Ranking Jane Austen's Mean Girls from Worst to Best

Who doesn't know a Caroline Bingley or Mary Crawford? In this video, I rank my favourite mean girls from Jane Austen's novels, from petty to evil.
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[@ip6229]

I vote for Lucy Steele. She really didn't have a lot to work with but managed to secure a comfortable future for herself. Added to that her adroitness at literally switching from one brother to another AND pacifying their mother, well, that takes an extra skill!

[@CoynieReads]

"Catherine de Bourgh, who is everything I ever aspire to be" 😂Oh yes! Everyone's older-lady-who-sasses-and-bosses-everyone-around-her goals!

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I wouldn't mind owning a gigantic manor house either 😉

[@CoynieReads]

@@SpinstersLibrary In THIS economy?! Paradise! 😂

[@michaelodonnell824]

And clearly the original for Oscar Wilde's Lady Bracknell!!

[@dawnrobbins7066]

I went into Emma thinking I would hate Mrs Elton but I actually found her hilarious and one of the best parts of the book just from her sheer lack of self-perception and the bizarre fact that she and Mr Elton actually seem to be genuinely happy together

[@atthebridge]

Great vid! Poor Augusta doesn't realise that in reality Emma is so far above her in the social hierarchy that it doesn't even cross Emma's mind that they might be rivals. To Emma she is just an annoyance. In fact Emma never really worries about protecting her position at the top of her society, even her rivalry with Jane Fairfax is based on Emma's guilty awareness that Jane is just a better person.

[@LiteraryKnitterary]

This is so fun! I agree with Mary Crawford’s placement-she’s an interesting character, and I think she’s actually much closer to a Lizzy Bennet than she is to a true mean girl like Caroline. Put another way, if we saw Lizzy from Fanny’s perspective, I don’t think Fanny would regard the two that differently. Mary could almost be the heroine of her own novel (though, of course, her character development would be strengthening her morals).

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I'm rereading Mansfield Park at the moment and I'm finding Mary a much more compelling character than Fanny!

[@lenusniq_9746]

@@SpinstersLibrary Agreed. When I read Mansfield Park for the first time, I was actually much more interested in Mary and than Fanny.

[@sarahel19]

Great selection! This is so much fun. My list would definitely include Mrs Elton, Lucy Steele and Caroline Bingley. I think I would put Lucy in first place because I was struck during my reread of S&S last year of how scheming she is. Caroline Bingley is mean but doesn’t hurt anyone really (except of course her brother and Jane but she is not the only one to speak against their marriage at the time), whereas Lucy Steele hurts Elinor and Edward and I’m sure it’s deliberate. I mean, it’s difficult to know how sincere she is in her feelings for Edward when they meet and get engaged, but given what he see of her a few years later in the book it’s easy to imagine that his position and money played an important part in her choice. The fact that she drops Edward the moment she learns he will get nothing of the family fortune after everything she told Elinor about her love for Edward tells something of her cunning. Haha the way Mrs Elton reminds Jane of her prospects is very mean indeed. She really knows how to press where it hurts.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Interesting! I didn't read as much bad intentions into Lucy Steele's interactions with Elinor as you did

[@DrJoha]

Yes, Mrs Elton is the worst mean girl! So patronizing towards Jane Fairfax 🙄 She also was a terrible influence on Mr Elton who was bad to begin with, egging him onto slighting Harriet at the Crown ball. Even twisting Mr Knightley's good deed "Knightley has taken pity on Miss Smith, very good natured, I declare" like such a bully and drama queen 👑

[@nazifaradi6741]

I think that Lady Russell of Persuasion should be included to the list of Mean Girls. Though she is a mother figure to Anne. But still she disapprove of Anne's engagement to Captain Wentworth. Instead she wanted Anne to marry Mr. Elliot

[@EDDIELANE]

Like a well-meaning mean-girl.

[@staffanlindstrom576]

I think Lady Russell is stupid rather tham mean.

[@drariet9190]

She's an older Emma

[@michaelodonnell824]

@@EDDIELANE Maybe more a Lady Catherine - breaking up a potential engagement because of the difference in Rank/Income/Background?

[@jennisrandom42]

Fun video! I think you’ve got the rankings alright at the top.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Thank you 😁

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

What a joyous video. Mrs Elton is a horror and top for entertaining awfulness but Miss Thorpe is more threatening. Strangely these days I find myself feeling some pity for Caroline Bingley and hoping she finds happiness somehow.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I'm sure Caroline will make a most eligible match 😉 Yes, Isabella Thorpe is definitely one of the most mean-spirited of the villains

[@staffanlindstrom576]

You summed up Mrs. Elton´s character perfectly.

[@anjakuemski]

Great video! I would find it difficult to rank the villainous ladies, but I love them all! They are all so different in their meanness. I am pretty sure Jane Austen enjoyed it a lot writing about them.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Yes, I wonder if she based any of them on people she knew!

