Who is your favourite Austen protagonist and leading man? (Don't have to be from the same book)

[Inga]

I love Catherine Morland, it was just such a fun read and I like her growth. As for hero I'd have to go with Colonel Brandon, his quiet love for Marianne and doing what was best for her as well as doing what was best for his ward.

[Melek]

For leading man, Darcy has a different place in me. I liked Wentworth and George Knightly too, a lot; but still. About the best heroine, sure it's Elizabeth Bennet. Emma may have the second place, I'm not sure yet.

[Jackie]

Wentworth is definitely my leading man. I like Knightly as well, an almost tie with Wentworth. Anne would have to be my best heroine, she reminds me of me. Persuasion is definitely my favourite Austen book.

[Teresa]

Trisan wrote: "I started out loving Pride and Prejudice but as I have gotten older, Persuasion is my go to Austen. I am enamored with all things Wentworth."

I completely agree. The only self-made man in the lot. And, he went through just as much heartache as the heroine. Wentworth is definitely my favorite.

[Jazz]

Darcy all the way!

[Tiffany]

Elizabeth Darcy and Wentworth.

[Kaye]

Tara wrote: "For female protagonists, I'd choose either Elizabeth Bennet or Catherine Morland. Elizabeth is such a brilliant character, but I'd like to be friends with Catherine. I can't decide between Mr. Knig..."

I love Catherine Morland!!

[Amanda]

Watching Elizabeth and Darcy together is like watching the two most beautiful people go to prom together. It's cute but eventually I need to look away.

Anne and Wentworth.

[Jazz]

darcy all the way!

[Surwat]

My favourite are from Persuasion which has overtaken Pride and Persuasion as i have gotten older,
Anne Elliot has the right mix of sweetness and maturity and regrets that she walked away from her true love.
Captain Frederick Wentworth has overtaken Mr Darcy as my favourite, he has a bitter outlook due to having his heartbroken in the past.

[Victoria]

This is hard... but I have to go with Elizabeth as my favorite protagonist because I identify with her most and my favorite leading man would be Mr. Darcy because... well... I just do, no explanation needed. I know so typical, but honestly there's a reason they're the most famous out of all Jane Austen's characters.

[Patricia]

I have to go with the tried and true Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I also love Mr. Bennett. I think Jane is a bit weak. I love Mr. Knightly, would love to have him around, but don't particularly care for Emma. Her meddling hurts people. I love Anne Elliot from Pursuasion and I do like Captain Wentworth. The book Pursuasion made me mad though.

[Ally]

Fanny and Mr. Knightley. Fanny was so sweet and selfless, though she had trouble speaking up for herself. I have the same problem sometimes, so I can relate to her. And Mr.Knightley! I love how he could put Emma in her place when no one else could. And he was just so....good!

[Theodosia of the Fathomless Hall]

Patricia wrote: "I have to go with the tried and true Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I also love Mr. Bennett. I think Jane is a bit weak. I love Mr. Knightly, would love to have him around, but don't particularly ..."

Mr. Bennet is awesome :D.

[Kathy]

I love Anne Elliot and Eleanor Dashwood and it's hard to say which I like best. For the men Captain Wentworth, Henry Tilney, and Colonel Brandon I love all three!

[Beatriz]

My favourite protagonist is Emma, but I never liked Mr. Knightley- so probably Darcy. I like the arrogant ones.

[Panagiota]

I prefer Margaret Hale from "North & South" and Elizabeth Bennet from "Pride and Prejudice". From the men Captain Frederick Wentworth from "Persuassion" ,John Thornton from "North & South" and Mr Darcy from "Pride and Prejudice" , although I think that Captain Wentworth and Mr Thornton are the most appealing and charming characters , in my opinion .

[Natalia]

My favorite Austen protagonist is Elinor Dashwood :)

[Gandalfgrijs]

My favourite protagonist is Fanny Prince (Mansfield Park). I can relate really well with her and it's hard to set such a shy, almost passive in a still intressting story.

The best hero... Mr Darcy, I dare say. And than as a cloose second Mr Tilney.

(I haven't read Emma yet, so maybe that is going to change my list dramaticly, but this is it for now).

[Elisa Santos]

Lizzie and Darcy. Because they are perfect in all aspects.

[Online Eccentric Librarian]

Definitely Anne/Wentworth.

