What would Jane Austen have thought of our modern obsession with Halloween? Would she have ditched her Twinings tea for a pumpkin spice latte? Would she have given out unhealthy quantities of candy to trick-or-treaters—or would she have sent them home with nothing more than a witty insult?
Somehow, I don’t think she’d be in love with the commercialism of Halloween, but I do believe she’d have enjoyed our celebration of spiteful spirits. While Austen didn’t include zombies or sea monsters in her novels, she’s the queen of creating spiteful spirits of the human variety.
Below, you’ll find my top “five” list of spiteful Austen characters. As I developed this list, I tried to think about spite as a particular sort of meanness: one that combines petty cruelty with hurtful consequences. I don’t necessarily have the worst villains on this list (I’m looking at you, Willoughby and Wickham!). Instead, I include characters who commit “lesser” offenses, those that make others feel small—thereby revealing the offenders to be very small-minded, indeed.
The Top “Five” Spiteful Characters
(There are actually seven…)
5. John and Isabella Thorpe — These siblings get to share the number five spot for being such malicious little baddies! While Catherine Morland was freaking out about haunted abbeys and murderous husbands, we the readers were all shouting at her, “Run away from the Thorpes as fas you can!”
4. Lucy Steele and Robert Ferrars — When your last name is a play on the word “steal” and you spend half the book boasting of a “secret” engagement, you might just be one of the most spiteful spirits around! As for Robert, sure, at first blush, he seems merely vain and ridiculous. But when he decides to run off with his older brother’s fiancée, he transforms himself from a silly man to a truly spiteful one. I can just imagine Robert’s thoughts when proposing to Lucy: “I’ll show you who’s the best Ferrars, Edward!” Of course, it’s hard to feel particularly distressed about Robert and Lucy’s betrayal. (Elinor certainly didn’t mind!) Indeed, Lucy and Robert may be only ones in the novel who come to regret their spiteful spirits!
3. Mrs. Ferrars — I know, I know: there are so many members of the Ferrars family on this list! (One wonders how Edward made it out of that family alive…) But I can’t not include Mrs. Ferrars. I mean, what kind of mother disinherits one son for honoring an engagement and then allows the other son to hold on to that inheritance after eloping with the very woman who inspired the initial disinheritance? Mrs. Ferrars not only robbed Edward of his financial legacy; she refused, for many months, to acknowledge him as her son. She sought to punish him, both emotionally and financially, because she could not control him. That, in my book, is a prime example of spite.
2. General Tilney — This man is not going to win any hospitality awards, that’s for sure! When, during the dark hours of dawn, he evicts Catherine, a naive seventeen-year-old, he proves himself to be as cold-hearted as they come. Had he been merely greedy, he might simply have cut ties with Catherine after her appointed date of departure. But no. He had to throw her out almost immediately upon discovering her family’s modest means. And this is the kicker: when the General learned that he was wrong about Catherine’s fortune, he chose not to blame himself but to blame her (though she never pretended to be wealthy). In essence, he seeks to punish Catherine for his mistake. So, while he may not win any hospitality awards, the General does earn a silver medal for spite.
1. Her dream has come true: Mrs. Norris is finally first at something! So often, she has been second: the second sister to marry, the second-in-command at Mansfield Park, a second mother to Maria and Julia (who would have been so much better off if she’d not try to be any kind of mother to them at all). But when it comes to spite, Mrs. Norris plays second fiddle to no one! By regularly depriving Fanny of both physical and emotional warmth, Mrs. Norris seems intent on punishing her niece for being the product of a marriage she finds shameful. Worse, she convinces almost everyone she is being charitable, rather than abusive. Can there be anything more spiteful than cruelty and hypocrisy combined? Perhaps, but I loathe Mrs. Norris, so here she is: my number one spiteful spirit!
I’m looking back over my list, noting the absences. Where are Sir Walter, Lady Catherine, and Caroline Bingley? And how about anyone at all from Emma? Each novel has so many characters we love to loathe! (And I continue to believe that Willoughby is the worst villain of all six novels because of how he treats young Eliza. I’m no psychologist, but I’d label him a classic narcissist.)
