Jane Austen's Heroes

There's nothing new or original in posting about Jane Austen's heroes, I suppose. But it's something I've never done before. And it's something that I think belongs here.

The way I see it, the most important factor of a good book may very well be its characters. One of my favorite things about Jane Austen’s writings is her characters. They are well-developed, intriguing, and believable. If the storyline itself is lacking (which some people consider a few or all of Jane Austen’s novels to be: I, of course, do not agree with them, to put it lightly), the characters can save it. I’m not convinced that deficient characters could be saved by a good storyline, however.

One could easily say that the hero and heroine (or male and female main characters, if you prefer) are the most important characters in a book. In stories of a romantic nature, not even the best heroine can make up for a disappointing hero.

In the eyes of many fans, Jane Austen is acclaimed for creating excellent heroes. What about them is so compelling? For one thing, they often seem like real people, and it draws us to them.

Though each of them probably deserve a post all to themselves (and I actually did write one--er, two--for Mr. Knightley, and someday I'm going to do a post for Mr. Darcy... because he needs one, sadly enough), I thought it would be interesting to divide the Jane Austen heroes up into categories. So here’s a little review of all seven heroes, divided into four different groups.

The romantics

‘romantic’

noun

“a person who is romantic, as in being idealistic, amorous, or soulful”

Rupert Penry-Jones as Wentworth

Captain Frederick Wentworth, Persuasion

    Persuasion, Jane Austen’s last completed novel, is often reckoned to be her most romantic. It is the story of Anne Elliot, a young woman who gets a second chance at love. At age nineteen, she meets Frederick Wentworth and they fall “rapidly and deeply in love.” She consents to an engagement, but because he is 'beneath' her family and without a solid future, Anne is persuaded to break the engagement. Captain Wentworth leaves, but eight years later they are thrown together once again.

    For those eight years they have both remained faithful to one another, although he actually believes himself indifferent for a time. The awkwardness of the situation and the coldness on Captain Wentworth’s side create a situation where they meet again and again but rarely speak to each other.

Ciaran Hinds as
Captain Wentworth

    The most decidedly romantic part in the novel (perhaps all of Jane Austen’s novels) is where Capt. Wentworth renews his proposal to Anne; unable to speak, he pours out his heart in a letter.

“I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.”

   His constancy and that letter says it all. Captain Wentworth is definitely one of the romantics.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy

   Ah, Mr. Darcy. Something I’ve noticed about this hero is that you either “get it” or you don’t…some understand Mr. Darcy, some think they do, some do not…others simply don’t want to.

   All in all though, Mr. Darcy is the best-loved Jane Austen hero of all, as well as Pride and Prejudice being the most popular novel.

   Most of us know the story in Pride and Prejudice; Mr. Darcy slights Elizabeth’s looks…Elizabeth doesn’t like him…he notices Elizabeth more and starts to like her, soon feeling in danger of liking her too much because her class is lower. Elizabeth learns about something Mr. Darcy supposedly did and dislikes him more. Meanwhile Mr. Darcy falls in love against his inclination, and at the height of Elizabeth’s dislike, he proposes. He does so very untactfully, however, insulting her family while he's at it. She refuses him, of course; but it wasn’t an “of course” to him: he was expecting her to accept him.
   And then, as we know, it all comes around beautifully. The pride and prejudice on both sides are removed, and the reader arrives at the anxiously awaited happy understanding between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.

Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy

   Pride and Prejudice may be Jane Austen’s most eventful novel. Something is always happening, and it has everything; there are scandals and secrets…heartbreaks, comedy, romance.

   There is Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.

   For me, one of the best things about Mr. Darcy is his ever-constant and unchangeable (except to increase) love for Elizabeth. That alone makes one root for him, but after the first proposal, one grows to love him right along with Elizabeth. 
We learn about his protectiveness and love for his younger sister, his kindness towards his servants, his non-resentful and affectionate manners towards Elizabeth when he sees her again, and his amiable and un-prejudiced actions to her aunt and uncle. His defending Elizabeth to the snide Miss Bingley, his gentlemanly concern for Elizabeth when she receives shocking news, and then his true heroism in doing anything, going anywhere, spending whatever necessary, to save his Lizzy from disgrace.