There was also recently published a really interesting YA dystopian take on Persuasion that was really good, too:

[Athina]

My fav jane Austen's book is persuasion so the answer is simple ; Anne Elliot and the Captain Wentworth !

[Carolina]

My favourite protagonista would be Lizzie Bennet but my (anti)hero, oddly enough, is Henry Crawford from Mansfiend Park.

[[deleted user]]

There are so many to choose from, but I have to come back to Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy. I have the DVD set of the series that was shown on BBC1 in 1995, and it's practically on a loop. I love it so much, although I think everyone else is fed-up with it. Do I care? Nope!

[Tehreem]

For protagonist, it is a tie between Elizabeth Bennet and Anne Elliot: the former because of her free spirit and the fact that her vanity is not oppressive enough to make her conceited about her looks (something I dislike in people) and the later because of her humbleness and, oddly enough, her flaws. As for the leading man, I will have to pick Mr Darcy because he shares a lot of my personality flaws. Sadly, I also lack his fabulous wealth...

[Lynn]

I love Emma and Darcy, because of their flaws I think. While their stories can't easily be transported to the 21st century, their characters totally can. I can imagine Emma as a special ed teacher or social worker, right out of college, wanting to save the world, while having no idea how the world works. And Darcy, a computer geek I think, who makes a lot of money but can't talk to women. Oh yeah.

[Juliana Es]

This is a tough question. It's like asking which one is your favourite child. Can't we have more than one?

I love Elizabeth for her liveliness of mind and readiness to re-asses her judgment and own her mistakes.
I love Anne Elliot and Fanny Price equally for their quiet strength.
(I wish Austen had created a better match for Fanny Price.)

I love Mr. Darcy for despite his pride, he is also kind and generous.
I love Captain Wentworth for his loyalty and sense of responsibility.

[[deleted user]]

I fell hopelessly in love with the romantic Captain Wentworth!
I nearly cried reading his love letter! His deep, constant love for Anne made my heart melt! <3

However Henry Tilney is the most charming and witty one! He is so sweet and good-humored and made me smile and laugh while reading his dialogues with Catherine! :)

And then there are Mr. Darcy and Colonel Brandon! Who could not love them? ;)

It is really hard to decide which of Austen's Heroes is my favourite. I have not yet read Emma and Mansfield Park and it is some time since I last read P&P and S&S (I Need to reread them soon!)

So far I tend to Captain Wentworth as my favourite male hero! (Perhaps because Persuasion was the latest Austen book I read)

As to the females I cannot decide!
I loved innocent, naive Catherine; strong, independent Elisabeth; intelligent, sensible Eleanor; tender, loving Anne!
And there are still two books that I yet have to read! :)

[Fany]

Female protagonist would be Lizzy, she's just attractive, blunt and candid in a good way, typically a strong and vocal woman.

Whilst, the leading man of course the one and only Captain Frederick Wentworth. No doubt he is the perfect ones and his letter to Anne.. melt melt melting all the way!

[☆Ruth☆]

Eleanor for her patience and common sense. Mr Darcy because he's just so..... unattainable. Colonel Brandon because he's so kind - Marianne doesn't deserve him!

[Pallavi]

In my humble opinion

Ladies
1. Elizabeth Bennet
2. Anne Elliot
3. Eleanor
4. Emma
5. Fanny
6. Catherine
7. Marianne

Gentlemen
1. Mr. Darcy
2. Captain Wentworth ( A close second)
3. Mr. Knightley
4. Col. Brandon
5. Mr. Tilney
6. Edward Ferrars
7. Edmund Bertram

[Shreyanshi]

Mr.Darcy and Mr.Darcy and Mr.Darcy forever.....

[deb]

My favourite Austen heroine is probably Catherine Morland - but to be honest I can't really choose between so many great women!
I'd say my top 5 is: Catherine / Lizzy / Emma / Elinor / Anne

As for the men, it's a tie between Mr Tilney and Mr Knightley <3 though I wouldn't say no to any of them men...

[Sheila (in LA)]

Elizabeth is my favorite Austen heroine, maybe my favorite female protagonist in all of literature. Among other things, I admire her ability to stick up for herself, without ever being obnoxious. And I love her loyalty to Jane. Being unoriginal here, Darcy is my favorite of the men. However, if I were to stray from the books into the movies, I have a great fondness for Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferrars (in the two most recent versions of S & S, at least), and Colonel Brandon as played by Alan Rickman.

