payment page
Sister to Mr. Darcy, Georgiana was still young when her parents died, passing the responsibility of her guardianship to her older brother. Because Mr. Darcy was so much older, he became something of a father figure to her, seeing that Georgiana was cared for, protected, and educated. With a hefty inheritance, she became a prime target for many fortune hunters looking to marry well and receive sizable dowries, the most insidious of these being Mr. Wickham. When she was only 15 years old, Georgiana almost eloped with Mr. Wickham, who cared more about money than her reputation.
When the reader first meets Georgiana, she is painfully shy, but lovely and talented. Earlier in the novel, she had been posed as Jane’s rival for Bingley’s affections, since Miss Bingley wanted her brother to marry Georgiana for reasons of status and wealth. Miss Bingley even went so far as to say Georgiana’s skills and accomplishments far outweighed Jane’s. Meek Georgiana, however, poses no threat to Jane. She has a sense of innocence and devotion that help the reader understand why Darcy feels so compelled to protect her. Elizabeth easily falls into friendship with the good-spirited Georgiana, and they are eventually able to enjoy a loving, sisterly relationship.