   Mr. Darcy’s sincerity in admitting he was wrong – realizing and generously confessing that Elizabeth was right in her accusations about him; how she changed him, or rather brought out the best in him.

   Everything for Elizabeth. It’s what makes Mr. Darcy romantic.

“Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! … You shewed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.” --Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth

Colonel Brandon, Sense and Sensibility

Alan Rickman as Col. Brandon 

A man who falls in love with such a romantic as Marianne Dashwood, must be a romantic himself.

    Colonel Brandon is not the dashing sort of romantic like Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy, but I consider him romantic indeed and quite belonging to this category.

    Though Marianne considers him quite the opposite of romantic at first – he is at the advanced age of 35 compared to her 17, and incapable of loving or inspiring love. (It is quite an age difference; but it’s interesting to think that he’s only 4 years older than Capt. Wentworth, and actually younger than Mr. Knightley.)

    Marainne is rather blinded at first to what he really is; melancholic with deep emotions; a kind and loyal heart.

    Both of the major adaptations of Sense and Sensibility try to increase Col. Brandon’s drama in the story by having him go out to look for Marianne in the rain, and carrying her, faint and ill, back into the house. Though Marianne did become deathly ill in the book, it did not happen quite in that way; I don’t really think it’s something he wouldn’t have done, though.

David Morrissey as Brandon

    The makers of the 2008 mini-series had rather a liking for drawing things out of the novel which were barely hinted at, and one of them was the duel between Col. Brandon and Willoughby. “[W]e met by appointment,” Col. Brandon says in the book, “he to defend, I to punish his conduct. We returned unwounded, and the meeting, therefore, never got abroad.”

    Everybody assumes this to be a duel although the word is never mentioned – I personally have a hard time believing it was with swords and everything as presented in the mini-series, but in any case, Col. Brandon performed some gallant deed in defending the honor of his ward as well as his beloved Marianne.

    His love is so constant, self-sacrificing, and passionate, that I think he can scarcely be called less than romantic.

The nice guys

‘nice’

-Enjoyable and agreeable: pleasant

-Courteous and polite: considerate

-Of good character and reputation: respectable

Edward Ferrars, Sense and Sensibility

Dan Stevens as Edward Ferrars

   I think poor Edward is a dreadfully mistaken character – helped along by Hugh Grant’s portrayal in the 1995 version, I would say. Also there just isn’t a whole lot about him in the book. I don’t think anyone would argue, though, that he’s a nice guy. He’s kind and considerate. Though gentle, he is determined and sticks to his duty even if it pains him.

    Edward comes from a family who are anything but nice. His sister Fanny Dashwood (married to the heroine’s half-brother) is sly and scheming, cold and cruel, proud and pert; his mother is stuck-up, snobbish and extremely self-centered; his brother is rather artificial and similar to the rest except without equal wits.
   Edward's manners are quiet and cautious, but he is not shy and backward like some would have him. And by the way, he has a nice sense of humor – just the right amount of teasing – so he’s certainly not boring, to my thinking. The book doesn’t really have enough of him, which is a pity; I think we see his conversation much too little. The movie-makers probably have a lot of room to move in because of this; and personally I like the 2008 portrayal best (although I do not dislike 1995's Edward, either).

Edmund Bertram, Mansfield Park

Nicholas Farrell as Edmund

   I don’t really have much to say for Edmund, because for one thing I don’t know as much about him as the rest, and because I always get annoyed with him for going for Mary Crawford first. He’s a very nice fellow though; considerate and gentleman-like. Not the best judge of character, but he is nice. Sticks up for people, too.

   I like Fanny Price a lot; and one can hardly be so fond of a heroine without liking the hero to some extent!

   I need to read the book again before I can really form my opinion of Edmund.


The amusing

‘amusing’

“Pleasantly entertaining or diverting”

Henry Tilney, Northanger Abbey

JJ Feild as Henry Tilney

   Henry really belongs in a category all his own. His main attribute, I think, is that he is funny.