[☆Ruth☆]

Sheila wrote: "Elizabeth is my favorite Austen heroine, maybe my favorite female protagonist in all of literature. Among other things, I admire her ability to stick up for herself, without ever being obnoxious. A..."

You read my mind!! - LoL

[Sara]

My favorite female character is Elizabeth Bennet.... And for the guys in the first place Mr.Darcy and the second Capitan Wentworth.

[Caitlyn]

First off how can we possibly decide? And I must admit I have only read S&S, P&P, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park. (Shameful I know)
Anyway I would have to say Anne and Elizabeth tie for my favorite heroine. Elizabeth is sort of prideful and has a temper and an opinion (I must say that I see myself in her); while Anne has a quiet grace that I wish I had more of. As for the leading gentlemen
I guess it's Darcy or Wentworth. Darcy's devotion to Elizabeth is swoon worthy; while Wentworth's apology letter to Anne is lovely.
However I must do a shout out to Bingley and James Benwick for being my favorite secondary leads. Bingley's the pleasant best friend type while Benwick is the sad poet type, and I'm glad that both have found their Significant Other.

[Katy]

My favorite heroines are Elizabeth and Fanny. I know Fanny is not popular with a lot of readers, but I think she's underrated. She's not as "lively" as most of Austen's heroines, but she didn't have much of a chance, as she was surrounded by people who thought she was inferior to them. She thought deeply about things and was strong in her convictions. In spite of the fact that she was not well respected by those around her, she stood up for herself when it counted.

My favorite male hero is Darcy.

[Alexandra]

Anne and Elinor are tied and then Mr Darcy is just above Wentworth by a few points.

[Anne-Marie]

My Favourite Heroine is Elizabeth Bennet and Emma, and my favourite heros are Mr Darcy , Mr Wickham and Mr Churchill :)

[Melissa]

Elizabeth Bennett and George Knightley for sure!

[Sara]

Anne Elliot and Mr Darcy

[Victoria]

Anne and Wentworth for me. I like that Wentworth has some real life experience, he's been out there and risked his life in war. I like the way we see Anne gradually blossom throughout the book. And despite her quiet exterior, she has a strong sense of right and wrong, and an adventurous spirit - 'she gloried in being a sailor's wife.' In some ways, Persuasion is JA's tribute to the Navy, in which her brothers served.

I love the tv version starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds. All the parts are perfectly cast, and it's very true to the book.

[Denitsa]

Favourite hero - Darcy, of course, though I'm divided between him and Knightley... Favourite heroine - Elinor Dashwood perhaps because of her composed nature. Generally, I prefer Austen's male character to the female ones :)

[Annmarie]

Laura wrote: "Anne and Wentworth! Persuasion was definitely my favorite of the Austen novels that I have read so far. :)"

I so agree and I've read all Austen's books. I love so many of her characters but Persuasion's leading woman and man are the best to me.

[bethany]

Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. I love how strong and enduring their love is.

[[deleted user]]

I ofcourse love Elizabeth but I feel like as I've grown older I've started to appreciate Emma even more. She seems extremly shallow but has alot of depth to her. I love wentworth by the way <333

[Persis]

Okay, this is crazy...but I'm tied between Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, and Mr. Tilney!

[Nobody]

Anne, Elinor, Emma for the women annnnd... Captain Wentworth, Knightley, and Colonel Brandon for the men.

I like Bingley too though, he's rather too sweet and adorable for his own good but that's what makes him perfect as he is.

Edward, because he's also sweet and never actually meant to hurt Elinor's feelings; genuinely liked her and didn't realize the co- oh that's a strong word, forgive me. Ahem. /Miss Steele/. Was giving him the roundabout, so he didn't break that off and held his word. Such a gentleman.

Lizzy and Jane as well.

Tilney. Mayyyybe Catherine? It seems like I tend to have mixed feelings about Cath.

Ah, I would've also forgotten about Fanny and Edmund if no one had mentioned them; I may hide away in shame.

It's always a tough choice.


I have to admit I like /seeing/ the characters in P & P better than I like reading them (because out of all of these; P&P I saw first. Everything else I read first, I think except maybe Northanger Abbey), so that influences my feelings and thoughts.

[Veronika]

Definitly Captain Wentworth!
And Anne Elliot - even though Lizzie is a close second.