Jane Austen's Themes: The Three Suitors

Jane Austen consistently weaves certain themes throughout her works, one of which is ‘the three suitors.’ In Lady Susan and all of her completed adult novels (except Northanger Abbey, which I discussed previously), this pattern appears, offering the female lead various paths to marital felicity—or the lack thereof. Some offer love, others a practical marriage, and some merely social prospects. Yet each suitor has his own appeal—whether the heroine (and the reader) can recognize it or not.

Lady Susan

• Mr. Mainwaring – A married man with an estate but no money. He is Lady Susan’s lover, and though he may be interested in divorcing his wife, he ultimately cannot afford to do so as he relies on her fortune.

• Sir James Martin: A wealthy but foolish man who is intended by Lady Susan for her daughter but only to be used as a tool for Lady Susan’s financial and social advantage.

• Reginald de Courcy: A young, impressionable gentleman who falls for Lady Susan due to her manipulation. He the brother of Mrs. Vernon (who married Lady Susan’s brother-in-law) and is set to inherit his father’s estate.

Sense and Sensibility (Elinor Dashwood and Marianne Dashwood)

• Elinor Dashwood

  • Edward Ferrars: A reserved and indecisive man who appears to be interested in Eleanor but is secretly engaged to another woman for much of the story. The brother of her sister-in-law, whom Elinor ultimately marries.

• Marianne Dashwood

  • John Willoughby: The passionate and romantic, but unreliable suitor who betrays Marianne to marry for fortune.

• Elinor and Marianne Dashwood

  • Colonel Brandon: A steady and reliable man who is drawn to Marianne due to her likeness to his first love but has a much closer relationship with Eleanor. He ultimately marries Marianne.

Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet)

• Mr. Darcy: The primary interest, but he initially seems an unlikely match due to his aloofness and terrible social skills. He is rejected once by Elizabeth before they clear up some of their differences and later try again.

• Mr. Collins: A pompous and ridiculous clergyman who is a distant cousin and the heir to her father’s estate. He proposes to Elizabeth only to be rejected and ends up marrying her best friend and neighbor.

• Mr. Wickham: The charming but deceitful officer who initially seems a good match but misleads Elizabeth and others for personal gain. He is Darcy’s opposite as well as his adversary.

Mansfield Park (Fanny Price)

• Edmund Bertram: Fanny’s first cousin and a clergyman. She loves him, but he is blind to her affection for much of the novel and often overlooks her feelings, wants, and needs for the sake of the beautiful and captivating Miss Crawford.

• Henry Crawford: A charming but unreliable suitor who tempts Fanny and flatters her family but ultimately loses her due to his affair with her cousin, Mrs. Rushworth (formerly Bertram).

• Tom Bertram – Fanny’s first cousin and the heir to the baronetcy. Though he may secretly love Fanny, he was discouraged from forming an attachment due to class expectations and simply takes care of her in secret. (It is unclear whether he cares for her platonically or romantically.)

Emma (Emma Woodhouse)

• Mr. Knightley: The eventual match for Emma, though he spends much of the novel trying to shape her into his ideal woman and judging her for what he perceives to be her shortcomings (and even if they are—he has no right or reason to judge her).

• Frank Churchill: A charming but deceptive suitor who piques Emma’s interest, though he ultimately does not suit her and turns out to be secretly engaged to her rival.

• Mr. Elton: A vain and self-interested clergyman who secretly pursues Emma while she tries to match him with her friend Harriet.

Persuasion (Anne Elliot)

• Captain Frederick Wentworth: Anne’s first love, whom she gets engaged with but is persuaded to break up with. However, they eventually reunite and ultimately make up.

• William Elliot: Anne’s distant cousin and heir to her father’s baronetcy. A charming and seemingly respectable suitor who pursues Anne, but his motives are questionable.

• Charles Musgrove: The Elliot’s neighbor. He is the second man to propose to Anne. She never seriously considers him, as she is still in love with Wentworth. He later marries her younger sister, Mary.

As these characters navigate their suitors, they learn and grow, allowing Jane Austen to explore various types of relationships—from genuine affection to manipulative pursuits. In these novels, suitors are not just romantic prospects but also represent different aspects of the trifecta: social status, wealth, and education—leading to vastly different potential outcomes.