Still, I’m sticking with my list—for now. Perhaps you can convince me to change my mind. Which characters would you include on your top “five” list of spiteful spirits?
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I think your list is pretty good but Caroline Bingley would definitely be on my list. As for an addition maybe Mr. Elton?
Author
Good additions, Jennifer! I think I didn’t include Caroline Bingley because I felt like Elizabeth was impervious to her spite…but Jane isn’t, and in fact, Caroline’s spite really does cause her pain. As for Mr. Elton, yes, what a great choice! Again, I suppose I was thinking that Emma was too confident to be bothered by him in the end — not that spite requires someone to be truly hurt by the actions, but I suppose that’s how I came up with my list — but I forgot about how his spite hurt Harriet, especially at the ball.
Caroline Bingley and Lady Catherine would be on my list.
Author
Sandra, thanks for stopping by and commenting! Yes, I definitely see Caroline as spiteful (and I forgot — as I mentioned above to Jennifer — how much her spite hurt Jane Bennet for a time). As for Lady Catherine, I wonder about her and spite. She’s a bully, for sure, but spite (to me, at least) connotes some underhandedness, and in P&P she seems very straightforward in telling everyone what she thinks and why they should agree with her! What do you think? Are there particular actions of hers you see as spiteful? Thanks again for commenting. I’ve had so much fun reading everyone’s responses!
I think I might have squeezed Willoughby in. Mrs Ferrars inconsistency is probably the single most annoying thing in an Austen novel. I like to think the charming Elinor would have persuaded her around.
Author
Heather, yes, Mrs. Ferrars…ergh! There’s an interesting line at the end of S&S that suggests Mrs. Ferrars eventually does deign to acknowledge Elinor, but she always likes Lucy better: “But perseverance in humility of conduct and messages, in self-condemnation for Robert’s offence, and gratitude for the unkindness she was treated with, procured [Lucy] in time the haughty notice which overcame her by its graciousness, and led soon afterwards, by rapid degrees, to the highest state of affection and influence. Lucy became as necessary to Mrs. Ferrars, as either Robert or Fanny; and while Edward was never cordially forgiven for having once intended to marry her, and Elinor, though superior to her in fortune and birth, was spoken of as an intruder, she was in every thing considered, and always openly acknowledged, to be a favourite child” (Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 50, Project Gutenberg version).
As for Willoughby…oof. I know he’s just fictional, but I loathe, despise, even hate Willoughby! Strong words, I know, and perhaps unwarranted, but I really dislike him so much that spite seems too weak a word to describe his actions. Still, I can certainly see how he’d fall into this category as a spiteful spirit!
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love these kinds of discussions!
I agree whole-heartedly about Mrs. Norris, whom I thoroughly loathe! Fanny is another female I absolutely detest. She doesn’t think about how she’d feel if SHE were in the same position as her sisters-in-law. Caroline Bingley deserves a PERMANENT place on any list of 5 spiteful people.
Author
Ann, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I almost put Fanny Dashwood nee Ferrars on my list, too. Now that I’m looking back, I can’t remember why I took her off my list! (Probably because I already had more than my top five!) And yes, I think a lot of people consider Caroline Bingley the queen of spite! I believe she is spiteful, but she seems so ineffectually spiteful that I took pity on her, I suppose! 🙂 Loved reading your thoughts. Thanks!
Love your post. Caroline Bingley is always on my hit… um… spiteful list. Lady Catherine is a given. Mrs. Norris… get in line.
Another that I would choose would be the greedy Fanny Dashwood. She convinced her weak-kneed husband to renege on his father’s deathbed promise to help his stepmother and step-sisters. They would have very little and she didn’t care. He was persuaded… for lack of a better word, to leave them high and dry.