[@BlatantlyBookish]

This is the perfect companion to last year's "bad boys" video! The idea of Mary Crawford as a Darcy-like character is fascinating! I'll have to keep it in mind when rereading Mansfield Park (probably next year). I'm excited to revisit Mrs. Elton during this read of Emma. It's interesting that she's the only married mean girl on this list. I think some of the other girls' actions can be rationalized as trying to secure a husband and therefore their own financial futures, but Mrs. Elton has already succeeded in that respect. I'm also inspired and tempted to make a favorite mean older women video (definitely needs a catchier name) that includes some of the honorable mentions. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mrs. John Dashwood, Mrs. Ferrars, Mrs. Norris, and Lady Susan would have to be included of course! I think after rereading both Emma and P&P this month I'll be able to make a more informed decision on the debate between Mrs. Elton and Caroline Bingley. They are definitely #1 and 2 though, and you make a great case for Mrs. Elton! Claudia, I am in love with your Jane Austen July content! ♥♥♥

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I'd love to see a video about those scary older women! Maybe "intimidating matrons" or something like that 😂

[@HannahsBooks]

Oh excellent! I recently met someone with the last name Elton and I just couldn’t stop shivering...

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Haha I hope they were more pleasant than Mrs E from the book

[@HannahsBooks]

Spinster's Library She definitely was. 😄

[@michellehayes5133]

Good list! I enjoyed the video. I think Isabella Thorpe would have been higher on my list tho! 😝

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Fair enough 😂

[@thomashamilton8523]

Also with Caroline I think she was always going to be reluctant towards any potential bride for Charles regardless of her social status as the new Mrs Bingley would take over her position within the Bingley/Hurst family as it's likely that Caroline as the unmarried sister would very much have fulfilled the lady of the estate position while Charles remained a bachelor.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Yes, good point! She is in a position of power at the head of her brother's household and would be replaced by a Mrs Bingley.

[@staffanlindstrom576]

Mrs. Elton is hilarious.

[@franceshruska780]

For me it is John Dashwood. He promises his dad, on his deathbed, that he will take care of his three stepsisters. Then, at the urging of his selfish wife, Fanny, he gives them nothing. He is rich, very rich and is willing to spend a fortune on fixing up his two homes, buy more land to enlarge their holdings, but not to allocate a pence to his step sisters.

[@CoynieReads]

Something that makes me agree with the Caroline Bingley ranking was when I read John Mullan's What Matters in Jane Austen and he argues that it's likely that Caroline was probably closer to Lydia's age than Elizabeth's, as the unmarried, younger sister of Mr Bingley who is around 22. Whether or not that is the case it does kind of change perspective of the dynamic between Elizabeth and Caroline when you think of her as being four or five years younger.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Yes, that goes some way to explaining her pettiness and jealousy

[@bebly9797]

I've read Mullan's book few months ago, but I don't remember that information. In which chapter is it? Me too I've always pictured miss bingley around 20, as elizabeth's equal. If she is around 15/16 I must riconsider her character.

[@ricktownend9144]

@@bebly9797 I may be wrong, but I think the only reference to Caroline's age is when (Ch.9, when Mrs B comes to Netherfield) Bingley "forced his younger sister to be civil also". Does 'younger' mean simply that she is younger than him (and therefore maybe as old as 21) or that actually she is the younger of his two sisters (therefore 20 at most). Either way, she could be around Lizzy's age. It may be significant that the Bingley family are said to be 'respectable' and so Caroline's money is probably 'new money'; Elizabeth has less money but she is 'a Gentleman's daughter'. I know Darcy is made out as choosing one over the other for reasons of character and intellect, but may class have played a small part?

[@michaelodonnell824]

One element about Caroline Bingley that I only became aware of after multiple rereadings is that she is of a LOWER Social Class to the Bennet Sisters - they are Gentleman's Daughters, she is only the sister of a wannabe Gentleman. So, despite her snobbery and her pretentions and her wealth, it is definitely from a place of inferiority!

[@mame-musing]

When I saw your headline I immediately thought of Mrs John Dashwood. 😠However, as you were speaking I found myself getting even more annoyed about the actions of John Dashwood. He knew it was wrong to cut off his sisters and he was spineless and willingly went along with the plans of his horrid wife. This was a fun video. Also, the thumbnail art is great.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Ugh, John Dashwood and his missus are the worst, I agree that he is every bit as horrible as she is. And thank you, the thumbnail is made up of two fashion illustrations from issues of La Belle Assemblee magazine (from 1808 if I remember correctly)

[@melenatorr]

Mary Crawford is a fascinating character in the Austen canon: you're right: her affections toward Edmund do seem to be genuine ... and she also seems to genuinely like Fanny: when she sets her brother on Fanny part of her is truly hoping for a marriage; she doesn't like how Fanny is treated; she confides in Fanny in a way unlike Lucy Steele does with Elinor Dashwood. And Austen gives her an interesting, ambiguous epilogue. In many ways, Mary and Fanny are each other's shadows - they even rather resemble each other, both being slightly built and, I believe, dark-haired, to contrast with the more voluptuous and light-haired Bertram sisters.

