It's 200 years since Pride and Prejudice was first published, and hot on the heels of lots of splendid coverage in the media I'm all aflutter once again about my favourite book. It's become so popular that it's no longer particularly cool to like Pride and Prejudice; it is somehow more sophisticated to say one much prefers Persuasion, and that Anne Elliot makes a more interesting heroine than Elizabeth Bennet, but I've never been particularly cool, so I don't see why I should start now. I think Lizzie Bennet is the kind of person I'd like to have as a friend, and I love the way she speaks her mind, even if she occasionally gets it wrong. I remember very clearly the first time I re-read the book since school, and I was struck by how forthright she can be, particularly when speaking of her feelings to Mr Collins and Mr Darcy, when they each propose to her.
I have nothing academic to add to the countless discussions of the book, but I do have a very important question about the men. In the TV and film adaptations, why oh why is Wickham always so much less handsome than Darcy? It is important in the development of Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy that she fancies Wickham from the start, and when Mrs Gardiner observes them together "their preference for one another was enough to make her uneasy". When Wickham appears in the story, he is described as "needing only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour: he had all the best parts of beauty - a fine countenance, a good figure and very pleasing address." Darcy on the other hand, "drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien and the report that was in general circulation within five minutes of his entrance, of his having ten thousand pounds a year."
So in the book they're both handsome, yet in both the otherwise excellent BBC adaptation, and in the more flawed film with Keira Knightley, Wickham is significantly less attractive (to my eyes at least) than Darcy. Wickham often comes across as whining and shifty, while Darcy gets away with being smouldering and moody. Is this discrepancy to help those few sorry individuals who don't already know the ending to root for the right guy? Or is it just because generations of people have come to think of Mr Darcy as synonymous with perfection, to the point where it would be sacrilegious to allow another character to come close? And Wickham, being a thorough cad, mustn’t dare be handsome as well. I jest (a bit) but it is annoying.
The story is more subtle and more interesting if Elizabeth's fancy for Wickham and consequently her readiness to believe him seriously wronged by Darcy, is given its full weight. And if we are to believe that she really fancies him, it would help if he were played by someone gorgeous - like Dominic Cooper as Willoughby in Persuasion.
The entertaining ITV spin-off "Lost in Austen" (2008) came closest, casting Tom Riley as Wickham against a slightly constipated-looking Elliot Cowan as Darcy, although they also changed the story and the characteristics of some of the characters (including Wickham), so maybe that doesn’t count!
But I suspect I've rambled more than enough. If you're still with me, please raise a glass in praise of Austen and Pride and Prejudice - still fabulous after 200 years!
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