Henry and Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park were a pair that made my teeth ache. Both caused ‘wreck and ruin’ in the lives of more than one of the Bertram siblings. They came to the country full of Town Bronze and completely bowled over the countryfied Bertram siblings. Yeah, they were a pair. Henry wanted to touch Fanny’s heart but not too much. Just enough to make her in love with him. She was ignoring him at the time [a first for him]. However, when he really got to know her, he decided to propose. This reminds me of how Darcy was unaware of Elizabeth’s true feelings for him when he proposed. Henry did not know Fanny either. He bowled right over her surprise and hesitation and wouldn’t wait for her answer. Henry and Mary were both surface dwellers. They never had any real depth of feeling, and only gave surface attention to their friendships.
I agree with your choice of Willoughby; however, Wickham is right up there with him IMHO. The SBRB [scum-bag-rat-bastard] even attempted to elope with his beloved godfather’s daughter for money [her 30k dowry] and for revenge against the son. Everywhere he went, he spouted that same sorry sob story for sympathy and a chance to deceive and steal. Both were seducers and liars but Wickham went even further in his sins than just seducing and leaving girls behind. He was a serial seducer. In today’s society, he would be considered a pedophile and his face would be broadcast, and/or posted, in whatever neighborhood he chose to live. Beware of this man. Keep your daughters at home and safe.
Author
J.W., your analysis of all these characters is compelling! I especially appreciate your thoughts on Henry Crawford — and how he, like Darcy, didn’t really know the feelings of the women they claimed to love, but how Crawford really didn’t care to know. That’s part of what makes Darcy such an amazing character: he wants to understand the person Elizabeth is, not simply use or “have” her. Forget his money, his status, his looks — it’s this willingness to change so he can truly see Elizabeth that makes him so swoonworthy!
I don’t know why I left Caroline, Lady Catherine, and Fanny Dashwood off my list. I think I considered Caroline spiteful — but so ineffectual, too. Elizabeth’s always laughing at her for her obvious attempts to seem superior to Darcy. Perhaps that’s in part why I didn’t include Lady Catherine, either: Elizabeth mostly laughs at her foolishness. I don’t know why I didn’t include Fanny; I almost did! Anyway, all of this discussion as really made me think about the word spite — and how I, unconsciously, was considering the impact of the spite, more than the performance of it. (But of course, this doesn’t explain why I left Fanny off my list, as the impact of her deeds was harsh for the Dashwood sisters! I suppose I felt my list was getting too long!)
As for Wickham and Willoughby, yes, I see what you’re saying about Wickham. Given the young Eliza’s age in S&S, Willoughby would be in the same category as Wickham today! Perhaps I think Willoughby is worse because he actually tries to defend himself in the end to Elinor; he makes it seem like he has a heart. And I don’t think he really, truly cared for anyone. Wickham is the same, I think, but he just seems slimy and obvious about it at the end! Either way, they both make my skin crawl!
Thanks, J.W., for such a fun discussion!
Great discussion. Heck l hate Mrs Norris, even when l am not reading the book I hate her. l loved that the horrible caretaker’s cat from Harry Potter was called Mrs Norris. (No idea if it was an intentional Jane Austen reference but it was great )
I think Lady Catherine was far too arrogant to actually bother with being spiteful. I think she thought that other people were so far below her that she simply didn’t care how her words and behaviour affected them.
Author
Hah! You know, I think I read somewhere that Mrs. Norris in HP is indeed named after JA’s Mrs. Norris. Or at least I’ve read that Rowling is an Austen fan, so it feels like she must have named the cat after horrid Mrs. Norris!
I tend to agree with you about Lady Catherine. This discussion has really made me think about the definition of spite, and what I’ve realized after reading others’ views is that I’ve applied my definition to some characters and not to others who may deserve it! After reading your comment, I stopped to wonder about the condescension of Mrs. Norris versus the condescension of Lady Catherine, and I think you’ve articulated the point very well: Lady Catherine believed, without a doubt, that she was superior to others, so she never stopped to think about her actions (for of course they are right and good!). Mrs. Norris’s actions, though, stem from a deep sense of insecurity about her own place in the world. She’s the kind of person who must step on others to feel higher herself. I think Lady Catherine also steps on others, but not to feel better about herself — simply because she believes it is her right!
Thanks for the conversation! It’s been fun!