Compare and contrast Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley?

Answer 1

The strongest contrast between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley is Mr. Darcy's stoicism and Mr. Bingley's open kindness. Mr. Bingley falls in love with Jane Bennet and wants to marry her despite her position. Mr. Darcy falls in love with Jane's sister Elizabeth but has a difficult time coming to terms with her lack of wealth. Bingley values love over society and money, Darcy eventually values the same but it takes him time to realize it.

Answer 2

Mr. Bingley has a manner like Jane Bennet's, they are fond of everyone, see only the good in people, and are very pleasant characters. Mr. Bingley is quick to approve of everyone and everything he sees. He loves to dance and socialize with several people, and attends many balls. He's affable and comfortable around everyone. Mr. Darcy is more proud, he was taught good principles growing up, but was also taught to follow them in conceit and pride. He judges quickly and does not approve of many people. He'd rather stay at home than go to a ball, and rarely dances. He seems almost uncomfortable to be around, except for those few select people who know him well. Both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are close to each other however, even though they see the world from different views. Eventually Elizabeth Bennet roughly tells Mr. Darcy that he is too proud and conceited and is not a gentleman. He realizes what people think of him, and after explaining to Elizabeth in a letter of the situation he was in with Mr. Wickham, Mr. Darcy becomes a much more friendly character. Both Darcy and Bingley fall for the Bennet sisters, Elizabeth and Jane. At the end of the book, the Bingleys move close to the Darcys.

Answer 3

Bingley is outgoing, cheerful, socially minded, and likes to find good in people and enjoy himself. He is easily persuaded by his friends, even to the point of being persuaded that he should leave Netherfield to get away from Jane, because he is falling in love and she (it is believed) is not, a prescription for getting his heart broken.

Darcy is uncomfortable around people he does not know well. He is thoughtful, but he fails to understand or care about the effect his standoffishness has on other people. He fights against his love for Elizabeth until he realizes he cannot give it up, and one must believe he would have been just as determined to propose to Elizabeth if Bingley had tried to dissuade him from it.

Answer 4

They are both rich and well-educated gentlemen (although Darcy's income is twice larger than Bingley's). They are extremely devoted to each other, having been best friends for some time. Here end all similarities.

Darcy is conceited and very conscious of his worth, whereas Bingley does not have a very good opinion of himself; that's why it is so easy for Darcy to convince him to leave Meryton. Bingley does not think Jane loves him, as he does not deserve to be loved by such a beautiful girl!

Bingley does not mind Jane's family, he even finds them "agreeable", whereas Darcy is horrified by some of Lizzie's relatives' behaviour.

Bingley is always polite and ready to amuse the people around him; he hates conflicts and he cannot think ill of anyone (a trait he shares with Jane, which prompts Mr Bennet to prophesy that their servants will steal and ruin them without them noticing anything!). Darcy tends to think that people must have an ulterior motive, that things cannot be as good as they look.

Last but not least, Darcy feels compelled to lead his friends, whose life he keeps controlling (as he does not trust Bingely's judgement), while Bingley has a very high opinion on Darcy's intellect and trusts him completely.

Answer 5

Mr. Darcy is reserved, proud, and more serious, while Mr. Bingley is more amiable, social, and easygoing. Darcy is initially seen as aloof and standoffish, whereas Bingley is more open and affable. Both characters play significant roles in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," but they differ in their personalities and approaches to relationships.