Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Who is the most insufferable?

Last week's throwdown was almost a character assassination, in which you preferred the Meryton Assembly over the Crown Inn Ball by a wide margin. This week we concentrate on two individuals who do NOT warm the cockles of our hearts: two haughty and rich spinsters who have yet to attract a man despite their fine connections and upbringing. Our question this week is

Which woman is the most insufferable?

Caroline Bingley, Pride and Prejudice

Charles Bingley's younger sister is rich, snobbish and attractive, but not particularly talented or smart. Feeling superior in every way to the Bennet sisters, she cannot understand Mr. Darcy's attraction to Elizabeth and disparages her at every opportunity. Her father's money comes from trade, but in an age when great fortunes matter almost as much as connections and breeding, the Bingleys move among the social elite. She will bring to her husband an impressive marriage portion, as well as her insufferable pride. As two-faced as they come, she pretends to like Jane while secretly undermining her relationship with Bingley, who she hopes will marry Georgiana Darcy.

Elizabeth Elliot, Persuasion

Elizabeth Elliot comes from good breeding and her family is mentioned in Debrett's Baronatege, but her father has squandered the family fortune. A striking woman, well-connected, and her father's hostess, she possesses a high opinion of herself, lording it over her younger sisters. Like her father, she is vain and primarily concerned with keeping up appearances and associating with the right sort of people. Nearing thirty, haughty Elizabeth is staring spinsterhood in the face, for no one except William Elliot (who has rejected her) is of high enough birth to suit her taste.

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Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Most Insufferable

Caroline Bingley Elizabeth Elliot

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Least Likable Friend

Poor Charlotte Collins. We do not see much happiness for her in her married future and voted overwhelmingly that happiness would elude her in her married state. We now turn our thoughts to two individuals, who though minor characters, leave an indelible impression upon the reader: Caroline Bingley and Lucy Steele. Both women would dampen a girlfriend get-together in a heartbeat. Who do you like least? - The haughty Miss Bingley or the opportunistic Ms. Steele?

Least Likable Friend

Caroline Bingley, Pride and Prejudice
Caroline is as haughty as a character can get, and rather stupid if she thinks she can attract a man by denigrating her competition.Her criticism of Elizabeth is relentless as she tried to sabotage Darcy's attraction to her. In contrasting Caroline's narrow-minded attitude with Mr. Darcy's growing awareness, Jane lets us see that he is a superior character. He is able to recognize Elizabeth's finer qualities despite her "inferior" upbringing, while Caroline cannot. Tied to convention Caroline cannot see merit in anyone who does not share her social background and conventional graces, although she does seem to be genuinely interested in Miss Jane Bennet.To give her her due, she did try to warn Elizabeth about Mr. Wickham, but by this time she had lost all credibility with Lizzy. Sweet Jane took longer to recognize Caroline's lack of genuine friendship and false warmth.

Lucy Steele, Sense and Sensibility
Sly, cunning, and opportunistic, Lucy makes the most of her lack of resources by taking advantage of her pretty face and figure, and superficially charming manners. She snags Edward Ferrars during a weak moment, and like a badger will not let him go. Much to her chagrin, Edward demonstrates true character and sticks by her when his mother disinherits him for their secret engagement. Lucy only wanted him for his money and title, and she ditches him for his brother at the first opportunity. She purposely pursued Elinor as a friend, letting her in on her secret engagement to Edward, knowing full well how much the news must have hurt Elinor. Lucy's sly cat and mouse game added to Elinor's suffering, telling the reader that Lucy was bad through and through. She never received her comeuppance, and we were sad to see her rewarded for her bad behavior by marrying Robert.

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Jane Austen Character Throwdown

Caroline Bingley Lucy Steele