Diagnosing and Understanding Austen Characters

One thing I’ve noticed when talking to other Jane Austen fans or reading fanfiction is how often characters are misunderstood due to a lack of awareness of the culture, societal expectations, and manners of Austen’s time. While I’m no expert on the period, I’ve done enough research to grasp the basics. More importantly, I have a deeper understanding of psychology than many Austen readers, which allows me to pick up on the subtle nuances in her characters’ words, actions, and reactions—often overlooked—that provide a clearer picture of how Austen intended them to be seen.

Some might think that analyzing fictional characters psychologically, as if they were real people, is unnecessary. However, those in psychology or behavioral studies, who are also avid Austen readers, can tell you that Austen had an unusually modern understanding of human behavior. In fact, her characters are often so well developed that modern psychologists can diagnose them based on the information in her novels. In her article “Jane Austen in the Nursing Classroom: A Tool to Expand Psychiatric Assessment Skills,” Tawny Burgess discusses how she uses Austen’s works to teach her students.

While I don’t entirely agree with Burgess’s assessment of George Wickham as having Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), I understand her reasoning. My issue is twofold: first, I reject the term ASPD as a misnomer, and second, I feel there’s not enough evidence to definitively diagnose Wickham as either a clinical psychopath or a narcissist. Burgess’s key argument for labeling him a psychopath is his lack of guilt or remorse after running off with an underage girl, knowing full well he had no intention of marrying her. This act, which could have ruined her and her family’s reputation if not for Mr. Darcy’s intervention, is something any "normal" person would feel guilty about. Wickham’s lack of remorse when confronted by Darcy, however, doesn’t conclusively point to psychopathy.

The reason? Darcy is one of Wickham’s victims.

Narcissists, in particular, don’t show guilt or remorse when facing someone they’ve wronged, especially if they believe they hold the upper hand. There’s a common misconception in psychology that narcissists can feel guilt, but only if publicly exposed and shamed—often referred to as “public guilt.” However, guilt and shame aren’t the same. Narcissists don’t feel guilt in the traditional sense because guilt implies an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a desire to avoid repeating harmful behavior. Narcissists, on the other hand, feel shame only when they’re caught. Their shame stems not from remorse but from a belief that they are superior to others, and getting caught makes them feel embarrassed for failing to outsmart those they consider inferior.

When a narcissist apologizes, saying something like, “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,” what they really mean is, “I’m sorry I got caught, and I’ll try harder not to get caught next time.”

Wickham’s lack of guilt or shame when confronted by Darcy isn’t a clear indicator of his inability to feel these emotions. Wickham knows Darcy already understands his true nature and that exposing him would jeopardize both Lydia Bennet and Darcy’s own sister. Knowing this, Wickham has no reason to feel ashamed in front of Darcy. Additionally, by marrying Lydia, Wickham believes he’s restored his standing in society, so there’s no public shame either. Therefore, Burgess’s diagnosis of Wickham as a psychopath based solely on his lack of remorse is questionable. While he might indeed be a psychopath, there isn’t enough evidence to definitively say whether he’s a psychopath or a narcissist.

Differentiating between a clinical psychopath and a narcissist often comes down to the nature of their "god complex." Narcissists believe themselves to be superior to others—more intelligent, deserving, and powerful. Psychopaths, on the other hand, see themselves as gods or even higher. They feel no shame, even when caught, because they believe they have the right to control life and death, just as a god would. For them, any action they deem acceptable is justified.

Other characters in Austen’s works, like Lady Susan and George Knightley, can also be analyzed through this psychological lens. While Lady Susan’s diagnosis is more widely accepted, Knightley’s might surprise or anger fans. But I’ll discuss Emma in a future post.

One thing we can take away from this analysis is that it’s possible to assess the personality disorders of Austen’s characters as if they were real people.

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Note: This post was originally published on Jane Austen's Literary Lasagna on February 11th 2024. I am now migrating my content to this blog, but this remains my original work. Minor edits may have been made for clarity or formatting.