Mr. Elliot, the Anti Darcy

“Mr. Charles Smith to have been a man of warm feelings, easy temper, careless habits, and not strong understanding; much more amiable than his friend, and very unlike him, led by him, and probably despised by him.” (Chapter 21)

Mr. Elliot is coming off very badly by the end of Chapter 21 when Mrs. Smith is through with him. Anne finds out Mr. Elliot was never misunderstood but exactly what they always thought him to be and the only intentions he has are to spy upon Sir Water and prevent an attachment to Mrs. Clay by any devious means and to offer for herself and not Elizabeth. I could not but help noticing that Mr. Elliot seems to be to Charles Smith what Mr. Darcy is to Charles Bingley, but in reverse. Where Mr. Darcy is protective, Mr. Elliot is exploitive. Where Mr. Darcy tries to save his friend from folly, Mr. Elliot leads his friend to folly. Where Mr. Darcy apologizes to his friend when wrong, Mr. Elliot ignores his friend when wrong. Where Mr. Darcy takes it upon himself to help poor Lydia, Mr. Elliot ignores poor Mrs. Smith without regard for her pitiful state of affairs. What a jerk!