Wickham as spin doctor
Posted by Bob S. on November 24, 1997 at 18:31:33:
In response to Wickham on Darcy and Lady C (1940 P&P0 spoiler), written by Carolyn B on November 23, 1997 at 11:45:24
] Also why does Wickham make a point of noting that Darcy does do good things (charity, hospitality, etc.) even if he goes on to say that Darcy is only motivated by pride? Is W. trying to make himself look like a good-natured fellow who doesn't want to think ill of Darcy no matter how much he has been "wronged"? Or is he trying to counteract any praise of Darcy that Lizzy might hear from other quarters?
If you look carefully at the words Wickham says to Elizabeth during his disclosure of his "unfortunate" past, you find that he only makes two statements which could be considered to be outright lies:
"His (Darcy's) behaviour to myself has been scandalous"
and
"I cannot accuse myself of having really done any thing to deserve to lose it (the living which became vacant)".
And it is even possible IMHO to argue that he could have deluded himself into thinking that, from his point of view, these statements were true.
Everything else he said about Darcy and about his relationship to Darcy was true. This IMHO make him the most insidious of liars: the kind that lie by putting their own spin on the truth.
Bob S.
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