Dina’s Book Nook

He is the best of boys. He has some superficial faults which, as he himself points out, are not of understanding. These genuine but ultimately minor character flaws are misinterpreted and exagerrated by a charming but judgemental young woman who has her own issues to work through.

Morally and in every way that matters about a person, he is not a bad boy and Pride and Prejudice is not a bad boy/good girl narrative.

You want an actual bad boy in P&P? Try looking at the superficially charming and attractive sleezeball who bad mouths and spreads malicious, character-ruining rumours about his benefactor and tried to seduce two 15 year old girls for questionable motives. George Wickham. An actual 18th century bad boy.

As Elizabeth says, “One has all the goodness and the other all of the appearance of it.” (May be a misquote.)