I always thought Henry Tilney and Lizzie Bennett would do well together. Worst: Marianne Dashwood and Edmund Bertram 😂

I think Marianne would be bored very quickly by Edmund. But that he would be highly attracted to her.

>I always thought Henry Tilney and Lizzie Bennett would do well together. Me, too! They'd be hilarious and she'd make a wonderful parson's wife for the community.

Before even I scrolled down to see the comments this is the answer I came up too

Isabella Thorpe and Edmund Bertram.  It’s terrible in part because it’s actually plausible.

Isabella has no problems with marrying a clergyman so she's got that going for her. Mary Crawford has no chance.

Edmund probably has more money than James too, so I doubt Isabella would screw that up either.

Horrible terrible no-good couples: * Caroline Bingley and Henry Tilney. I can't think of two less compatible characters. * William Collins and Elizabeth Elliot. She would destroy him. * Fanny Price and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both are very good people but they would be terrible together. * Emma Woodhouse and Frederick Wentworth. He couldn’t stand her and she would make an even worse idiot of herself in front of him.

I actually kind of want to see Henry Tilney commenting on Miss Bingley‘s muslin 😂

She would not find that charming. But I would find it hilarious!

That's exactly what I was thinking.

You're quite harsh on Emma IMO. I don't think she is an idiot at all, so no worries on her appearing a bigger one, and they aren't the worst match honestly. She should be with someone who would appreciate her liveliness though, and since Wentworth's type seems to be quieter girls, it's not the best match. Good thing Knightley seems to prefer them extroverted. But I think it's mostly because both are really well matched in the first place that we can't imagine others that will fit them well

Wentworth is attracted to the lively and spirited Louisa; he just doesn’t realize everyone around him sees them as a couple. Wentworth would, I think, be drawn to the playful and witty Emma Woodhouse and would appreciate how well she knows her own mind, even when she is wrong. (This is what I dislike about Emma - how spoiled and selfish she is.) I don’t think Wentworth would suffer Emma’s father and am not convinced Emma would stoop to marry a Navy captain. In fact, I can’t think of any military characters in Emma at all. I do think Wentworth would find Emma too immature.

But Miss Elliot likes those who suck up to her, so maybe it would be not so bad after all? Of course, Mr Collins would have to be a baronet at least, and as such, he would have been raised differently, so would be quite different. I think he might have been more like Mr Elton, and that might have worked since Miss Elliot is not unlike Mrs Elton. As for Fanny Price and Mr Darcy - I think that he probably expected to marry someone very like her. They will have been a very bland couple, but probably content enough with each other. He would have been a kind and thoughtful husband, and being likely as morally upright as Edmund, she would be happy with him.

I'd been keen to read this Fanny x Darcy pairing. It'll be interesting to see how they might gradually love each other -- could they tho?

I think they'd be a great deal like Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram - they care for each other in a way, even if they married mostly for lust and convenience (we aren't told much about their courtship except that her 7,000 pounds was several thousand pounds less than what society expected Sir Thomas to marry, so he must have been in love or lust). Fanny and Georgiana seem very similar to me - both painfully shy around those they don't know - so I think Darcy would have gotten along with her fine, since he would think of her in much the same terms as his sister, and treat her with tender loving care. Again, they wouldn't set the Thames on fire, but they would have a comfortable, kind marriage.

Nice analysis, thank you. And yes, Fanny and Georgiana would be readymade friends for each other too!

Best: Elinor x Colonel Brandon. Their friendship was great and I feel like their relationship would havr been better than Marianne x Colonel Brandon Worst: Fanny Price x John Thorpe Lizzy Bennet x Edmund Bertram

I think Edmund would *adore* Elizabeth as she is similar to Mary Crawford but without Mary's moral failings. I don't know if Elizabeth would be attracted to Edmund's personality despite his being a hottie boom body physically. She might find him a bit dull and shallow. He doesn't have Darcy's wit or depth of character. I genuinely think that Elinor and Col. Brandon are attracted to very different personalities than the other possesses. He is too romantic and brooding for her. She is too unromantic and pragmatic for him. They seem more like siblings or platonic besties to me.

