Charles
Bingley:
Darcy's best friend is a nice guy, maybe (okay,
definitely) even a little too nice. He's so nice that his friends can lead him
around on a string—which obviously means that he's perfect for Jane.
He's so nice that he says "I have never met
with so many pleasant girls in [his] life" (3.10), when really he's spent
all evening at a country ball with a bunch of rubes. He's so nice that he says
Jane is "the most beautiful creature [he] ever beheld" (3.12). He's
so nice that he says (gasp!) that he "can be equally happy in either"
the town or the country (9.22).
Basically, this is a guy who goes through life
liking everybody and everything. We almost wouldn't understand why Darcy puts
up with him, except that the narrator explains it: "Bingley was endeared
to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no
disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own
he never appeared dissatisfied" (4.14). Darcy likes him exactly because
he's so different—and because he'll do whatever Darcy says (that's the
"ductility of temper"). It's a classic case of odd couple.
Jane likes him, too: "He is just what a young
man ought to be … sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy
manners!—so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!" that’s our Mr.
Bingley in Jane’s eyes and we the readers eyes.
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