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Original poster

Does anyone have a favourite Jane Austen Villain.

87 replies

florentina1 · 03/01/2022 14:17

I am torn between Fanny Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility and Mrs Elton from Emma.

Also, while we are idling away a gloomy Monday, which Austen character do you most want to live with. I want to be adopted by the Musgroves.

OP posts:
Laska2Meryls · 03/01/2022 20:10

Mrs Elton though was really well written.. .and ww mustn't forget Elizabeth Eliot .I think JA must have known of some dreadful characters to imagine her villains.

I just love the way she portrays her contemporary society and its foibles

One of her best characters has to be Mr Collins.. Oh, and Henry Lucas .. both so deliciously funny..

TerribleCustomerCervix · 03/01/2022 20:08

Caroline Bingley- I think we all know a woman in real life who puts others down and plays the “Pick Me!” Dance.

Laska2Meryls · 03/01/2022 20:05

Absolutely Its a shame that the Lucy Steels prevail so often.. but she did get stuck with the horrible Ferrars ... and of course both Mary and Henry Crawford lost out .

Another villain of course was the scheming Mrs Clay.

hiptobeasquare · 03/01/2022 15:55

@fourquenelles Yes, Lucy Steele is a well written villain and often overlooked.

fourquenelles · 03/01/2022 15:45

I think Lucy Steele is overlooked as a villain. She is clever, cunning, and not adverse to lying. She jumps ship with the money and she insinuates herself into the favour of old Mrs. Ferrars by flattery and false penitence, and so becomes the old lady's favourite daughter-in-law.

Laska2Meryls · 03/01/2022 15:38

And the age gap between Emma and Mr Knightley would certainly be remarked on now

Laska2Meryls · 03/01/2022 15:37

She has written some great villains ... just adding
The Crawfords and Aunt Norris to the list..

But then some of her heroes are not terribly heroic .. Gawd... Edmund Bertram.. what a pompous twit.. I certainly wouldn't want to live with him . ..

Original poster
florentina1 · 03/01/2022 14:28

Under age that should read

OP posts:
LondonWolf · 03/01/2022 14:28

Wickham! Imagine your life being married to him…😩

I think Emma would be fun to live with - gossipy and never a dull moment plus she’d fix me up with a keeper! Grin

Original poster
florentina1 · 03/01/2022 14:27

Yes Wickham and Willoughby, each have a penchant for under your age girls.

OP posts:
Laska2Meryls · 03/01/2022 14:25

Mr Eliot is pretty villainous, but all in all it has to be Wickham ..

I think the Crofts would be quite ok to live with .. ( just as long as you didn't actually have to )

theqentity · 03/01/2022 14:19

I love Lady Catherine de Bourgh, she's savage!