   He’s witty and likes to tease, but well-meaning all the while, and he knows when to be serious.

   One of the main reasons I like Mr. Tilney is for his openness – his honesty, and willingness to admit gladly things which other gentlemen would be embarrassed about – such as reading novels and knowing about muslins. Here’s one of my favorite conversations in the book, between the heroine, Catherine, and Henry:
   “But you never read novels, I dare say?”

   “Why not?”

   “Because they are not clever enough for you—gentlemen read better books.”

   “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe’s works, and most of them with great pleasure. The Mysteries of Udolpho, when I had once begun it, I could not lay down again;—I remember finishing it in two days—my hair standing on end the whole time.”

   Henry’s romance with Catherine Morland is quite sweet, and I think they make such a cute couple! (Forgive me for using the words ‘sweet’ and ‘cute’, but I couldn’t help it.)

   I won’t say Mr. Tilney is ‘nice’ (even though he is), because he would never approve and tease me dreadfully for my word usage, like he did to Catherine only a few paragraphs after the excerpt above, which I shall include part of here:

“[T]his is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a very nice word indeed!—It does for everything. Originally perhaps it was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or refinement;—people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments, or their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word."

   As I said earlier, he does know when to be serious. He also has strong morals, defending what is good and censuring what is wrong.

   In conclusion, I think that The Amusing Henry Tilney is a perfect hero for Jane Austen’s satire novel.

The knightly

‘knightly’

“Characteristic of a knight; noble, courageous, and generous”

Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley

George Knightley, Emma

   While some may place Mr. Knightley in the ‘nice’ category, it is my personal opinion that he belongs in a separate category from the rest. Though he is not a romantic, I think her certainly can be romantic, and his and Emma’s love story is one of my favorites.

   He is the only Jane Austen hero whom the heroine had known all her life; their age difference of sixteen years seems rather tedious, but if it ever bothered me, I have quite gotten over it by now; in their case, at least.

   Mr. Knightley earns much admiration and respect for his considerate and gentlemanly qualities. I quite agree with what Emma says on this subject: 

Jeremy Northam as Knightley

“You might not see one in a hundred, with gentleman so plainly written as in Mr Knightley.” and “I know no man more likely than Mr Knightley to do the sort of thing—to do anything really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent.”

   He, along with most or all of the heroes, is very upright in character.
   Mr. Knightley can also be quite witty and amusing, and during my reading of Emma last month for school, I was surprised but pleased when one of his quotes reminded me of something Elizabeth Bennet would say.

   I don’t know what else to say about Mr. Knightley without making him the object of this post, especially since I've already written a two-part post about him, which you can view here.

______________

Well, from reading the above, you might think Mr. Knightley is my favorite hero of them all…which a while ago I could have said is not true, but I'm not so sure anymore. One of my two favorites, however, is definitely Mr. Darcy; he's just Mr. Darcy, you know? Well, maybe you don't, but I do. In any case, he and Mr. Knightley still tend to compete with each other in my head, and I do not know how it will end. 

What about you? Who is your favorite? Are there any Jane Austen heroes with whom you are not yet acquainted, but wish to be? 

Mr. Knightley (Part II)

Mr Knightley’s Love for Emma

The Knightleys and Woodhouses were old family friends. When Emma was 14, her older sister Isabella married Mr Knightley’s younger brother John. Therefore Emma and Mr Knightley were practically brother and sister-in-law, or at least considered so by other people. Even before that, Emma was of “special regard” to him. He was always watching out for her like an older brother, and since no one else would do it, scolded her when she acted wrongly.

Here’s a conversation they had near the end of the book about it:

     “I am losing all my bitterness against spoilt children, my dearest Emma. I, who am owing all my happiness to you, would not it be horrible ingratitude in me to be severe on them?”

    Emma laughed, and replied: “But I had the assistance of all your endeavours to counteract the indulgence of other people. I doubt whether my own sense would have corrected me without it.”

