily – on her behalf, lol)Another is when Mr.Bennet gets Mary to stop playing. Effective but so hurtful to poor, talentless Mary.
So who’s the P&P villain you most love to hate? Who do you think played the role best?
–Caroline Bingley. What a spiteful woman.
What is your favorite Embarrassing Family moment in P&P?
–The Netherfield Ball without question: Mr. Collins’s clumsy dancing, Mr. Collins’s attempting to ingratiate himself with Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet’s crowing over Jane’s impending betrothal, Lydia and Kitty’s overindulgence and silliness, Mary’s off-key singing and clunky piano playing, Mr. Bennet’s cutting response to Mary, Mr. Wickham’s no-show, Charlotte’s questioning of Jane’s intentions, and Mr. Darcy’s brooding and taciturn silence during their dance.
Personal Embarrassing Moment?
–Being urged by my mother to sing in front of assembled guests
Oh villians, I go with Lady Catherine and Miss Bingley.
Embarrassing moments. . . it’s kind of just about every time Mrs Bennett and the younger sisters go outside!! LOL
Lois
Kalen, I’d agree Darcy is the antagonist but I think of villain as not exactly the same thing. And much can be forgiven a man who can admit he was wrong, especially if he looks so good in a wet shirt!
I’d agree with those of you who think Wickham is the most heinous baddie. The villain I most enjoy hating, though, is Miss Bingley. I love the scene where she’s going on and on about what makes a lady truly accomplished and Darcy caps it by saying she must read widely. With Elizabeth sitting right there with a book. What a nice little way to let the air out of Miss B’s sails.
Elena
LOL on all those Embarrassing Family Moments, especially Kate’s!
My kids do stuff like that to me, too. Each summer we share a cottage for a week with my brother and his family. Our kids play well together, so the adults can relax nearby and enjoy real conversation. But my kids tell people that they take care of their baby cousin so the grownups can drink beer.
Elena
I think Mr. Wickham (Rupert Friend) is one you love to hate. I actually think he’s hot, but his personality needs serious revisions. lol
What is your favorite Embarrassing Family moment in P&P? The one with Mrs. Bennet at the ball. I think Elizabeth just wanted to hide. Especially when she said Jane was prettier.
Any other favorite Embarrassing Family moments (real or fictional) you dare to share? Oh, I do have some real ones, but I can’t share. My family members would be kill me. lol
I love the notion of Caroline Bingley as a villain. She really was nasty, wasn’t she? Wickham is despicable, though.
All of you who told personal embarrassing moment are to be commended!
I love all the ‘villains’ of P&P. Mr. Collins is so delightfully annoying, Caroline Bingley such a witch and Lady Catherine the snob to end all snobs – how can you not love them all? Though I really would love to give Lydia and Mrs. Bennet a good smack upside the head every once in awhile.
I think I most love to hate either Lydia or Mrs. Bennet — because they are both just so amazingly selfish!
Of course, Miss Bingley is sort of more fun to hate — because both Lydia and Mrs. B end up thinking they’ve behaved cleverly and benefited by it, but Miss B is nicely taken down by Darcy.
Cara
Well, my personal opinion is that the primary villain in Pride and Prejudice is: The Cigarette Smoking Man.
What? you say. He isn’t even in P&P, you say. You must be smoking something pretty weird yourself, you say.
But there you see his cunning! He never appears in person–but his machinations, through the Global Conspiracy can be seen everywhere. How does Wickham’s unit just HAPPEN to be posted where Darcy’s best friend has just HAPPENED to rent a house? And Elizabeth’s cousin, Mr. Collins, just HAPPENS to live right next to Darcy’s Aunt? And Elizabeth’s Aunt just HAPPENS to be from the same part of the country as Darcy. Coincidence? Don’t be naive. I spent the entire end of the book waiting for Mulder and Scully to burst in and arrest everyone!
As for Most Embarassing Family moments…the rest of my family might think that this comment qualifies….
Todd-who-really-shouldn’t-read-P&P-during-commercial-breaks-for-X-Files-reruns
Was there a Thursday post that I am not finding???
If not, then here is my Thursday post..LOL
These sneak peek scenes of villans is great!
~Kathleen(I would have posted as a blogger but the screen name box did not appear)
My favorite embarassing family moment from P&P is when Lizzy’s sister asked her if she dropped her handkerchief on purpose.