The Character I’d Most Want to Meet

If the characters in Pride and Prejudice could come to life in front of you, and you could meet any one of them that you wanted in the flesh, which one would you most like to meet? And why  would it be Mr. Darcy?

Just kidding, of course. (Not really.)

But besides Mr. Darcy, the person I would choose to meet would be a quiet hero of the novel, someone who exemplifies good breeding, common sense, and a complete lack of pretension and greed, someone who helps bring Darcy and Elizabeth together without them even knowing it. This person is crucial to the novel and without them, the story wouldn’t be quite the same. Who would it be? Why, Mrs. Gardiner, of course!

Mrs. Gardiner quietly demonstrates a nearly perfect character and personality. She is wise without being condescending, affectionate without being indulgent, and practical without being cold. Austen doesn’t need to give her dramatic speeches or flashy entrances—Mrs. Gardiner’s considerable influence is measured in gentle nudges and steady support.

Mrs. Gardiner is not merely a background character offering moral support; she also helps move the plot forward in significant ways—especially in regard to Elizabeth’s relationship with Darcy.

We first see her contributions in the story when she speaks to Elizabeth about her relationship with Wickham, tactfully advising her niece not to form an attachment to someone whose financial situation will not allow him to marry. This is wise, prudent advice, not mercenary, and Elizabeth accepts it that way. Later in the story, after Wickham begins to chase Miss King, Mrs. Gardiner writes:

“He must have very strong attachments to Miss King, to overcome so many objections. He is a young man without family, fortune, or connections, and Mr. King’s consent very unlikely…”

Translation: Let’s be honest, Lizzy—he probably likes her inheritance more than her freckles!

The fact that Elizabeth takes her aunt’s advice so well is a reflection not just of Elizabeth’s good sense, but also her good opinion of Mrs. Gardiner, an opinion that has built up over many years of a close, loving and nurturing relationship. It’s not hard to surmise that Mrs. Gardiner supplies the motherly advice and support Elizabeth has never found in her own mother.

When Mrs. Gardiner and her uncle invite Elizabeth on a summer tour of Derbyshire, it may seem like a simple holiday. But the trip brings Elizabeth back into Darcy’s orbit, and she begins to see him in a new light. The housekeeper’s glowing description of Darcy’s generosity and kindness is the first external evidence Elizabeth has that her earlier judgment may have been unfair. Even more significantly, Darcy himself appears—gracious, composed, and clearly still “overflowing with admiration.”

Mrs. Gardiner’s role in this meeting is critical. Without her, Elizabeth never would have seen Darcy on his home turf, away from the social pressure and misunderstandings of Hertfordshire. And Darcy, meeting Elizabeth in the company of her elegant, sensible relatives, sees that her social connections are not as vulgar as he once assumed. Mrs. Gardiner, simply by being herself, helps shift his perception of Elizabeth’s family.

Later, when Lydia elopes with Wickham, Mr. Gardiner assists Mr. Bennet in locating the couple, and many readers believe Darcy coordinated his involvement partly through the Gardiners. But Mrs. Gardiner plays an even more important role at this point. She confirms the part that Darcy played in discovering Lydia and arranging her marriage to Wickham, and she lays to rest, once and for all, the notion that Darcy is filled with improper pride. She gently hints that she knows Darcy has feelings for Elizabeth:

He called it, therefore, his duty to step forward . . . . if he had another motive, I am sure it would never disgrace him . . . Your uncle would never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for another interest in the affair.

Most importantly, she gives Darcy her seal of approval:

Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying . . . how much I like him. His understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him very sly- he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion. Pray forgive me if I have been very presuming, or at least do not punish me so far as to exclude me from P. [Pemberley}. I shall never be quite happy till I have been all around the park.

Translation: Let’s be honest, Lizzy: this man is perfect for you, and you’re crazy if you don’t marry him!

There is no hesitation or doubt; she admires and esteems the man who already proposed to Elizabeth once, and we have already see how much Elizabeth respects her aunt’s opinion. We know this couple is going to end up together, and part of the reason we know is because Mrs. Gardiner tells us.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Mrs. Gardiner is a crucial character in Pride and Prejudice, and her absence would materially affect the story. I would love to meet such a wonderful person in the flesh. But what do you think? Is there someone else from the novel that you would pick to meet in person if you could? Who would it be and why? Please let me know in the comments below!