    “Do you?—I have no doubt. Nature gave you understanding:—Miss Taylor gave you principles. You must have done well. My interference was quite as likely to do harm as good. It was very natural for you to say, what right has he to lecture me?—and I am afraid very natural for you to feel that it was done in a disagreeable manner. I do not believe I did you any good. The good was all to myself, by making you an object of the tenderest affection to me. I could not think about you so much without doating on you, faults and all; and by dint of fancying so many errors, have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least.”

    “I am sure you were of used to me,” cried Emma. “I was very often influenced rightly by you—oftener than I would own at the time. I am very sure you did me good.”

His love was unselfish. He always cared about Emma’s well-being; he wanted to see her doing the right thing. His ‘scolding’ at Box Hill is a good example of this:

“Emma, I must once more speak to you as I have been used to do: a privilege rather endured than allowed, perhaps, but I must still use it. I cannot see you acting wrong, without a remonstrance. How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation?—Emma, I had not thought it possible. … Her situation should secure your compassion! It was badly done indeed! ...This is not pleasant to you, Emma—and it is far from pleasant to me; but I must, I will,--I will tell you truths while I can, satisfied with proving myself your friend by very faithful counsel, and trusting that you will some time or other do me greater justice than you can do now.

An Emma-Knightley conversation I like, when they are at the ball:

                “Whom are you going to dance with?” asked Mr Knightley.

                    [Emma] hesitated for a moment, and then replied “With you, if you will ask me.”

                    “Will you?” said he, offering his hand.

    “Indeed I will. You have shown that you can dance, and you know we are not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper.”

    “Brother and sister! no, indeed.”

The ball, by the way, is my favorite part of the 2009 mini-series. Furthermore, my favorite scene is the dance just after the quote right there (although it was not fully included in the movie). It’s such a lovely dance, and very sweet between Emma and Mr Knightley, which, sadly, is not currently on YouTube.

The book tells about Mr Knightley’s love for Emma better than I ever could. I’m inclined to copy down most of chapter 49, but I shall just put these parts that tell so much about Mr Knightley’s feelings; it is after the proposal.

      He had, in fact, been wholly unsuspicious of his own influence. He had followed her into the shrubbery with no idea of trying it. He had come, in his anxiety to see how she bore Frank Churchill's engagement, with no selfish view, no view at all, but of endeavouring, if she allowed him an opening, to soothe or to counsel her.--The rest had been the work of the moment, the immediate effect of what he heard, on his feelings. The delightful assurance of her total indifference towards Frank Churchill, of her having a heart completely disengaged from him, had given birth to the hope, that, in time, he might gain her affection himself;--but it had been no present hope--he had only, in the momentary conquest of eagerness over judgment, aspired to be told that she did not forbid his attempt to attach her.--The superior hopes which gradually opened were so much the more enchanting.-- The affection, which he had been asking to be allowed to create, if he could, was already his!--Within half an hour, he had passed from a thoroughly distressed state of mind, to something so like perfect happiness, that it could bear no other name.

       Her change was equal.--This one half-hour had given to each the same precious certainty of being beloved, had cleared from each the same degree of ignorance, jealousy, or distrust.--On his side, there had been a long-standing jealousy, old as the arrival, or even the expectation, of Frank Churchill.--He had been in love with Emma, and jealous of Frank Churchill, from about the same period, one sentiment having probably enlightened him as to the other. It was his jealousy of Frank Churchill that had taken him from the country.--The Box Hill party had decided him on going away. He would save himself from witnessing again such permitted, encouraged attentions.--He had gone to learn to be indifferent.-- But he had gone to a wrong place. There was too much domestic happiness in his brother's house; woman wore too amiable a form in it; Isabella was too much like Emma--differing only in those striking inferiorities, which always brought the other in brilliancy before him, for much to have been done, even had his time been longer.--He had stayed on, however, vigorously, day after day--till this very morning's post had conveyed the history of Jane Fairfax.--Then, with the gladness which must be felt, nay, which he did not scruple to feel, having never believed Frank Churchill to be at all deserving Emma, was there so much fond solicitude, so much keen anxiety for her, that he could stay no longer. He had ridden home through the rain; and had walked up directly after dinner, to see how this sweetest and best of all creatures, faultless in spite of all her faults, bore the discovery.

