Mr. Wickham


Character Source Material: Jane Austen, Novels Written by


Mr. George Wickham, a central figure in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," emerges as a charismatic yet morally ambiguous character. The son of the late Mr. Darcy's steward, Wickham was raised alongside Fitzwilliam Darcy, benefiting from the generosity of the elder Mr. Darcy who served as his godfather. This privileged upbringing instilled in Wickham a taste for the finer things in life, but without the means or inclination to earn them honorably. Possessed of a handsome countenance and effortless charm, Wickham excels at making favorable first impressions, easily ingratiating himself with new acquaintances. His affable nature and ready wit make him a sought-after companion in social settings, particularly among the ladies of Meryton. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a complex character marked by self-interest and a penchant for deception. Wickham's ability to manipulate others' perceptions of him showcases both his cunning intelligence and his moral flexibility. As an officer in the militia, he cuts a dashing figure, yet his financial irresponsibility and tendency to accumulate debts hint at a reckless streak that belies his composed demeanor. Wickham's character serves as a testament to Austen's skill in crafting multifaceted personalities, presenting a man whose external charm masks a more troubling inner nature.


5 Factor Personality Summary for Mr. Wickham

Trait Percentile Trait Disposition
Neuroticism 23.03 Low
Agreeableness 0.04 Low
Extraversion 94.22 High
Conscientiousness 0.17 Low
Openness 56.52 Average
personality chart
Link to full personality profile report.



5 Factor Personality Items and Responses for Mr. Wickham

This section displays the detail item responses that were used to generate the above personality summary. The methodology for selecting the item responses for this fictional character involved using research from a generative artificial intelligence tool to summarize a descriptive response to a question related to each item. The research was reviewed and a judgement was made on the most appropriate response on that item. You can view an example script for collecting these responses (see: Script for Automated Five Factor Assessment)

Trait Item Item Response Item Score AI-Generated Research*
Openness Do not have a good imagination. Very inaccurate 5

Wickham's capacity for creating elaborate false narratives and his skill in manipulating social situations demonstrate a good imagination. His ability to craft a convincing story about his history with Darcy, which initially fools even the discerning Elizabeth, shows considerable imaginative capability, albeit used for deception.

Openness Am not interested in abstract ideas. Moderately accurate 2

Wickham appears more focused on immediate, concrete concerns like money and social status rather than abstract concepts. His actions and motivations throughout the novel are driven by practical, often selfish considerations rather than philosophical or abstract ideas.

Openness Have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. Moderately inaccurate 4

Wickham's ability to manipulate complex social situations and craft intricate deceptions suggests he does not have difficulty with abstract thinking. He shows an understanding of social nuances and is able to navigate and exploit societal expectations skillfully.

Openness Have a vivid imagination. Moderately accurate 4

Wickham demonstrates creativity in crafting false narratives about his life and relationships. His ability to invent convincing lies, such as his story about being cheated by Darcy, suggests a vivid imagination. However, this imagination is used for deception rather than more positive pursuits.

Neuroticism Seldom feel blue. Neither inaccurate nor accurate 3

There's insufficient information to accurately assess Wickham's propensity for feeling down. While he maintains a cheerful exterior, his inner emotional state is not well-documented. His constant pursuit of financial security might suggest underlying anxiety, but this is not explicitly portrayed as sadness or depression.

Neuroticism Am relaxed most of the time. Moderately accurate 2

Wickham presents a relaxed and easy-going demeanor most of the time, which is part of his charm. He appears untroubled even in the face of his debts and misdeeds. However, this relaxed attitude is more a facade than a genuine state, masking his underlying schemes and worries.

Neuroticism Get upset easily. Moderately inaccurate 2

Wickham is portrayed as maintaining a calm and charming exterior, even in challenging situations. He doesn't easily show upset, instead using his composure to manipulate situations to his advantage. Even when confronted about his misdeeds, he tends to deflect rather than become visibly upset.

Neuroticism Have frequent mood swings. Moderately inaccurate 2

Wickham generally maintains a charming and agreeable demeanor, using it as a tool for manipulation. While his true feelings may vary, he doesn't display frequent visible mood swings. His consistent presentation of a pleasant facade suggests emotional control rather than volatility.

