The 6 Most Underrated Characters In Jane Austen Novels

In honor of Jane Austen's 238th birthday, we pay a special homage to Austen's lesser-known and -appreciated characters.

1. Henry Tilney in Northanger Abbey

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The leading man of this parody of the Gothic novel, Northanger Abbey, Henry Tilney is often misunderstood. But his wit and cleverness are the perfect counterpart to self-proclaimed heroine Catherine Morland.

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2. Fanny Price in Mansfield Park

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Said to be Austen's most prized work, it is also her most underrated. It's a story about second chances for Fanny Price, who is described as "extremely timid and shy, shrinking from notice," and trusting one's instincts.

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3. Mrs. Anne Weston (formerly Miss Taylor) in Emma.

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Once Emma's governess, the poised and fair Mrs. Weston acts as a surrogate mother to Emma and remains her confidant and friend.

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4. Colonel Brandon in Sense & Sensibility

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It takes more than a broken heart for Marianne Dashwood to realize the sensible, noble, and underestimated qualities of Brandon.

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5. Sophia Croft in Persuasion

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Wife of Admiral Croft and sister of Captain Wentworth, Mrs. Croft becomes a mentor to heroine Anne Elliot and teaches Anne to have confidence in her own decisions of the heart.

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6. Mary Bennet in Pride and Prejudice

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The bookish and solemn character is also one of Austen's most underdeveloped, but there's something about Mary that is a story all her own.

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Find out if Mary, too, had a happy ending in The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Novel by Pamela Mingle.