       He had found her agitated and low.--Frank Churchill was a villain.-- He heard her declare that she had never loved him. Frank Churchill's character was not desperate.--She was his own Emma, by hand and word, when they returned into the house; and if he could have thought of Frank Churchill then, he might have deemed him a very good sort of fellow.

After she is ‘his own Emma’, he does something further to demonstrate his love; he offers to move to Emma’s house, because she would not leave her father. He’s willing to go from living alone, to living with an old man who worries about everything, so he could marry his dearest Emma.



What do you think of Mr Knightley? What do you think of Emma and Mr Knightley’s romance? I think it’s quite splendid myself. =)

In case you missed: Mr Knightley (Part I)

Mr. Knightley (Part I)

     Mr Knightley is the favorite hero of many. I read that out of all the heroes Jane Austen wrote about, Mr Knightley was her favorite; that has to mean something. I even know of some guys who are impressed by him. What is it about Mr Knightley? Why has he captured so many girls’ hearts (or at least imaginations)? Is it his caring nature, his steadfast love? Maybe it’s his realness. Fairytale heroes are all fine and well, but I like the ones who seem like real people.     
     So, dear readers, if you care to, come join me as I explore the character of George Knightley.

The Filmmaker’s Mr Knightley

Jonny Lee Miller – BBC 2009

            This is my favorite representation of Mr Knightley, and I know I am joined in this opinion by many Emma fans. He was just the right age for the part, and he seemed to really understand how Mr Knightley is supposed to be. This Mr Knightley is caring, practical, has a sense of humor, and is always keeping an eye out for Emma. He’s also very convincing in the romantic parts – really makes me feel it like none of the other movies did. I suppose he’s not exactly handsome, but I think he’s attractive, in the right way for Mr Knightley. Oh yes, and did I mention he does a really good job arguing with Emma?  ;-)

Jeremy Northam – Mirimax 1996          

          This one has my second favorite, and some people’s favorite Mr Knightley. (He was my favorite, before the 2009 version came out.) He’s probably more dashing, but also a couple years too young. He did a tolerably good job…although sometimes I think he is a little too gentle with Emma. He doesn’t get quite angry enough – while I would like this better in a person, I don’t think it’s exactly what I’d picture when reading the book. I did like the way he scolded Emma about her criticizing Miss Bates (although it still wasn’t quite like the book).

Mark Strong – A&E 1996

      This Mr Knightley – was not Mr Knightley. He was too harsh, too scowlish. When he yells it is rather frightening! He rarely had a pleasant look on his face. He was not very attractive. He is the reason some people don’t like this movie. I liked most the other characters off this one; but when one doesn’t like the hero, it is a sad thing indeed.