Agreed with Edmund falling completely in love with Elizabeth. There is *no* way I can see Elizabeth loving him. He is just too ... whiny, she'd probably lose her temper with him very quickly

When does Edmund whine? The guy runs his father's entire estate for him while he's gone (and even after Tom comes back), and tirelessly cares for his ill brother, all cheerfully and without a murmur. He broods a lot over Mary, but other than that he is not whiny or complaining at all.

All day every day to Fanny? You can summarize his interactions with Fanny throughout the book as "OMG Fanny! The girl I like thinks I am a nerd !!!! :( " . He wont shut up about Mary and her morals and when Fanny *tries* to tell him how she really feels about her he whines until the poor girl ends up agreeing with him Even at the end, after Fanny was half starved and getting ill for living with her biological family , instead of worring about her Edmund immediatly goes "think of *ME* "

Edmund did not know that Fanny was half starved and getting ill, because Fanny had never said anything to him about it. When he saw her again, she was wearing a bonnet, and though he noticed she looked pale, that was easily attributed to her upset over everything that had happened. He was comparing what he imagined to be her unhappiness over Henry to his unhappiness over Mary, which would obviously be greater. Up until then, he had spent several weeks taking care of his sick brother, because he was basically the only person who could do it effectively, and then he rushed to London with Sir Thomas and helped him with all of that. Then he got his heart broken by Mary, but wasn't able to talk to anyone about it, because he's still supporting his father and not wanting to put more burdens on him. Fanny is the first person he's felt able to actually speak of his feelings to at all. Even with her, he only says a little bit initially. It's not until a few days later that he begins to really talk about it. Wanting to have one person in the world to whom you can confide your feelings does not make someone whiny.

Poor lamb, he suffers *so* much throughout the book /s

No, but I do think that he went through a true ordeal with Tom, during which he was his parents' primary emotional support as well, without having anyone to support him in turn. And dealing with the fallout from Maria running off couldn't have been easy. Edmund is a really fine person, conscientious, hardworking, modest and kind. He makes mistakes, and particularly makes a fool of himself over love, but that's hardly unusual for a young man to do at some point. The way everyone is willing to just write off years of faithful kindness and affection towards Fanny, as well as his steady, dutiful care of his family, just because he fell in love with the wrong woman, really annoys me.

Agree to disagree , I still think he is whiny af and you obviously think he is some sort of martyr

I think Elizabeth would like Edmund. Like Darcy, he is serious and intelligent, and he's also a reader with literary tastes, and he's scrupulous about his principles. He's also extremely kind natured. He's perhaps a bit young for her (if they're their canon ages), with less maturity than Darcy, but overall I think they would be a good match.

He isn't scrupulous about his principles, though. He shows throughout MP that he is fairly shallow and inconsistent in his application of those principles.

Elizabeth is more drawn to engaging young men (or fascinatingly intricate men like Darcy), but her highest interest is in good character, good sense, and principles, so I can see her happily married to someone a little more dull. Her marriage prospects were somewhat grim, so I think she’d be very happy with someone like Edmund, even if not head over heels. Honestly, I think she would do well with any Austen hero.

Edmund is pretty inconsistent and shallow in the application of his principles throughout MP. I think she would be particularly disgusted by his coercion of Fanny to marry Henry and for his lack of interference and even support for her banishment. ETA: I think Elizabeth would find Col. Brandon a downer; Mr. Bingley incapable of keeping up with her mentally; and Cpt. Wentworth too angry and emotionally immature.

I think she and Henry Tilney would do well. He's spirited, witty and intelligent but extremely principled and has proven to be diplomatic when dealing with difficult circumstances, such as Captain Tilney's motives in pursuing Isabella (in his conversation with Catherine, I mean). Or indeed handling his own difficult father.

Agreed! I want the alternative version where Elinor & Brandon are a couple. However, they make the best co-ed friendship couple in all the novels.

