Wickham is an officer in the local military regiment and appears to be the very model of a gentleman. In reality, he is a liar, hypocrite, and an opportunist. He thinks nothing of ruining a young woman's reputation, and is instead much more concerned with paying off his massive gambling debts.
George Wickham Quotes in Pride and Prejudice
The Pride and Prejudice quotes below are all either spoken by George Wickham or refer to George Wickham. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 16
Quotes
When Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the —shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk.
Related Characters:
Elizabeth (Eliza, Lizzy) Bennet, George Wickham
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 36
Quotes
I, who have prided myself on my discernment!—I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity in useless or blameable mistrust.—How humiliating is this discovery!—Yet, how just a humiliation! ... Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself.
Related Characters:
Elizabeth (Eliza, Lizzy) Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy, George Wickham
Related Literary Devices:
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 40
Quotes
There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.
Related Characters:
Elizabeth (Eliza, Lizzy) Bennet (speaker), Fitzwilliam Darcy, George Wickham
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 49
Quotes
It is all very right; who should do it but her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money, you know; and it is the first time we have ever had anything from him, except a few presents. Well! I am so happy! In a short time I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well it sounds!
Related Characters:
Mrs. Bennet (speaker), George Wickham, Lydia Bennet, Mr. Gardiner
Related Literary Devices:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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George Wickham Character Timeline in Pride and Prejudice
The timeline below shows where the character George Wickham appears in Pride and Prejudice. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 15
...to Meryton. There, everyone's attention is captured by a striking and unfamiliar young man: Mr. Wickham, who just accepted a post in the regiment. Wickham's conversation is friendly and lively.
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...then, Bingley and Darcy come up the street and stop to chat. When Darcy and Wickham see each other, each man recoils in shock. Elizabeth wonders how they know each other....
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Chapter 16
At dinner the next evening, Elizabeth is fascinated by Wickham's pleasant demeanor. The two of them easily fall into conversation and Wickham soon asks about...
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Wickham explains that he was the son of one of Darcy's father's employees, and that he...
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Elizabeth asks about Darcy's sister, Georgiana. Wickham says that she is an accomplished young woman living in London but that she is,...
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Wickham, hearing Mr. Collins go on about Lady Catherine, informs Elizabeth that Lady Catherine is actually...
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Chapter 17
...so blameworthy and that there must be other parts to the story. But Elizabeth believes Wickham, saying "there was truth in his looks." She wonders how Bingley could actually be Darcy's...
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Chapter 18
Arriving at the ball at Netherfield, Elizabeth is disappointed to realize that Wickham is not at the party. Elizabeth blames Darcy for Wickham's absence. She endures two dreadful...
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...she accepts. Their conversation is short and abrupt. Darcy is uncomfortable when she brings up Wickham.
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Afterwards, Caroline approaches Elizabeth about Wickham. He wasn't wronged by Darcy, she says. On the contrary, Wickham treated Darcy terribly and...
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Chapter 21
One morning, the Bennet sisters walk to Meryton and meet Wickham who confirms to Elizabeth that he was avoiding Darcy at the ball. He walks them...
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Chapter 24
Wickham occasionally visits and his pleasant company helps to dispel the gloom. Mr. Bennet encourages Elizabeth...
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Chapter 26
Having noticed the warmth between Elizabeth and Wickham, Mrs. Gardiner cautions Elizabeth about making an unpromising match, warning that Wickham has no fortune....
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Around the same time, Wickham's interest shifts from Elizabeth to a young woman who recently inherited £10,000. Elizabeth finds she...
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Chapter 27
Mrs. Gardiner also consoles Elizabeth about losing Wickham. She considers his shift in attention to a suddenly-rich woman to be quite self-serving. But...
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Chapter 34
...explanation. Elizabeth blasts him for insulting her, for ruining Jane's happiness forever, and for robbing Wickham of his chances in life.
