] ... of all the characters in this story James is the greatest disappointment.

I see James as far worse than Frederick Tilney. So many posts here dump on Fred for flirting with Isabella, but she encouraged him, and he never neglected or upbraided his sister. I read James' letter to Catherine as self-serving codwallop. He never acknowledges that he treated her ill; he is only making up to her now because he's miserable. The misery part I understand, but he has not joined that to a recognition of his own bad behavior. The rest of the Morlands behaved admirably, but James isn't worth a farthing, IMO.