Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten listsEach week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!
This week the topic is "Top Ten Jerks in Literature." Looking through literature, there are definitely a lot of jerks. But I thought I would highlight jerks from my favorite author. Here are my picks for Jerks in Jane Austen's Literature:
1. George Wickham from Pride and Prejudice - Can't hate him enough! He interest Elizabeth, but his duplicitous nature just gets me. He manages to deceive everyone and make Mr. Darcy look bad for holding onto his principles. And then, he runs away with Lydia, but doesn't actually want her. Makes me so angry!
2. Mr. William Elliot from Persuasion - He seems so nice when Anne meets him. The heir to Kellynch, but such a gentleman. A breath of fresh air from the ongoing does he or doesn't he of Wentworth. I really liked Mr. Elliot. I thought he would be a good match for Anne. And then we find out that he has a mistress on the side and definitely has eyes for the estate. That two-timing bastard!
3. Henry Crawford from Mansfield Park - The icky icky lothario with eyes on Maria, and then Julia, and finally Fanny. I can't believe Fanny fell for this guy! Definitely not a surprise when we hear that he runs away with Maria, a married woman!
4. Mr. Elton from Emma - A man of the cloth! For shame sir! To treat Emma so kindly, then spurn her for that dreadful Augusta when Emma denies you! You are a icky icky guy!
5. Frank Churchill from Emma - Another two-faced man. Flirting with Emma, making her feel liked she's the only one, and then finally, revealing your engagement to Jane Fairfax. And we're supposed to forgive you in the end? I think not. I also think Jane should dump you after how you behaved towards her. For shame!
6. John Willoughby from Sense and Sensability - Another love 'em and leave 'em ladies man. Romancing Marianne while having multiple ladies on the side. I see how you are. Thankfully he showed his true color and Colonel Brandon never left her side. Marianne deserves a man who can take a strong lead. Willoughby is too much a coward to do so.
7. Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice - A boring, slightly gross, high reacher. He wants a Bennett woman just because they are pretty. Jane's taken, so he moves onto Elizabeth. And then he plans to marry off the rest of the girls to his good-for-nothing brothers. And all the time, he's under the influence of Lady Catherine! Every time I read about Elizabeth denying him, I do a mental happy dance at her strength. And every time I read about Charlotte Lucas marrying him, I cry a little at her fate. It seems so unfair!
8. John Thorpe from Northanger Abbey - A good-looking guy. The brother of a (supposed) new friend. How isn't he a catch? Oh yeah, he has no standards or morals. Thanks goodness Catherine saw the deficiencies in Thorpe and choose Mr. Tilney (my second favorite Austen hero! Captain Wentworth is #1).
9. Tom Bertram from Mansfield Park - A guy who's only interested in drinking, gambling, and women. Sounds like a few I know!
10. Mr. Rushworth from Mansfield Park - A spineless wonder! I almost feel sorry for Maria, but then again, she was only marrying him for his money and status. And then she runs off with Crawford. I kind of feel sorry for Rushworth, but then again, he was too stupid and silly to notice the ambitions of his wife. No excuse sir!
Bonus 11. Edward Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility - Yeah, yeah, he's supposed to be one of the heroes, but I can't stand him. He's so spineless, I just can't see how Elinor could love him. He flirts and makes an attachment with her when he knows there's an understood engagement with another women. Such a cad! Definitely my least favorite of the romantic leads. Colonel Brandon shows Edward up at every turn. I would much rather take him than Edward!
