Georgiana Darcy

Basic Information

• Original names: Georgiana Darcy, Miss Darcy
• Korean rendering: Georgiana Darcy / Miss Darcy
• Age: 16 at the time of the novel
• Fortune: a dowry of £30,000
• Family: the Darcy family; Fitzwilliam Darcy’s younger sister; Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are her joint guardians
• Residence: Pemberley / London
• First appearance: chunk_27 (Chap. 44, in person); her past is recounted in Darcy’s letter (Chap. 35)

Character Introduction

Darcy’s only immediate family and his dearly beloved younger sister. She is tall and well formed, but so extremely shy that—contrary to Miss Bingley’s rumor that she is “proud”—she is in fact too reserved to speak with ease. She is an accomplished pianist, to a degree that makes Elizabeth acknowledge that Georgiana is in an entirely different class from herself.

Georgiana has two narrative functions. First, she is crucial evidence of Wickham’s wrongdoing. At fifteen, she was seduced by Wickham and came within moments of eloping with him, until Darcy discovered the plan by chance and stopped it. Revealed only through Darcy’s letter, the incident becomes a decisive cause of the collapse of Elizabeth’s prejudice. Second, Georgiana mirrors Darcy’s humanity: the apparently cold and proud Darcy is shown to be a tender and protective brother to his sister.

Development by Event

Past: Wickham’s Attempted Seduction (Recounted in Darcy’s Letter)

• EVT-029: Darcy’s letter reveals that, at fifteen, Georgiana was seduced by Wickham at Ramsgate. Her companion, Mrs. Younge, was in league with him. Believing herself in love with Wickham, Georgiana consented to an elopement, but Darcy arrived a day or two earlier than expected and prevented it. Her £30,000 dowry was Wickham’s true objective.

Present: Meeting Elizabeth (Chaps. 44–45)

• EVT-037: at Pemberley, Darcy immediately introduces Georgiana to Elizabeth. It is the highest mark of respect and effectively a gesture recognizing Elizabeth as a future sister-in-law. Though shy, Georgiana takes warmly to Elizabeth. When Miss Bingley mentions Wickham in Georgiana’s presence, Georgiana becomes acutely distressed, and Elizabeth immediately sees through Miss Bingley’s malice.

Core Relationships

• Darcy, her brother: her only immediate family; deep affection and mutual dependence; the person who most powerfully awakens Darcy’s protective instinct
• Wickham: her former seducer; the source of a traumatic experience
• Elizabeth: her future sister-in-law; she likes Elizabeth from their first meeting, and Elizabeth’s liveliness eases Georgiana’s shyness
• Miss Bingley: ostensibly a friend; Caroline intends to use Georgiana as a prospective bride for Bingley
• Colonel Fitzwilliam: joint guardian and protector

Translation Notes

• “Miss Darcy” is the form of address for an unmarried woman. Make clear that she is Darcy’s younger sister.
• Adjectives such as “shy,” “diffident,” and “bashful” recur in descriptions of Georgiana. Translate them in explicit contrast to the mistaken impression that she is “proud.”
• When recounting Wickham’s attempted seduction, preserve the restrained tone of Darcy’s letter. Make clear that Georgiana is the victim without becoming sentimental.
• Her £30,000 dowry was an enormous sum by the standards of the period and makes Wickham’s motive explicit.