Conscientiousness Make a mess of things. Very accurate 1

Wickham consistently creates problems and disorder wherever he goes. He leaves a trail of debts in Brighton, nearly ruins Georgiana Darcy's reputation, and causes a scandal with his elopement with Lydia. His actions repeatedly demonstrate his tendency to 'make a mess of things' in both his own life and the lives of others.

Conscientiousness Often forget to put things back in their proper place. Moderately accurate 2

While not explicitly mentioned, Wickham's general carelessness and disorderly lifestyle suggest he would be unlikely to maintain orderliness in his surroundings. His neglect of financial and social obligations implies a similar neglect in more mundane matters.

Conscientiousness Like order. Very inaccurate 1

Wickham's life is characterized by disorder and chaos. He accumulates gambling debts, fails to meet his responsibilities, and creates social upheaval through his actions. His impulsive elopement with Lydia and his general lifestyle indicate a disregard for order and structure.

Conscientiousness Get chores done right away. Very inaccurate 1

Wickham is portrayed as irresponsible and prone to avoiding duties. His history of accumulating debts and his need to be bribed into marrying Lydia suggest a character who neglects obligations and postpones necessary tasks. His avoidance of his militia duties further supports this evaluation.

Agreeableness Am not interested in other people's problems. Moderately accurate 2

Wickham shows little genuine concern for others' difficulties. He is willing to create problems for others (like Darcy and the Bennet family) to serve his own interests. His elopement with Lydia, heedless of the consequences for her family, illustrates his disregard for others' problems.

Agreeableness Am not really interested in others. Moderately accurate 2

While Wickham appears interested in others superficially, his true interest is self-serving. He engages with people primarily to further his own agenda, whether it's financial gain or improving his social standing. His abandonment of Miss King for Lydia once he learns of her lack of fortune demonstrates his lack of genuine interest in others.

Agreeableness Feel others' emotions. Moderately inaccurate 2

Wickham demonstrates an ability to perceive others' emotions, but he uses this skill manipulatively rather than empathetically. He is adept at reading people's feelings and exploiting them for his own gain, as seen in his interactions with Elizabeth where he plays on her prejudices against Darcy.

Agreeableness Sympathize with others' feelings. Moderately inaccurate 2

While Wickham appears sympathetic on the surface, his actions reveal a lack of genuine concern for others' feelings. He manipulates emotions rather than truly sympathizing. His treatment of Georgiana Darcy and later Lydia Bennet shows a disregard for their emotional well-being in favor of his own interests.

Extraversion Keep in the background. Very inaccurate 5

Far from keeping to the background, Wickham actively seeks attention and places himself at the center of social interactions. He quickly becomes a topic of interest in Meryton and uses his charm to become a focal point in gatherings. His tendency to share his (fabricated) personal history with Darcy demonstrates his desire to be noticed and pitied.

Extraversion Don't talk a lot. Very inaccurate 5

Wickham is characterized by his talkativeness and ability to engage others in conversation. He frequently shares detailed (albeit often misleading) accounts of his life and relationships, such as his long conversation with Elizabeth about his history with Darcy. His loquaciousness is a key aspect of his charm and ability to manipulate others.

Extraversion Talk to a lot of different people at parties. Very accurate 5

Wickham is portrayed as highly sociable and adept at mingling. He easily engages with various members of Meryton society, from the Bennet sisters to the officers in his regiment. At social gatherings, he is often seen moving from one conversation to another, demonstrating his ability to interact with a wide range of people.

Extraversion Am the life of the party. Moderately accurate 4

Wickham is described as charming and sociable, often making a good impression in social settings. In 'Pride and Prejudice,' he quickly becomes popular in Meryton society due to his agreeable manners and engaging conversation. For instance, at the Philips' party, he captivates the attention of many, including Elizabeth, with his wit and pleasant demeanor.

* AI-Generated Responses are text output captured from entering an item-related question for this character into a generative AI model such as Chat-GPT, Google Gemini, or Anthropic's Claude. For example, a question for the item "Like order" would be "Does <Character Name> like order?".