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Original poster

Pride and Prejudice - in the view of 2026 society is Mr. Wickham simply a predator?

457 replies

mids2019 · 30/09/2026 20:15

So Lydia is 15 years old and to my (admittedly non literary mind) groomed by Mr. Wickham into eloping. Reading the book now it seems full of victim blaming with Lydia being blamed as much as Whickam for the inappropriate relationship. Is this too simplistic?

OP posts:
Original poster
mids2019 · 30/09/2026 20:32

kxeil · 30/09/2026 20:28

The minimum age for marriage in England at the time was 12 for a girl and 14 for a boy.

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Wow......Times have changed for the better. Although the language in the book is sublime I really get an undercurrent of something quite grim in terms of exploitation and especially a girl who would now be viewed as victim having to accept some responsibility.

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 30/09/2026 20:29

But in those days a 15 year old wouldn't be seen as a child.

DisappearingGirl · 30/09/2026 20:28

Interesting question.

Wickham is definitely a predator and I think the book makes it clear that he's not a good person (as PP said he tried the same with Darcy's little sister).

However it's interesting how Lydia is viewed. Yes she's portrayed as "silly" to not be more careful than to take up with a man like Wickham. I was going to say that's a sign of society at the time - if a young girl ran off with a man or got pregnant that would be their downfall really. No-one would say "oh poor you, you were groomed". So girls I guess did have to be careful and take some responsibility themselves as well as the man being to blame.

I was going to say things are different today in the UK. However they're not necessarily so different. The girls groomed by grooming gangs weren't supported by our society. And a young girl who gets pregnant to a crap bloke is still likely to have a tough life.

So although it's not the girl's "fault" she's been groomed (or ended up with an unsuitable man), she still has to deal with the consequences, more so then, but still somewhat these days.

kxeil · 30/09/2026 20:28

mids2019 · 30/09/2026 20:15

So Lydia is 15 years old and to my (admittedly non literary mind) groomed by Mr. Wickham into eloping. Reading the book now it seems full of victim blaming with Lydia being blamed as much as Whickam for the inappropriate relationship. Is this too simplistic?

The minimum age for marriage in England at the time was 12 for a girl and 14 for a boy.

chirrupybird · 30/09/2026 20:24

He's a nasty man and certainly the sensible sisters realise they should have looked after their 'silly' sisters better. He was looking for free sex, seduced her and would have then dumped her until he was offered money, she really didn't understand the position she put herself (and her family) in. And still seemed to be infatuated by him, I doubt he was faithful.

Original poster
mids2019 · 30/09/2026 20:22

I find it a little difficult reading about Lydia's character being at fault when to my mind she is simply the victim of a charming older man who full well knew of her age and immaturity. It's quite shocking from a modern perspective.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 30/09/2026 20:19

In the book it is made clear he has tried to do this before, and was stopped (by Darcy).

it’s only Darcy’s pride that stops him telling everyone what wickham has done and therefore protecting Lydia.

hence the title - the pride is Darcy’s and the prejudice is Elizabeth.