Jane Austen Suitors, Ranked 

Our first suitor has made the ranking only to prove that not all of Austen’s men are true gentlemen. At first very charming, heroic, and sweet to Marianne and her sisters, Mr. Willoughby does a fine job of convincing Marianne of his love for her. 

Consequently, he also does a fine job of convincing her it was all in her head. Willoughby embarrasses Marianne in public after promising her an engagement; he denies any connection to her and then marries another woman almost immediately. 

A true scoundrel, indeed. And not in the fun way.

Mr. Frank Churchill. The man’s reputation precedes him, but perhaps it is too generous in its description. Where Mr. Knightly pushes Emma to be the best version of herself, Mr. Churchill mirrors every nasty thought that Emma has. 

He may not be outright disagreeable, but his shallow personality, quick judgment of others, and high opinion of himself bring out only the worst in Emma. That’s not to say he is without redeeming characteristics; he is very handsome, wealthy, and behaves as a gentleman. 

But when seeking a love match, those factors are less important than others.

While Mr. Edward Ferrars eventually marries Elinor Dashwood, he remains low on our ranking. Indeed, he did not make any promises to Elinor in so many words, but he did allow their friendship to grow very close despite his secret engagement to Lucy Steele. 

To make matters worse, he only proposed to Elinor after Lucy rejected him. Maybe he truly did love both women, and he and Elinor are very happy in the end. But no lady should be made to feel that they are a second choice. 

Mysterious, charming, and fashion-forward, Henry Tilney is as dashing a suitor as any of Austen’s gentlemen. As a clergyman, Henry’s experience has allowed him a strong understanding of the world around him, in contrast to Catherine Morland’s somewhat ditzy naivete. 

Henry is nearly ten years older than Catherine and can often appear to condescend to her. Their difference in age and experience does not prevent Henry Tilney from pursuing Catherine romantically. 

With his unrelenting love for his sister, Eleanor,  as well as his humor, propriety, and general goodwill, Henry Tilney is a fine gentleman and a suitable match for genteel young ladies. He understands muslin!

Haughty, proud, and unsociable, Mr. Darcy is not, at first glance, a pleasant match for anyone. Throughout Pride and Prejudice, however, the audience learns of his continued devotion to Elizabeth despite her low social status and Darcy’s unwillingness to marry. 

Darcy is quite rude to Elizabeth in his pursuit of her, and even spends most of his proposal remarking on all the ways in which she is an unsuitable match for him. It is only after Elizabeth initially rejects him that Darcy begins to develop some semblance of humility and, very generously, saves the Bennet family from ruin in order to win her affections. 

Darcy’s acts of kindness may not have been without ulterior motives, but it was ultimately love for Elizabeth that inspired his choices, and for that, he earns a respectable ranking on our list.

Often referred to as a modern gentleman, Captain Wentworth upholds all of the gallant values of a traditional gentleman but does not possess wealth, land, or vanity. Captain Wentworth is at first somewhat rude, abrasive, and at times outright hostile towards Anne Eliot. But his anger is justified. 

Anne refused him because of his lack of wealth, his social standing, and his career as a naval officer, with no regard for their love. After reconnecting with Anne many years later, Wentworth eventually warms to her again and remains protective, chivalrous, and respectful towards her, even when a certain Mr. Eliot inspires some jealousy in him. 

Above all, Captain Wentworth is an ideal modern gentleman because of his steadfast deference to Anne throughout their relationship, and modeling of an equal partnership in a time when such an arrangement was rare indeed.

Despite the immorality of his family, Edmund Bertram treats Fanny Price with nothing but respect and kindness. He supports her passions for reading and writing, and encourages her to foster her intellectual curiosity at a time when many men would prefer that women do the opposite. Edmund is distracted by the affections of Miss Crawford and even intends to marry her. 

But in the end, he recognizes the true strength of Fanny’s character and her effect on his own, and realizes that he has loved her all along, despite her poverty, her rebelliousness, and her station in life. Intelligent women like Fanny Price deserve a lover who supports their ambitions and who honors their friendship above all else.

One of the most chivalrous men that Jane Austen created, Colonel Brandon is a gentleman in every regard. While the age difference between him and Marianne Dashwood is steep, his honorable behavior more than makes up for it. 

Colonel Brandon is a good friend to Elinor and acts out of kindness towards the Dashwoods rather than a wish to charm Marianne, though he does wish for her affections. 

He stands up for those without a voice, is generous, and respects Marianne's wishes and choices, even when they hurt him. Every young lady should be so lucky as to meet a suitor such as Colonel Brandon.

A true gentleman, Mr. Bingley possesses everything a lady may seek in a suitor. He is well-mannered, charming, wealthy, and, of course, hopelessly beguiled by Jane Bennet. 

Though Bingley’s gentle nature often results in him being easily led by the opinions of his sisters or Mr. Darcy, his love for Jane is strong. Mr. Bingley eventually returns from London to be with Jane despite his family's protests. 

Any reader needs only to observe the tenderhearted, charming dialogue that passes between Jane and Bingley to understand their affections for each other.

Perhaps the most kindhearted and honest man that Jane Austen wrote, Mr. Knightley is a perfect suitor. He may seem argumentative at times when head-to-head with Miss Emma Woodhouse, but only when she has truly stuck her nose where it does not belong. 

Mr. Knightley accepts much of Emma’s meddling out of an intuitive understanding of her true character. He sees Emma as someone who wishes to help others, and his love for her is the only thing that could shake his steady resolve. 

Kind, protective, adoring, and someone who pushes his love to be the best person she can be? Mr. Knightley’s place in the ranking is well-deserved.

Featured image: Stills from Columbia Pictures, Netflix, and Focus Features