] While I like Edward, I am not as inclined to let him off so easily. He has engaged Elinor's heart when he shouldn't have. He seems a rather hapless and indecisive young man. I know he's in an unusual position which puts him between a rock and a hard place. But mostly, it's his own actions that have placed him there. If he felt all along that he would stick to his word regarding Lucy (which is an admiral trait), he should have taken himself out of the situation where Elinor is concerned. (snip)
The irony of it all is that if it wasn't for the horrible mother whom we pity him for having to put up with, he would, most likely, already have had several miserable years of marriage to Lucy.

I agree with you on several counts. Edward is very blameable, IMO.

It makes me wonder what he was hoping would or could happen from this? He must have known, even when he first proposed to Lucy, that his family would never approve of her as his future wife. There must have been other Miss Mortons on the scene, even back then. He also knows that his income is dependent on his mother's whims, although I don't know if there is some age at which she'd have to give him his inheritance? So I can't think how he ever imagined that his marriage with Lucy could go forward?

But, he also knows Lucy's jealous temperament, and that there is no way she'd let him out of her clutches. If there had been no Elinor at Norland, would the situation just have gone on and on forever?