Common Pride & Prejudice Misconceptions, Part 3
I blame this common belief on Pride & Prejudice‘s various adaptations. For example, in the 2005 movie, Mr. Bennet speculates about the amount and then nothing else is explained. However, it is untrue. When Mr. Bennet declared that:
“Wickham’s a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds…”
Mr. Bennet had no idea at all what had been paid or that it was Mr. Darcy and not his brother-in-law, Mr. Gardiner, doing the negotiating! This was merely Mr. Bennet picking a likely figure as he panicked about how he was ever to pay the money back.
Everything that was paid is very clearly laid out in Mrs. Gardiner’s letter to Elizabeth and clarified a bit elsewhere:
You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young people. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own settled upon her, and his commission purchased. (Ch 42)
He has the promise of an ensigncy in General——’s regiment, now quartered in the north. (Ch 40)
So firstly, Darcy gave Lydia a protected fortune/dowry of £1000, this is hers and will be her jointure if Wickham dies. It would be held in trust so Wickham cannot touch the principal. Secondly, Darcy saw that all of Wickham’s debts were paid, amounting to more than £1000. However, I think if it was nearer £2000 Mrs. Gardiner would round up, so probably between £1000-1500. It cannot be above £2000 given the way Austen uses numbers. And thirdly, Darcy purchased Wickham a commission in the army. The official rate for an ensigncy was £400 (according to my David Shapard’s annotated edition), though they could be sold for more. Darcy did need to purchase one quickly, so he might have spent more.
All of this adds up to approximately £3000.
Interestingly, this is also the amount that Darcy paid Wickham to settle his inheritance. It’s almost like Darcy has an emergency fund of about £3000 and Wickham has cleaned it out twice!
The business was therefore soon settled. He resigned all claim to assistance in the church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds. (Ch 35)
Lydia and Wickham’s marriage arrangement is a fascinating thing because it shows us just how careful and principled Darcy is in laying everything out. We know that in addition to Darcy’s lump sum, Mr. Bennet must pay Lydia £100/annum as long as he is alive. Darcy knew that Mr. Bennet was a poor provider as a father, this forces him to provide. I don’t think it’s done in a spiteful way, but it is right, Mr. Bennet should provide.
All of Wickham’s debts are paid, which is more for the benefit of the community than Wickham himself. Darcy wants everyone taken in by Wickham to get their money back. We also know he did this before in Lambton.
Then he settles £1000 on Lydia. That money is protected and it will stay with her if she is widowed. Darcy is ensuring that Lydia will have something no matter what. That is incredibly kind.
Lastly, a purchased commision is an asset. It gives Wickham a job and an income, but it also can be resold for a profit, neither the militia (even if Wickham could go back) nor navy work that way. Darcy provided both a job and an investment to a man he despises.
As for why Darcy could pay so much less than Mr. Bennet first suppoosed, Darcy knows Wickham well. It makes sense that he could negotiate a lower amount while Mr. Gardiner would have had to pay more. We also know Wickham is at least somewhat afraid of Darcy: he carefully avoids him in Meryton and is too cowardly to attend the Netherfield ball. Add to that Wickham’s desperate need for money, and the amount paid is totally realistic.
Wickham, of course, wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable.
Strangely enough, every time I point out these facts, I always get pushback. Some people think Mrs. Gardiner was lying (why?) or didn’t know the truth, but her information is exact and matches what we know from other scenes. Some people say it’s more romantic for Darcy to have paid the full £10,000. To which I say, no it isn’t! Jane Austen is all about fiscal prudence. Would Elizabeth want to marry a man who spent his entire yearly income on Wickham? Money that we know will be wasted gambling! Also, Darcy’s stated income is probably after taxes, but it’s not like he just has £10,000 surplus lying around; he has expenses. He’s maintaining Pemberley and his house in town out of that income. If he really did pay that much, he’d mostly likely have to take out a loan! That is not smart.
Mr. Darcy paid about £3000 to save Lydia, a girl he barely knew and didn’t like, ensuring her marriage to a man he hated because it was the only possible solution at that point. He did all of this despite being refused by Elizabeth and knowing that if she ever did agree to marry him, his worst enemy would become his brother-in-law. That is romantic enough for me!
More:
Lady Catherine Can’t Fire Mr. Collins Common Pride & Prejudice Misconceptions, Part 1
Jane Bennet isn’t an Old Maid Common Pride & Prejudice Misconceptions, Part 2
Elizabeth Bennet isn’t a Gold Digger, Part 1 & Part 2
Darcy Smiles a Lot Actually (even before Pemberley)
It’s Not “Modern” to Call Mr. Bennet a Terrible Father
Did Mr. Darcy want his Friend Bingley to Marry His Sister?
My published Jane Austen fan fiction novels:
Prideful & Persuaded – a Jane Austen cross-over romance staring Caroline Bingley
Unfairly Caught – a Mansfield Park variation
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