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Sketch the character of George Wickham.

George Wickham is a significant character after Darcy and Elizabeth in the novel Pride and Prjudice’. There are following characteristics in his character –

1. Personality: George Wickham is one of the most significant character in the novel. Like Darcy and Elizabeth, Wickham also is a complex character. He is such a character which canot be comprehended easily, but his class is entirely different from both Elizabeth and Darcy. His first appearance in the novel is quite dramatic. He has been described as “A young man, never seen before, of most gentleman like appearance.” All were struck with the stranger’s air.” Wickham was the man who accepted commission in the regiment stationed at Meryton. He “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.” There was also about him, “A happy readiness of conversation, a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming.”

2. Shrewed and Scheming man: Wickham is a very clever man. As he introduced to the Bennet sisters by a fellow officer, he sees Darcy with Bingley. Since he notes the intimacy existing between them, he losses no time in determining his course of action which certainly of decent and gentlemanly. Wickham is a very shrewd and sinister schemer. He sows the seeds of discord against Darcy. Who he laarns, is accused of pride and haughtiness by the young ladies of the Meryton neighbourhood. He like other villain worth his salt, decides to exploit the current wave against Darcy to his own advantage. He decribes his close relationship with the Darcy household and the provisions made by late Mr. Darcy for his welfare with great accuracy and truth, but only upto a certain point, so that it may make him look an aggrieved person, unjustly deprived of his legitimate share by the whim and high handedness of young Darcy.

3. Conscious of Charming Personality: Wickham is conscious of his charming personality and manners and exploits these to the maximum in seducing young ladies for his nefarious ends. Elizabeth is deceived and obessed with his charming personality, refined manners and gentlemanly disposition. But when he is exposed, we are shocked to learn of his leacherous nature.

4. Cunning and Vicious: He was prepared for a career in the Church but he refused to take orders after completing his university education and instead demanded three thousand pounds to study law. He squandered the amount through immoral deeds and forfeited his share in the will of late Mr. Darcy. With the connivance of Mrs. Young, the governess of Georgiana, he attempted to elope with Georgiana, Darcy’s sister, when she was not even of fifteen. In Meryton also, when learns that one Miss King unexpectedly inherits a huge amount, he starts paving amorous attention to her, instead of Elizabeth. His elopement with Lydia exposes him fully and his many other scandals were appeared on surface. The terms, on which he agrees to marry Lydia are also indicative of his character.

5. Brazenness: After his marriage with Lydia and during his visit to Longbourn, he does not show any sign of repentance or shame on account of his immoral act. He is quite brazen faced and still tries to play the old game with Elizabeth, who has, unluckily for him despite by now known the whole truth about him through Darcy and her own experience. Wickham’s abilities and accomplishements are all in the field of dissipation and depravity. He is not equal to Elizabeth’s intelligence, with and wisdom. But he is wise enough to withdraw himself when he realizes that Elizabeth is beyond him. His later life also shows that he is incorrigible. He is rightly rewarded with Lydia for a wife.

6. Conclusion: Summing up, it may be said that his character is complex and ironical. He play a very significant role in the novel. He as has been rightly observed by Elizabeth, has got “all the appearance of goodness and virtue, but only the appearance of it.’ He serves as an admirable foil to the character of Darcy in order to put the novel character of Darcy in bold reflief. There is nothing sterling about him. He is an instrument, with Lydia, to further the action of the main plot. Elizabeth and Darcy affair. At last, it may be said that. it was Wickham who had earlier succeed in heightening the prejudice of Elizabeth against Darcy and thus created a crisis in their affair so, it is in fitness of the things that it is ultimately he who is instrumental in resolving the crisis and bringing them to the most intimate relationship.