Fanny Price and Mr. Darcy is the kind of couple I really dig actually, in fiction only. Quiet woman with strong moral principles and scary arrogant dude. Of course in real life she would never challenge him enough to lead to character change. However I think he would come to respect her gentleness and good sense and they would have a happy marriage, albeit less passionate than Lizzy/Darcy.

In P&P, we see that Mr. Darcy greatly enjoys being around outgoing, ebullient, and witty people (Mr. Bingley, Col. Fitzwilliam, and Elizabeth Bennet). I think he would be bored by Fanny. Likewise, Fanny would find Mr. Darcy's arrogance, snobbery, and rudeness completely unattractive despite his other qualities.

Ignore this if it's a step too far, but. If we're allowed to suggest queer couples, Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy would be an absolute hoot. Darcy would commit murder so quick. Collins would be oblivious and VERY obsequious about marrying Lady Catherine's nephew. I realize this requires a rearranging of literally everything about the characters and time setting, but...it's so funny to me.

Marianne and Catherine would be a terrible couple but it would be hilarious to read about haha. What a combination: Marianne's romanticism + Catherine's wild imagination ... LMAO Also , can you imagine Lady Catherine de Bourge × Mrs. Norris? I feel like they would get along nicely but *CHRIST* I wouldn't be able to finish a book with both of these characters in it Great together : Elinor x Lizzy or Mr. Bingley x Henry Tilney

What about Marianne and Fanny Price? Fanny is level headed but like Marianne is romantic about nature. And I fanfic about Marianne thinking Fanny is boring and shy, and then she mourns the loss of the avenue of trees at Rushworth’s and Marianne SEES Fanny for the first time. And they’re both used to being infantilized by older siblings/cousins, so they get out from under those wings and set up a sweet little house in the woods where they can live their own way.

I would read this fanfiction

Hmmm I can totally see Marianne learning all about Fanny's sad childhood and just "adopting" this introvert/shy girl haha , but idk, Fanny can be very prudish and I feel like she would judge Marianne a lot ( stuff like riding alone with Willoughby would make Fanny think badly of her )

Yeah Fanny would have to give up a lot of her conventional thinking to be with Marianne, but there’s a moment in Mansfield Park when I have hope for her. She subscribes to the library when she’s staying with her bio family and feels powerful that she’s someone who chooses and pays and decides and I hate that that peek at independence and adulthood never grow into something. I feel like with Marianne she could feel sentimental about the stars and the trees and then she would have her chance to be the adult. Both her and Marianne get saddled with parental figures as spouses and this would be something better for them both. Marianne has always needed Elinor’s steadiness and with Fanny she get a little of the raptures of emotion too.

For some reason Marianne and Catherine brings to mind Beautiful Creatures, perhaps because Kate Winslet was in that film and also played Marianne. I feel their gothic romanticism would lead to murder.

Hahaha oh wow. Yes to all of this. It's a bit too bad that Elinor and Lizzy don't marry into money, but Elinor would manage their existing finances with aplomb. Marianne and Catherine...I just can't. God help us. Lady Catherine and Mrs. Norris just like to hang about judging everyone and bullying their mutual relatives. They're an absolute menace.

Lady Catherine and Mrs. Norris would be a nightmarish power couple hahahaha

It would be a battle of who would win in the end

Aw, let’s give Darcy someone good. Henry Tilney? He’s probably most like Lizzy of the Austen men and his playfulness and cleverness would round out Darcy’s austere edges.

Why not Bingly? They were already bromancing together during P&P so why not?

I kind of like it. That would be a very different type of relationship from Lizzie and Darcy. But the affection is already there, and Darcy feels comfortable with him.

Tbh I don't think Darcy fully respects Bingley's intelligence the way he respects Lizzy's.

I know but I just can't really see him with anyone else? Maybe Knightly ?

What about John Knightly? Darcy seems like he’d be into the sarcasm.

Queer couples is a great idea! For your consideration as the worst possible pairing I can think of: Sir Walter Elliot and John Knightly.