Since the 1972 version doesn’t really count in my mind, I won’t talk about that Knightley at all.

~~~~~

Mr Knightley is known by all to be kind, caring, and gentleman-like. He always thinks of other people first. He doesn’t like to see people being treated badly. Consider Harriet, for example. The scene in the 2009 mini-series was done very well. Mr Elton was very rude to refuse to dance with Harriet—I have to say it was worse than Mr Darcy not taking Bingley’s suggestion to dance with Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice. Harriet was the only young lady not dancing, and Mr Elton the only dancing man disengaged. They had been acquainted for some time. Mrs Weston points her out, Harriet actually close enough to overhear. A minute before, he had pretty much said he wanted to dance, and so obviously he was only wishing to avoid dancing with Harriet. His thinking she was so much beneath him was one of the reasons. That’s why Mr Knightley asking Harriet to dance meant so much; Mr Knightley has a much higher station than Mr Elton. Also, nobody expected Mr Knightley to dance. But he observed the situation and saw clearly that it needed his attention.

Here a photo reel thing I made from the stirring scene:

"The very recollection of it, and all that I felt at the time--when I saw him coming--his noble look--and my wretchedness before. Such a change! In one moment such a change! From perfect misery to perfect happiness." ~Harriet

I liked how they had Mr Knightley look over at Emma while he was observing this; I think it is very likely that Mr Knightley did it partly for Emma’s sake, her being so concerned for her friend.

Mr Knightley through Emma’s eyes

It was amusing to me to read Emma’s expressed opinions about Mr Knightley before she realized she was in love with him. Beneath the arguments and disagreements, she always had a respect and admiration for him. Like what she said to Harriet near the beginning of the book:

“Mr Knightley’s air is so remarkably good, that it is not fair to compare Mr Martin with him. You might not see one in a hundred, with gentleman so plainly written as in Mr Knightley.”

When Mrs Weston mentioned Mr Knightley’s bringing his carriage for the purpose of conveying Jane Fairfax, in consideration of her health, Emma said:

“I know no man more likely than Mr Knightley to do the sort of thing—to do anything really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent.”

And then, of course when Mrs Weston mentions her suspicions of Mr Knightley being attached to Jane, Emma does not like this at all. However, she gives herself an excuse for not liking it:

“Mr Knightley and Jane Fairfax! Dear Mrs Weston, how could you think of such a thing?—Mr Knightley!—Mr Knightley must not marry!—You would not have little Henry cut out from Donwell? –Oh! No, no, Henry must have Donwell.”

Emma looking concerned at the thought of Mr Knightley
in love with Jane Fairfax

In the 2009 mini-series, I loved the scene after Emma meets Mrs Elton:

“ ‘Knightley’, indeed. Never seen him in her life, and she calls him ‘Knightley’! Insufferable woman! Horrible, upstart, vulgar being with her ‘Mr E.’ and her ‘caro sposo’ and her carriages and air of pert pretentions and underbred finery. Actually to discover that Mr Knightley is a gentleman, and that the woman who brought me up should be ladylike! I’ve never met her equal! ‘Knightley’, indeed! I’ve known him all my life, and even I don’t call him that!”

In the book, this paragraph during the ball amused me very much:

“She was more disturbed by Mr Knightley’s not dancing, than by any thing else.—There he was, among the standers-by, where he ought not to be; he ought to be dancing,--not classing himself with the husbands, and fathers, and whist-players, who were pretending to feel and interest in the dance till their rubbers were made up,--so young as he looked! He could not have appeared to greater advantage perhaps any where, than where he had placed himself. His tall, firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of the elderly men, was such as Emma felt must draw every body’s eyes; … He moved a few steps nearer, and those few steps were enough to prove in how gentlemanlike a manner, with what natural grace, he must have danced, would he but take the trouble.”

"What are you doing over here with the old men and the card players?"

Emma felt very badly after being admonished by him about what she said to Miss Bates. When she returned from her repentant vistit to Miss Bates, Mr Knightley was at her house.I love that silent communication between them, and how he almost kissed her hand. J

    [Mr Woodhouse speaking] “Dear Emma has been to call on Mrs and Miss Bates, Mr Knightley, as I told you before. She is always so attentive to them!”

    Emma’s colour was heightened by this unjust praise; and with a smile, and a shake of the head, which spoke much, she looked at Mr Knightley.—It seemed as if there were an instantaneous impression in her favour, as if his eyes had received the truth from her’s, and all that had passed of good in her feelings were at once caught and honoured.—He looked at her with a glow of regard. She was warmly gratified—and in another moment still more so, by a little movement of more than common friendliness on his part.—He…took her hand, pressed it, and certainly was on the point of carrying it to his lips—when, from some fancy or other, he suddenly let it go.

I sometimes wonder…if Emma had been as convinced that Mr Knightley loved Jane Fairfax as she later was of his regard for Harriet, would she have realized her own fondness for him? I’m inclined to think that was part of it, but that her affection for him grew as time passed, and so when it came to Harriet, the thought of his marrying was even more dreadful to her.

 ~~~~~

This post has become too long, therefore I am going to continue it next week.

By the way, I do like Mr Darcy, and I think he is still my favorite. I’ll have to do a post all about him after another complete reading of Pride and Prejudice.

(Part 2)