Top Ten WORST Jane Austen Suitors

Not every guy in Jane Austen’s novels was as desirable as Mr. Darcy. In this video, I discuss the many unpleasant and undesirable men from Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion who would make terrible suitors!

Music credit

[Muck]

Quite a few of the characters are "men who are inexperienced with women" and who see marriage a "an item on the CHECKLIST". Mr. Rushworth and Mr. Collins certainly fit that bill ... and thus they dont deserve a part on any "worst" list, because they might be "fixable" over time. Their worst characteristic is that they are BORING or a bit ANNOYING. Charlotte perfectly demonstrates how to deal with such a marriage ... and she also has the perfect explanation: "happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance" ... but errs a bit, because it also includes a lot of WORK WORK WORK ... to "make the marriage work and SHAPE IT". The wife - especially a relatively wealthy one - has a lot of power to shape it, because she is the mistress of the household and commands the servants! A "Mrs. Rushworth" might have some problems dealing with mother Rushworth, but even that is a problem that can be solved.

In a sense the comments / list are including the expectation of "instant and eternal happiness" from marriage, which it doesnt really have to be. Even Marianne Dashwood probably has to grow into "accepting Col. Brandon", who has proven already that he will do the right thing and provide for "his women". [IMO he should send "the girl and her child" to Mrs. Dashwood to care for / foster ... which would make it easier for him to visit and to "keep the family together".]

There are two types of "really evil" suitors left and both are experienced (with women):
- Wickham ... has the charm and is flirtatious, but he is also IN NEED OF MONEY to cover his lifestyle ... which makes him a "lesser evil" compared to the others, because there is a different motivation that drives him
- Crawford, Willoughby, Col. Frederick Tilney, ... are charming AND RICH ... and thus "deceive out of lust alone"
These are EVIL because you would never be sure if they wouldnt get another woman ... after marriage. This is a HUGE difference to the "indifferent / boring suitors" above.

Frank Churchill does not deserve a spot on this list, because he was NEVER TRULY "suiting Emma". There is such a thing as "harmless flirtation with a woman" (plain old compliments ... but in these days of "men are bad" indoctrination women seemed to have unlearned that these exist) ... just like there is "banter" between men that can sound rough to any outsider but is "just regular talk among men". He is in love with Jane and doesnt really have any way of making money himself, other than inheriting.

For these reasons I consider this list AND THE CHARACTERISATIONS to show a typical woman's view, limited by the typical blindness to the male nature / needs, especially the PRESSURE on Frank Churchill is being completely overlooked.

[chelsealovingbooks]

I think I would put Willoughby as #1 because I don't believe he truly cared at all for Marianne (more how she made him feel than about her). I also would have had Mr. Brandon on the list (older brother of Colonel Brandon) because, even though he wasn't a character alive in the story we still learn about him and his horrible romantic story. Still, it was nice to see your list and reasoning.

[michaelodonnell]

Willoughby seduces and abandoned the pregnant Eliza.
As far as we are aware, Wickham abandoned no one (though it's clearly implied that if Darcy hadn't intervened Wickham would probably have abandoned Lydia.
Based on that alone, Willoughby certainly belongs above Wickham.

[ElizabethJones-pvsj]

Wickham falls into the standart trap of the solution to my money problems is just more money not thinking about how I might be to blame for my own money problems, because he couldn't possibly be to blame for anything. He honestly doesn't seem to see anyone as a person with thoughts and feelings of their own, he just treats them like objects he can manipulate to serve his own ends. It's hard to really get a good picture of his relationship with other men because it's told mostly through the lens of what Elizabeth Bennet sees and knows, but he has no concerns about just running out on his 'friends' in the millitia who he presumably owes money to as well as all the tradesmen he has on account.

[skullclutter]

I'd move Henry Crwford up to number two, since he starts his flirtation with Fanny with the expressed purpose of toying with her emotions. It's only when the plan backfires and he falls in love instead do we get into "can't take no for an answer". That malicious initial intent pushes it over the edge for me.

[michellem]

My first impulse was to move Mr Collins up the list. He is an unintelligent social climber with little empathy or compassion (as shown in his "consolation" visit which was really to triumph over the family at its most difficult point - is this a vindictive streak?). But then, he did actually marry. And, he would remain faithful and not abandon his wife. And his wooing was straightforward and not at all deceptive. Heavy sigh. Soul crushing in a long term way, not an immediate way, so perhaps Charlotte has the strength of character to maintain her equanimity.

[AprilFriday-devm]

I don’t think Willoughby had a heart. I think he had a victim complex. He’s was a very true-to-life narcissist and only loved himself. He seduced, impregnated and abandoned a vulnerable girl, jilted his girlfriend publicly, used gaslighting to make her look crazy, married a woman he actively despised for money, and then wanted to weep on Elenor’s shoulder about losing Marianne. The unmitigated gall places him as the actual worst suitor, IMO. Marginally, because Wickham could easily have done the same to Lydia with no qualms.

[Eloraurora]

I don't know if it really changes the ranking, but I always found Henry Tilney's semi-defense of his brother's behavior interesting. He says that Captain Tilney wouldn't have been such a scumbag to Isabella if she'd been a proper young woman. And I can't help wondering where that falls on a scale from truth to self-delusion. If Captain Tilney had been attracted to Catherine, would he have courted her honestly? Or would he, as an ethical rake, have recognized her as an innocent and left her alone? I feel like Henry's trying to think better of his brother than he deserves.

[nksurf]

Awesome video! Agree Wickham is the worst. No redeeming qualities at all