Most Physically Attractive Austen Hero, Rated
Rated from most to least attractive. I have collected relevant quotes from the novel to show how attractive each man is:
1. Edmund Bertram: drop-dead gorgeous. Of all the books, Mansfield Park really seems to dwell on how attractive the Bertrams all are as a family. Edmund’s hotness is so overwhelming that Mary is ashamed of his profession but impressed by his arm-candy qualities (I will take a moment to note that Mary does love Edmund for his integrity, it isn’t only lust on her side)
They were a remarkably fine family, the sons very well-looking… that the Mr. Bertrams were very fine young men, that two such young men were not often seen together even in London…. He will not do by the side of your cousin Edmund… my friends here are very much struck with his gentlemanlike appearance. Mrs. Fraser (no bad judge) declares she knows but three men in town who have so good a person, height, and air...
2. Captain Wentworth: very handsome. I give him extra props because Sir Walter Elliot is one of the most critical people of appearances and he is even impressed. Was he very fastidious in his hat wearing while at sea? Because you would think the harsh conditions would have affected his skin. Good genes I guess.
He was, at that time, a remarkably fine young man... a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome mouth… how much handsomer, how infinitely more agreeable they thought him than any individual among their male acquaintance,.... No: the years which had destroyed her youth and bloom had only given him a more glowing, manly, open look, in no respect lessening his personal advantages. She had seen the same Frederick Wentworth….. when he [Sir Walter] saw more of Captain Wentworth, saw him repeatedly by daylight, and eyed him well, he was very much struck by his personal claims, and felt that his superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against her superiority of rank
3. Fitzwilliam Darcy: handsome and tall. We do not get as much time focusing on Darcy’s looks as his wealth. So while I think he is good looking, he doesn’t seem to be quite Edmund or Wentworth level. Important to note: Wickham is almost certainly more physically attractive than Darcy.
Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien… The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening… “it is a handsome face”... “I am sure I know none so handsome”... “To be sure, Lizzy,” said her aunt, “he is not so handsome as Wickham; or, rather, he has not Wickham’s countenance, for his features are perfectly good.”... so handsome! so tall!
4. Charles Bingley: secondary to Darcy in hotness and wealth, but that’s okay, because everyone likes him better anyway.
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners… He is so excessively handsome!... “He is also handsome… Oh! he is the handsomest young man that ever was seen!
5. Henry Tilney: good looking. He’s no match for his older brother, but he makes up for it by being awesome.
He seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if not quite handsome, was very near it… He looked as handsome and as lively as ever,... “How handsome a family they are!” … even supposed it possible that some people might think him (Captain Tilney) handsomer than his brother (Henry), though, in her eyes
6. George Knightley: Good looking. Unfortunately the only report I could find of Mr. Knightley’s physical appearance comes from Emma, who is an unreliable reporter given that she’s secretly in love with him. So I am not sure how well we can judge this quote (if you can find a better report of his looks please let me know):
His tall, firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of the elderly men, was such as Emma felt must draw every body’s eyes; and, excepting her own partner, there was not one among the whole row of young men who could be compared with him
7. Colonel Brandon: he’s just a normal looking guy. And he wears flannel waistcoats, which is a mortal sin.
His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his address was particularly gentlemanlike.
8. Edward Ferrars: the dubious honour of being the least attractive Austen hero. He is plain.
He was not handsome… At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is perceived.
I tried to collect as many quotes as I could, but Jane Austen specifically points out that when you like someone they become more attractive, so it is very hard to judge exactly who is hot unless it is a first impression or narration.
Honourable mention: Robert Martin is also plain, but I’m not going to hold it against him. He’s a dear.
1. Edmund Bertram: drop-dead gorgeous. Of all the books, Mansfield Park really seems to dwell on how attractive the Bertrams all are as a family. Edmund’s hotness is so overwhelming that Mary is ashamed of his profession but impressed by his arm-candy qualities (I will take a moment to note that Mary does love Edmund for his integrity, it isn’t only lust on her side)
They were a remarkably fine family, the sons very well-looking… that the Mr. Bertrams were very fine young men, that two such young men were not often seen together even in London…. He will not do by the side of your cousin Edmund… my friends here are very much struck with his gentlemanlike appearance. Mrs. Fraser (no bad judge) declares she knows but three men in town who have so good a person, height, and air...
2. Captain Wentworth: very handsome. I give him extra props because Sir Walter Elliot is one of the most critical people of appearances and he is even impressed. Was he very fastidious in his hat wearing while at sea? Because you would think the harsh conditions would have affected his skin. Good genes I guess.
He was, at that time, a remarkably fine young man... a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome mouth… how much handsomer, how infinitely more agreeable they thought him than any individual among their male acquaintance,.... No: the years which had destroyed her youth and bloom had only given him a more glowing, manly, open look, in no respect lessening his personal advantages. She had seen the same Frederick Wentworth….. when he [Sir Walter] saw more of Captain Wentworth, saw him repeatedly by daylight, and eyed him well, he was very much struck by his personal claims, and felt that his superiority of appearance might be not unfairly balanced against her superiority of rank
3. Fitzwilliam Darcy: handsome and tall. We do not get as much time focusing on Darcy’s looks as his wealth. So while I think he is good looking, he doesn’t seem to be quite Edmund or Wentworth level. Important to note: Wickham is almost certainly more physically attractive than Darcy.
Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien… The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening… “it is a handsome face”... “I am sure I know none so handsome”... “To be sure, Lizzy,” said her aunt, “he is not so handsome as Wickham; or, rather, he has not Wickham’s countenance, for his features are perfectly good.”... so handsome! so tall!
4. Charles Bingley: secondary to Darcy in hotness and wealth, but that’s okay, because everyone likes him better anyway.
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners… He is so excessively handsome!... “He is also handsome… Oh! he is the handsomest young man that ever was seen!
5. Henry Tilney: good looking. He’s no match for his older brother, but he makes up for it by being awesome.
He seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if not quite handsome, was very near it… He looked as handsome and as lively as ever,... “How handsome a family they are!” … even supposed it possible that some people might think him (Captain Tilney) handsomer than his brother (Henry), though, in her eyes
6. George Knightley: Good looking. Unfortunately the only report I could find of Mr. Knightley’s physical appearance comes from Emma, who is an unreliable reporter given that she’s secretly in love with him. So I am not sure how well we can judge this quote (if you can find a better report of his looks please let me know):
His tall, firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of the elderly men, was such as Emma felt must draw every body’s eyes; and, excepting her own partner, there was not one among the whole row of young men who could be compared with him
7. Colonel Brandon: he’s just a normal looking guy. And he wears flannel waistcoats, which is a mortal sin.
His appearance however was not unpleasing, in spite of his being in the opinion of Marianne and Margaret an absolute old bachelor, for he was on the wrong side of five and thirty; but though his face was not handsome, his countenance was sensible, and his address was particularly gentlemanlike.
8. Edward Ferrars: the dubious honour of being the least attractive Austen hero. He is plain.
He was not handsome… At first sight, his address is certainly not striking; and his person can hardly be called handsome, till the expression of his eyes, which are uncommonly good, and the general sweetness of his countenance, is perceived.
I tried to collect as many quotes as I could, but Jane Austen specifically points out that when you like someone they become more attractive, so it is very hard to judge exactly who is hot unless it is a first impression or narration.
Honourable mention: Robert Martin is also plain, but I’m not going to hold it against him. He’s a dear.
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