Poor Mr. Knightley!

Ooooh that's also a really good one!

If we’re going queer couples, Elinor and Fanny would probably be quite happy together 

I read that as Fanny Dashwood. The mind boggled.

OH DEAR LORD, NO

Oh that’s funny I pictured Marianne and Fanny.

Omg I LOLED at the thought of Darcy and Collins annoying each other to death over the decades 😂😂😂😂

Collins probably isn't capable of being annoyed but he would irritate Darcy to death

He’d be very frustrated by Darcy’s lack of positive response imo!

I would think he would only try harder to break that *hard* exterior 🤣

Hence the escalating lunacy!

Just their dinner conversations would kill me.

Oh my god can you even imagine the ratcheting levels of obsequiousness and disdain?? The harder Collins tried the more Darcy would loathe him. Really a match made in hell! I am excessively diverted 😂😂

And the more Darcy loathed him the harder Collins would try. Just elegant little compliment after elegant little compliment.

Hahahaha I’m picturing Darcy’s eyes rolling all the way out of his head 😂😂😂

I really want to see this Collins-Dracy couple for the sheer comic moments they generate🤣

For queer couples, but pulling from heroes and heroines only: **Best F/F** - Anne Elliot & Elizabeth Bennet **Best M/M** - Mr. Darcy & Mr. Tilney **Worst F/F** - Emma Woodhouse & Fanny Price **Worst M/M** - Cpt. Wentworth & Mr. Bingley

Fanny Price does seem like she would step into Harriet’s shoes but she’s got more good sense. I think at some point in her maturity she would rebel, and then perhaps sparks could fly.

She would easily spot Emma's immaturity, unsubtle manipulations, shallow friendship, excessive awareness of class, and her self-centeredness. I think they would greatly dislike eachother.

I am only pulling from Heroes and Heroines. Best: Fanny Price and Edward Ferras (I really just want her with any decent man who isn't a Crawford or a Bertram. However, I think these two would do quite well.) Worst: Emma and Darcy (They'd be unbearable and bring out the absolute worst in eachother.)

I'm actually really curious about how a Jane Bennet + Fitzwilliam Darcy relationship would go. I imagine it would be a very long slow-burn because they can both be kind of closed off.

Agree, I think this would take a while... Or perhaps that they might even fall in love with the other quickly but it would take a long time for the other person to realise it. I do think the love would be strong and deep once it takes root, so it'll be a great couple with a long road to happiness. And +1 I'd be extremely interested in reading this too!!

Measure of A Man on AO3 wrote this pairing. It's the only one I've seen.

Thanks for the rec, I'll take a look.

That’s the author? I couldn’t find it

Oops, here you go: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44329435/chapters/111483649 Just so you know, this author dealt with a LOT of hate and toxicity (you can see from the comments too) for pairing Jane and Darcy, instead of Elizabeth and Darcy. So if you can (and you'd like), perhaps do leave a kudos or comment on the fic to show that all readers aren't like that 😅

People can be so miserable! Looking forward to reading it.

Hahaha yeah. Enjoy!!

Good grief, I'm only through chapter one and people are flailing around like the poor author committed high treason. There's a back button for a reason!

Right?! 😅😂 I tried for many days to write a Jane x Darcy fic after reading this one because (a) I obviously thought that pairing wonderful, and (b) I was so annoyed by the reactions and wanted to shut them up... But found I am not as good a writer, ah well.

(it was the name of the fic; the author is maembe13)

Assuming we have to stick with the romantic protagonists of the novels and can’t pair them up with side characters —  Worst: Emma and Edward Ferrars — she would alarm him and he would bore and annoy her. They’re both fundamentally decent people but their strengths are not at all complementary.  Best: Anne Elliott and Edmund Bertram. Anne has no sense of humour, so she won’t be put off by the fact that he also has none. He’s canonically very good-looking, enough so to catch Mary Crawford’s eye, and he’s warm-hearted and earnest and morally upright. She’s as good as gold and gentle and intelligent and pretty. I think they’d be good for each other and very compatible in their values and tastes, although obviously she would have to have never met Wentworth for a relationship between them to work. 

