Jane Austen’s character descriptions in Pride and Prejudice were as fleeting and concise as her descriptions of places. So much happens in the storyline, and there is so much wonderful dialog, that we learn about the heroes and villains largely through these devices rather than via the author’s direct comments.

Nevertheless, its interesting to see some of these matter-of-fact character descriptions together. Looking at them in turn, I was quite struck at the harshness of some of Jane Austen’s descriptions of the appearances of certain women.  It’s amusing that, even though most are just a few lines long, casting directors still can’t seem to stick to these descriptions!

In any case, here, in no particular order, are some key character quotes from Pride and Prejudice:

Mr. Bennet

Mr. Bennet has been interpreted widely across the major adaptations, but this is the only direct authorial description we are given:

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character.

Mrs. Bennet

Again, Mrs Bennet’s character has been interpreted widely in the dramatizations. The most sympathetic is Priscilla Morgan’s portrayal in Cyril Coke’s 1980 adaptation. Alison Steadman plays Mrs Bennet with utmost shrillness in the 1995 version.

She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

Elizabeth Bennet

Jane Austen didn’t write much about Elizabeth directly, but we learn of her vibrancy and wit through her wonderful dialog, the praise of her father, and of course, Mr. Darcy’s unshakeable attraction. Here are a few things Jane Austen wrote about her heroine:

…there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody…

…easy and unaffected…

…she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

Mary Bennet

Mary is not supposed to be bad at the piano, nor particularly stupid, yet she lacks the charm and good taste of Elizabeth:

Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached.

Lydia Bennet

Lydia, Mrs Bennet’s favorite daughter, is described in an unusually lengthy descriptive passage:

Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whom her uncle’s good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance.

Mr. Collins

Mr. Collins, usually portrayed by older, and generally shorter men, is described as thus:

He was a tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal.

Mr. Bingley

Mr. Bingley, though perhaps suffering from a ‘want of resolution,’ is blessed with youth, unaffected manners and extreme good looks:

He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable…

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners.

Mr. Darcy (at the Meryton Ball)

Mr. Darcy’s first scene at the Meryton Ball sees his status in the eyes of those present drop enormously, and we are shocked when he refuses to dance with Miss Elizabeth. Here is Jane Austen’s description:

Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.

…he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Mr. Wickham

Mr. Wickham turned a few heads on arriving in Meryton. He is a man ‘…of most gentlemanlike appearance…’ who:

… wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. 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. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation–a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming…

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Lady Catherine is not a pleasant lady, yet her appearance hints of forgotten beauty:

Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance…

Miss de Bourgh

Lady Catherine’s daughter, apparently destined for Mr. Darcy’s hand, did not appear to be an agreeable proposition:

Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a low voice…

Some have, of course, been missed from the list so expect a Volume II in the future. Is there anything that strikes you as particularly notable? Also, to what extent do you feel the Pride and Prejudice adaptations have remained faithful to these descriptions?

Yours in the most ardent anticipatory fervor,

Fitzwilliam Darcy