Ranking the Bad Boys of Jane Austen

Last week, we discussed the leading men of Jane Austen but this week, I thought it was time we paid attention to the bad boys.

#JaneAustenJuly

Books I Mentioned:

Persuasion by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Emma by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Social Media:

[TundraBlue]

Yes! Completely agree with you regarding Henry Crawford. You can even pinpoint the moment when the thrill of the chase for Fanny affections became true feelings and it frightens him, so he does something stupid to feel in control. He had a shot at that redemptive narrative, I just wish Austen had taken it because Edmund did not deserve Fanny.

[goodstrongwords]

Once again, our rankings on this are pretty similar if not possibly exactly the same 😂. Great thoughts! I definitely agree that Henry and Fanny should have ended up together. And all the characters in Emma are indeed absolutely wonderful!!!

[meghanthestorygirl]

This was such a fun discussion! When I was a kid and watched the 2005 P&P the only thing I knew about it was that Lizzy ended up with Darcy. So when Wickham was telling his sob story, I was so confused why Lizzy would end up with Darcy because Wickham's story was so believable to me! It is such a good plot twist.

[takingteawithcatherine]

I would love an Alternate Universe Mansfield Park where Henry and Fanny get married. I know I'm not alone in this.

[TheJengagirl]

I read Austen’s unfinished novel Sanditon earlier this year and i’m so so so curious as to what Austen would have done with Sir Edward, the rake of Sanditon. It’s the only Austen novel where she both clearly identifies the ‘bad boy’ and his intentions from the outset.

She says (warning for the quote ahead if you don’t want to read it) ‘Sir Edward’s great object in life was seductive… he felt he was formed to be a dangerous man- quite in the line of the Lovelaces’. (I took the Lovelaces here to be related to Byron (who i know you love) but I may be mistaken now that i’ve quickly looked at the dates. But imagine a Byronic Jane Austen Bad boy- what would that even look like?)

I just wonder what she would have done with him and how she would have explored his character and his inner motives/rationalisations because she shows you brief insights in a way she hadn’t with any other antagonist. She wrote of his intentions ‘It was Clara alone on whom he had serious designs; Clara whom he meant to seduce. Her seduction was quite determined on…He must carry he off. He knew his business”.

Even better is that we know Clara isn’t naive and is well aware of his motives and isn’t going to be taken in, which again is unusual for an Austen lady. I would have loved to see how Austen would have approached this.

There’s also two promising potential antagonists in Austen’s unfinished ‘The Watsons’ in Tom Musgrove (a charismatic busybody) and Lord Osbourne that woould have been cool to see developed.

Also, I like your take on Henry Crawford- I always felt like Edmund overlooked Fanny and it felt like he didn’t really deserve her or appreciate her enough.

[lorriemerson]

I just saw a promo for a now-streaming one-man show called Being Mr. Wickham starring Adrian Lukis.

[bellathereader]

Yay for liking Northanger Abbey!! After reading it, I went on a Gothic horror binge, reading amongst others, Mysteries of Udolpho. Some real bad boys in that one. Yes, Wickham, so bad....

[SabineThinkerbellum]

Happy to inform you that I created not one but three booklists with your name on it.
a) Jennifer Brooks - Classics
b) Jennifer Brooks - Fantasy
c) Jennifer Brooks - Historical Fiction

which translates as: my tbr is getting longer and I love it

[RaineyDayReads]

I agree with everything you said! I will die on that hill about Henry Crawford, as well.

[mirusia]

I think Wickham is the perfect villain. He is no mastermind, just a guy who wants money and doesn't care who he hurts to get it. I think his portrayal in the novel "Wickham's Second Attempt" was awesome #WickhamsSecondAttempt

[delfinamoyanopicca]

I always thought that Marianne should have married Willoughby because, despise the things he did, I feel like they were truly in love and never understood Marianne ending up with Colonel Brandon

[BookZealots]

After reading Persuasion for the first time it felt flat for me and after considering it, I think Mr. Elliot (Anne's cousin) who was supposed to be the antagonist, felt how you described Frank (in Emma), but less so. I understand why Austen's books need to be read so many times.

[mlle_darlling]

I have to go with Wickham because he’s the only “bad boy” who knows who he is and what he wants. He fools you at first, but when his true character is revealed, he’s not ashamed and starts treating everyone with a “You don’t like me, so what? That’s the kind of a person I am, and I don’t care about your opinion” demeanor.

Most of other “bad boys” (I didn’t read Mansfield Park) look more like cowards who enjoy having fun but can’t bear any responsibility for their actions. I’d love them to be tragic heroes, but I consider them just pathetic and nothing more. Churchill, for example, chooses his aunt’s fortune above decent moral principles and genuine affection and then acts like a victim of circumstance. Knowing full well that he wouldn’t be able to have an open relationship with Jane, he still pursues and seduces her and leaves her to wait an unspecified period of time until the aunt dies. In the meantime, he constantly gaslights her and accuses her of not loving him enough. Thwarting just one girl’s marriage prospects and good reputation isn’t enough, so he proceeds to put Emma’s future and status in jeopardy, and a “necessary” part of his plan are frequent insults towards Jane. I know film adaptations usually portray him from a more sympathetic angle, but I think Emma makes it clear in the end of the book, when Churchill starts crying “Woe me!” and throwing empty compliments at Jane, that Jane is really the only loving person in their relationship.

[taylorrae]

Hahaa I'm dying (again) at the "hill I will die on" 😂 I love this.

I agree that Willoughby had more potential for redemption than Wickham. Wickham really is bad to the bone.

Finally: Mr. Elliott makes me madder than a wet settin' hen. 😏😄😉

[cherylshifflet]

Wickham for me is the worst villain. I agree that while Willoughby broke Marianne’s heart we do know his intentions with her were genuine. I always thought the real villain of S&S was Lucy Steele - she’s very conniving & self serving. As for Emma & Frank - I think she needed a bit of a mini heartbreak for her to grow & understand how meddling in people’s love lives might not be such a good idea. I do feel bad for Jane Fairfax having to see him flirt with Emma. That had to hurt & I’d love to see a prequel of their romance so we had a better idea of why Jane tolerated Franks’s behavior.

[pamelatarajcak]

It's interesting but I never see Frank Churchill as a bad boy either. He's between a rock and a hard place. He loves Jane but can't show it because of that harpy of an aunt.

[bobbiesuedavis]

I always describe Frank Churchill as a skunk. A pleasant one yes. But still a skunk.😆

[TooFondofBooksJH]

I have never heard the argument that Benwick is the antagonist in Persuasion. That is interesting. I would love to hear the rationale behind that. Mr. Elliot is scheming and manipulative and definitely a bad boy.
I mostly agree with you about Willowby and Wickham. Wickham was definitely playing a long game and would always be a schemer. Willowby is potentially redeemable. I agree that he genuinely loved Marianne, but I think that money would always be the hitch. I think for Willowby a comfortable life would win over love.
I completely respect a hill to die on. I can't agree though. Fanny never liked him. As much as he may have come to understand Fanny and potentially really loved her, he couldn't have lasted a long-term relationship with her. They are just too different in character and values.

[sterlingreads]

Someone likes the bad boys 😆 you have me rethinking everything.

[janetsmith]

What about Willoughby’s appalling treatment of the two young women??