Austen Characters Whose Marriages I Hope Last

For this Valentine's Day, I decided to think beyond the famous Jane Austen couples we know and love so well. She also conceived of several marriages that we suspect could crash and burn. Some are potentially big mistakes. Others are jaw-dropping surprises, some of which were celebrated with obscure motives on at least one side. Here is my list of newlywed couples whose marriages I sincerely hope can go the distance, although other readers may have their doubts. But I wish happily ever after to each of the following pairs.

Robert Ferrars and Lucy Steele

This pair of impulsive neck pains stun everyone with their sudden nuptials. Vulgar Lucy is the girl who threw a monkey wrench into poor Elinor Dashwood's hopes and dreams. She made a childhood pact with Edward Ferrars, the love of Elinor's life, and clung to him like a barnacle, knowing full well that he was over it, and that she herself didn't care for him as she should. But until a better offer comes along, she refuses to release him. Robert is Edward's smug younger brother and his mother's pet. He knows that Edward has been disowned for his engagement to Lucy, but he is confident enough in his mother's favoritism to trust that he will not suffer the same fate, or at least not for long. Even though Austen hints that they're already starting to get tired of each other at the end of Sense and Sensibility, I hope they'll get in each other's way somehow, for everyone's sake. As long as they are tied up bothering each other, they won't bother anyone else.

William Walter Elliot and Mrs Penelope Clay

Of course, Mr. Elliot is an unscrupulous opportunist whose heart has been said to be as black as night. But for Mrs. Clay's sake, I hope he settles down to be a reasonably healthy husband. She never strikes me as the bad person Anne and Lady Russell make her out to be. Sure, she's a social climber and sycophant who hoped to infiltrate Sir Walter Elliot's affections, but when we consider the callous era in which she lived, can we really blame her? Simple, friendless widows like Mrs. Clay found themselves starving on the streets unless they found others willing to care for them. Anne's harsh attitude towards Mrs. Clay has always disappointed me as it is none of her business if her father remarries and at his age he certainly has the right to please himself anyway! I like to imagine this marriage of convenience between young Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Clay turning into friendship. This would certainly mitigate Mr. Elliot's hypocrisy if that were to happen, which would benefit everyone he knows.

Louisa Musgrove and Captain James Benwick

This relationship is a true attraction of opposites. Before her accident off the coast of Lyme Regis, Louisa was a fiery, energetic and outgoing young woman. Captain Benwick is a sensitive and emotional introvert struggling to recover from the death of his ex-girlfriend. Their surprise attraction also frees Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth from unwanted attention from either of them. It's highly desirable in every way, and I would love to see Louisa and Benwick together in the story. It's lovely to think that Benwick's poetic influence is already bringing out a more thoughtful and reflective side of Louisa, and I'm sure her sunny nature will also temper her melancholy side. Go Louisa and Benwick!

Charlotte Lucas and Sir William Collins

Poor pragmatic Charlotte goes into this farce of a marriage with her eyes open. She thinks her future husband is pompous and tiresome (which he is)! But she weighed the pros and cons and decided that a rare opportunity for financial security, motherhood and social approval was worth putting up with him. She is already in her late twenties with no interest from other men, so the only alternative is to be a lifelong drain on her parents and brothers. Mr. Collins considers herself a great catch, but will soon become disillusioned as she cannot keep up her act of bravery forever. She is already organizing her home to keep him out of her sight. Call me sentimental, but this is the kind of arrangement I like to see change for the better. The rest of their lives is a long time, and it would be a relief for these two to grow fonder as the years go by. (In Janice Hadlow's book The Other Bennet Sister, that's exactly what happens.) If Charlotte can help make her husband just a little bit less ridiculous to the world at large, a lot of people will thank her.

Harriet Smith and Robert Martin

Nosy Emma Woodhouse tries her best to divert young Harriet's attention from the humble farmer who loves her dearly, and Harriet is so flexible that she almost succeeds. Emma's choice of Harriet, Mr. Elton, is not only a deplorable idea, but it appears that Harriet burned her bridges when she refused Robert's proposal. Accepting this cool and modest young farmer's second marriage proposal on his own is the first decisive move this girl makes. It is also the first time that she has not consulted anyone else. I hope it marks the beginning of a long and happy relationship. I always suspected that Harriet's wishy-washy temperament might have stemmed from her long history of living in institutions. You can't be a pin-up girl in a school like Mrs. Goddard's expressing your own opinion. I get angry when Mr. Knightley says that a tabula rasa like Harriet needs a good man like Robert to help form her opinions. No, what she needs is encouragement to think for herself. From what little we see of Robert, I think he'll be the kind of guy who encourages her to dig into her own opinions.

Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax

I know that many readers consider this match a total disaster, because how could such a sensible, down-to-earth and hard-working young woman fall in love with such a superficial, irreverent and immature fop? Doesn't she deserve much better? Emma Woodhouse is telling the truth when she says, 'Fortune is all on his side and virtue is all hers.' Still, I can't help but hope that Frank and Jane fit in perfectly in the long run. Frank's harshest critics tend to ignore the fact that he has been spoiled by wealthy guardians since childhood, he is irritated because his autocratic aunt has been too demanding, and he is still in his mid-twenties; young enough to not be set in his ways. Who better to teach you sensitivity toward those less fortunate than a wife who has fallen on hard times? In return, her cheerful and jocular disposition is already adding a dash of lightness to her days. And marriage to him will allow her to support her dependent elderly relatives without having to earn a pittance ever again. Sounds like a fair enough trade to me.

Lydia Bennet and George Wickham

Wow, these two might be the biggest troublemakers, and readers everywhere probably consider their marriage to be a ticking time bomb. They go their own way, causing great embarrassment and financial problems to friends and relatives. This quality of selfishness and indiscretion is not the type known for holding together through thick and thin. But, I hope Lydia and Wickham hang in there, just to prove to the critics that they can! If Darcy shakes her head, thinking she's poured money into a lost cause, I hope Wickham gives her a pleasant surprise. And when the older Bennet sisters roll their eyes and mutter about that headstrong, mischievous Lydia, I hope she proves to them that her marriage will be as happy as theirs. Because if there's one thing I love, it's that the naysayers are wrong. I doubt Lydia and Wickham's wedding will be one marked by deep, meaningful conversation, but that doesn't mean they can't be happy in their own way, painting the town together.

So that's all we have. Are there any couples on this list who have your best wishes too? Also, if you can think of others, please mention them in the comments.

And happy Valentine's Day!