Pride & Prejudice, ch. 26: My Little Regency: Friendship Is Depressing

There has to be an essay, or perhaps a whole book of essays, analyzing the Austen characters who give advice and what effect it has, if any, on plot and character growth. Austen herself almost seems to have anticipated this, what with her narrator describing Aunt Gardiner’s talk with Lizzy as “a wonderful instance of advice being given … without being resented.” Let’s think of how many times in the book Lizzy has ignored advice: once from her mother (implicit, but Ma Bennet obviously thought she should marry Mr. Collins) and twice from Charlotte (who offered advice for Jane as well as for Lizzy) for sure. It’s effective here because Aunt Gardiner acknowledges and appeals to Lizzy’s common sense. 

Also, it helps that Lizzy’s investment in Wickham is less emotional and more superficial. This is evidenced by her first reply to her aunt, in which she sounds more like her father, then by her wistfully wondering what might happen if Wickham were to fall for her. She immediately blames Darcy for Wickham’s (and by extension her own) predicament and halfheartedly argues that Wickham is her dad’s favorite. The fact that she can’t focus solely on Wickham and must pull in two other people as examples of why it’s unfair that she can’t let herself fall for Wickham reinforces her trivial feelings for him. It’s also telling that she’d rather turn the whole thing into a thought exercise: “[H]ow can I promise to be wiser than so many of my fellow-creatures if I am to be tempted, or how am I even to know that it would be wisdom to resist?” It appears that she does in fact know how, at least in this situation, because she can’t really focus on Wickham as an object of love. And the fact that she knows to ask these questions shows that she is more thoughtful (if not wiser) than her average fellow-creature.

That thoughtfulness extends to Charlotte’s decision to marry Mr. Collins (to a degree). Faced with Ma Bennet’s rudeness, Lizzy realizes that she will sincerely miss Charlotte, and agrees to visit her in the spring. At the same time, she believes that they’re transitioning into a new phase of their friendship: less emotional, less intimate, and less supportive. She keeps up with Charlotte largely to honor “what had been, rather than what was.” We won’t get any indication of how Charlotte views their friendship for another few chapters, and even then it might be hard to tell. That Charlotte wants Lizzy as comfort (and as soon as possible) is sweet … but then again, look at who she’s marrying.

In between her correspondence with Charlotte, Lizzy is waiting to hear from Jane in London. She seems to be expecting/hoping that Jane will meet up with the Bingley party rather than just Caroline, whose friendship Jane wishes to continue. At last, Jane corners Caroline (in a really, like, nice way, I mean) and Caroline dives and dodges and puts up a front. Jane seems genuinely curious about Miss Darcy, though it’s easy to imagine the sense of yearning Jane must feel. She’s presented as angelic, but it’s moments like this that remind us of her humanity.

A gosh-darn entire MONTH later, Miss Bingley and Miss Bingley alone repays Jane’s visit. Her rudeness is so palpable that even Jane must accept it for what it means: the dissolution of their friendship. She also concludes that something is definitely off about Caroline, who gabs about Miss Darcy, assures Jane that Bingley knows she’s two or three neighborhoods away, and “seem[s] … to [want] to persuade herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy.” Now, we and Lizzy were always aware that a desperate Caroline is a sloppy Caroline, so this is totally in keeping with her character … what’s the opposite of an arc? Slide? Avalanche? Sure. Jane is now witnessing Caroline’s hilarious and sad character avalanche.

Lizzy is relieved that Jane’s bullshit radar is pinging due Caroline, but is disappointed in Bingley, going so far as to wish that by marrying Miss Darcy, he comes to regret having spurned Jane. Okay, Liz, hold up. That you are ready to believe Caroline that Bingley is outright ignoring Jane is one thing, but believing that Miss Darcy’s supposed imperfections (coming from one single source) will cause Bingley grief and disappointment? Not a good look, man.

Speaking of our favorite citation-needed Darcy-info dispenser, Lizzy informs her aunt that Wickham’s affections have transferred to another young woman. “[Elizabeth’s] heart had been slightly touched,” notes the narrator, “and her vanity was satisfied with believing she would have been his only choice, had fortune prevented it.” This other woman is struck with a sudden case of big-inheritance-itis, which Lizzy recognizes as the reason why she is no longer Wickham’s bae. Our narrator also points out her hypocrisy in accepting the reality of Wickham’s financial circumstances while ignoring Charlotte’s: Wickham is “wise” to seek out a woman with substantial wealth, but Charlotte acted out of “selfishness.” Now, I might be inclined to suggest that there is some internal misogyny going on here, but taking the context into account is more interesting: Lizzy appears to have taken her friendship with Charlotte for granted, in that she let herself believe that they were more similar than they really are (and that Lizzy’s way is the right way, according to Lizzy). She brought her disappointment on herself. With Wickham, she let herself get swept away by his tragic backstory and conflated his financial straits with her own, thus allowing him to act in a way that would balance the scales for him (letting her enjoy some justice vicariously). She gave Charlotte her heart and Wickham her ego. One remains unscathed.

For now … [ominous cackle, crash of thunder]

The capper? Lizzy has enough perspective to gently mock Kitty and Lydia’s naïveté in the ways of the world, but not enough to face her own lack of sympathy regarding Charlotte’s somewhat more urgent situation. And let’s face it, anything that allows her to feel superior to the tweebs probably feeds her ego even more. Lizzy’s cynicism does not bring out the best in her, does it?

Soon to come: Mercifully, we are presented with a time jump so that Lizzy can get started on her journey to Hunsford.