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Darcy stands by his decision to break up Bingley and Jane. He is sarcastic about Wickham's misfortunes. And he tells Elizabeth that he was only being honest about his complicated feelings...
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Chapter 35
...letter of explanation. In the letter, Darcy answers Elizabeth's charges of misconduct toward Jane and Wickham. He knew that Bingley was in love with Jane, but he detected no affection on...
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Regarding Wickham, Darcy says that after Darcy's father died, Wickham resigned his opportunity with the church in...
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Years passed. Wickham saw an opportunity with Darcy's sister Georgiana, who was both rich and, at age 15,...
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Chapter 36
...upon rereading the letter, she starts to see things in a different light. Elizabeth realizes Wickham was inconsistent and that his history was never verified. She realizes that Wickham tricked her.
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Chapter 39
...parents to take everyone there for the summer. Lydia adds, with delight, that the girl Wickham was pursuing has left town, leaving Wickham available.
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Chapter 40
...Jane how Darcy proposed to her and also shares the part of Darcy's letter about Wickham. Elizabeth says that she can hardly believe how Darcy got all the goodness while Wickham...
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Elizabeth asks for Jane's advice: should they publicize Wickham's faults? They agree not to, for the sake of Darcy and his sister. Besides, no...
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Chapter 41
In the days following, Elizabeth encounters Wickham at a social event. He blushes when she asks if he knows Colonel Fitzwilliam. When...
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Chapter 45
When Darcy arrives, Caroline tries to embarrass Elizabeth by bringing up her connection with Wickham. The plan backfires: the name of Wickham mortifies Georgiana, and only Elizabeth's cool handling of...
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Chapter 46
...letters from Jane. The first contains the shocking news that Lydia had run off with Wickham to get married in Scotland. The second letter has much worse news: that Colonel Forster...
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...running out the door and tells him the story. Elizabeth blames herself for not revealing Wickham's character to everyone, which would have prevented this.
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Chapter 47
...the carriage, Mr. Gardiner wonders if Jane might be right in hoping for the best: Wickham knows Lydia has no money and stands to lose his reputation with his regiment, so...
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...Colonel Foster for not watching over Lydia. She tells Mr. Gardiner to make Lydia and Wickham marry when they are found—and to make Lydia consult her about finding the best deals...
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Chapter 48
Longbourn buzzes with the news. It comes out that Wickham accrued serious debts in Meryton as well as gambling debts at Brighton.
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...to no avail. Mr. Gardiner suggests that Elizabeth ask for help from anyone related to Wickham.
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More time passes, but all attempts to find Wickham and Lydia fail, and Mr. Bennet returns home. He asks Elizabeth not to talk with...
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Chapter 49
Two days later, a letter arrives from Mr. Gardiner: Lydia and Wickham have been found! They are not yet married, but will be, provided that Mr. Bennet...
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Mr. Bennet says he strongly suspects that Mr. Gardiner has already paid Wickham much more. Wickham would be a fool to take less for Lydia, he says. The...
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Chapter 50
...told Darcy about the scandal. She expects him to distance himself from her now that Wickham will be joining the Bennet family. Elizabeth realizes that she and Darcy would have been...
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Mr. Gardiner sends a letter saying that Wickham has changed regiments to one in Northern England and that Lydia hopes they can visit...
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Chapter 51
Lydia and Wickham arrive at Longbourn. Lydia is giddy over her marriage, mocking her older sisters for failing...
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Yet during their ten-day visit, Elizabeth observes that Wickham doesn't entirely return Lydia's infatuation. She figures he ran away from creditors in Brighton and,...
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Chapter 52
Before Wickham leaves, Elizabeth encounters him on a walk. She reiterates that she knows his story but,...
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Chapter 53
Soon after Wickham and Lydia leave, Mrs. Bennet hears rumors that Bingley is returning to Netherfield. Mr. Bennet...
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...almost none to Darcy. She then goes on to speak glowingly about Lydia's marriage to Wickham, much to Elizabeth's mortification.
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