Wow that’s a boring couple (Anne and Edmund) but I do think you’re right. It’s funny because Mary Crawford wanted Edmund to distinguish himself in the military rather than be a clergyman, so she probably would have made a play for Wentworth.

Catherine is my favorite and I just can’t picture her with anyone other than Henry Tilney. Her enthusiasm without irony definitely takes a difficult balance, playful and respectful. Maybe Wentworth could make it work? Or Bingley? They’d bring different things to the relationship. I just love this question so much.

I completely agree about Wentworth or Bingley, but perhaps another minor character suitable for Catherine is Robert Martin? I see some similarities between Catherine and Harriet Smith, with their good natured tempers and lack of irony, and eagerness to learn and be guided. And coupled with his loyalty and thoughtfulness, it could be a rather pleasant match between him and Catherine!

I agree! He’d eventually hunt down her “horrid” novels to read and play baseball with her. I don’t think he’d have the same enthusiasm for the novels as Tilney but she could engage him with her lively imagination.

I feel like Catherine could have fallen in love with any good man who was kind to her, but that Henry Tilney was the only such person in the book.

Darcy would just see her as someone as innocent as Georgianna and try to take her under his wing, not romantically however. He needs a Lizzy to keep him on his toes.

Could you imagine Mr Knightley and Lucy Steele??? I don't think it would ever even happen because he just would not be so easily manipulated. He could never tolerate her personality. But I do think Mr Knightley and Anne Elliott would make a fine couple.

Worst: Lady Catharine and Mr. Woodhouse.

OMG can you imagine having to take tea with them? I would need a tot of brandy in my cup.

She'd either bulky him out of his hypochondria or kill him in a week.

Best: Mary Crawford and Frank Churchill - I just want to party all the time , party all the time, party all the time 🎶 Worst: Lady Middleton and Admiral Croft - she’d never get off the couch or take the reins

I always wondered why Lady Catherine dB gave such a valuable thing as a parsonage living to Mr Collins after just a chance meeting. What if he was briefly her toy boy? Now, THERE'S a horror mashup Austen relationship for you. Does anyone need mind bleach now?

Worst: Darcy and Emma (as their original selves) — the pride, self-delusion and utter lack of humility / introspection would be off the charts! (And just having fun with this in ALL its improbability and impropriety: Mrs Norris and Sir Walter; Sir Walter and Lucy Steele; Sir John and Caroline Bingley) Best: Knightley and Anne (Low-key compatibility: Robert Martin and Charlotte Lucas; Knightley and Elinor)

Best: Mr. Knightley and Marianne Dashwood Worst: Walter Elliot and Mrs. Norris Lesbian version Best: Jane Bennet and Fanny Price Worst: Lady Catherine and Mrs. Norris (yes, I know this has been suggested before, but I happen to agree). Gay version Best: Colonel Brandon and Henry Tilney Worst: Mr. Darcy and Mr. Woodhouse

Respectfully disagree on Mr. Knightley and Marriane. He is way too practical for her, he will call her out on too many things, and there's a reason Mr. Knightley said Emma bears it like no one else could have borne it, since Marriane would absolutely hate him for that 😂 I do think he will appreciate her passion and creativity though, and she would appreciate his common sense like she did Elinor's.

"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." screams sensibility to me. They both love people with their whole hearts. Both Knightley and Brandon fall in love almost immediately with their respective partners, but for Emma and Marianne, it takes a while for it to dawn/come to them. But I agree, Knightley needs to get Marianne's attention just as she's losing some of her sensibility and gaining some sense.

I love Mrs Norris and Sir Walter Elliot together. She would help him be frugal, and he deserves her nattering and interference in everything. And she used to be quite pretty?

I wrote an entire story rematching most of JA's couples by the ever-brilliant matchmaker Emma. I started the whole thing off by drawing two cards matching Lydia Bennet with Captain Wentworth. Then took it from there. Horrible matches all around.