[@BernasBookishAdventures]

I think Mary Crawford is more interesting than Fanny Price, I really like her 🤷🏻‍♀️ The only thing she does not have is Mr. Darcy’s heart 😂😂 Mrs. Elton’s comments in the end of Emma is I think hilarious 😂😂 Great video, I enjoyed watching it very much 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Thank you! Mrs E is so funny

[@FHMS97]

MRS ELTON IS ICONIC. i love her so much but shes also the *worst* lol. jane fairfax is an angel for dealing with her with so much composure

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Mrs Elton is the worst, but certainly a good fit for her husband 😂

[@FHMS97]

@@SpinstersLibrary hahah yeah one can only guess at the amount of trashtalking that goes on between mr and mrs elton behind the closed doore of vicarage lane

[@RaineyDayReads]

Catherine de Bourgh is life goals, but only if you have a Mr. Collins to do your bidding. Lol

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Oh definitely!

[@izabelbrekilien9658]

Great video ! I love to hate Jane Austen's mean girls, and yes, Mrs Elton is one of the best. I loved how Mr Knightley was the one to keep her at bay when she wanted to arrange his party ! For next year ? One that includes Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mrs Ferrars from Mansfield Park, please ;)

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Ah yes, something about the only woman who has a say will be "Mrs Knightley" - great scene 😂

[@sbyerley]

YES, we agree completely.

[@bebly9797]

I love Strawberry-monologue🍓

[@SpinstersLibrary]

It's hilarious 😂

[@katiejlumsden]

Yes Mrs Elton is the best!

[@SpinstersLibrary]

She's hilarious and obnoxious at the same time

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

The best or the worst...

[@septimasnape]

loved this! 😊

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Thank you!

[@thiadesg]

A tentative ranking: 1. Lucy Steele (she knows Elinor loves Edward and she is twisting the knife by confiding her hopes to her) 2. Mrs Dashwood (how different S&S would have been if she had been a caring sister-in-law!) 3. Caroline Bingley (two-faced) 4. Mrs Clay (almost forgettable, and yet) 5. Isabella Thorpe (her letter at the end of NA!)

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Interesting ranking and so different to mine! I find it hard to see Mrs Clay as a mean girl, since she really is just opportunistic without any bad intentions beyond making herself rich.

[@thiadesg]

​@@SpinstersLibrary Mrs Clay was certainly opportunistic, but she was also planning on becoming Mr Elliot's mistress at the end, possibly while still leeching off Elizabeth somehow.

[@staffanlindstrom576]

What? No Mrs. Elton?

[@Sarah-cd1mj]

Could you please make a Elizabeth Gaskell and Brontë sisters list? ❤❤

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I've only read two works by Gaskell, I'm afraid, and while I'm a little more familiar with the Brontes work, I don't think I know their novels well enough to confidently put a list like that together

[@judelbugsrutter6727]

I would have put Elizabeth’s friend from persuasion in there too. But agreed with your list

[@laurenricks6937]

Mrs. Clayyyyy lol. It took me a minute to place her. She was definitely a schemer.

[@BookishTexan]

I enjoyed this, not sure I would have put Mrs. Elton first, but she is pretty damn mean.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I find her so entertaining that she had to be top of my list :D

[@meghanthestorygirl4581]

I love how you talked about the mean girls who grew up. That's so true that Caroline and Lizzy are evenly matched foils more so than the other novels. Mrs. Elton was also awful to Harriet!

[@SpinstersLibrary]

You're right, she was!

[@coneil72]

I want to see the mothers' rankings!!!

[@pasumechamarimar]

I think Mrs. John Dashwood should be number 1. She is the evilest cruelest heartless meanest mean girl. she is so mean to the dashwood sisters every step of the way. they are family!!! Mary crawford is my girl I love her character I loved that she was very clear about her interests from the start. what makes her a mean girl is that she was openly hoping that edmunds older brother dies so that edmund becomes the male heir. I actually laughed at how wickedly evil that was. lucy steele is a mean girl because she very intentionally targets elinor. she knew elinor was a threat. she knew what she was doing. she's mean for her underhanded ways towards elinor. I do understand lucy just wanted to secure an advantageous marriage for herself.

[@michaelodonnell824]

I've recently reread Pride and Prejudice and it struck me that Lady Catherine would have been just as unwilling to agree to a match between Darcy and Caroline Bingleys. The Bingleys, for all their wealth, are not yet "Gentlemanly" - Charles doesn't have an Estate (he purchases one at the end of the novel). So, when in conversation with Lady Catherine, Elisabeth is able to claim equality "He is a Gentleman, I am a Gentleman's daughter", Caroline Bingley could not make the same claim. Despite their snobbery, the Bingley sisters have actually very little to be snobbish about. They are clearly Nouveau Riche and for all their fine education, they show it!

[@thejoyfultutor]

Am listening to the Juliet Stevenson audio book of Emma (based on your recommendation of her as a narrator) and it’s true! Mrs Elton is absolutely awful and Juliet Stevenson enhances her awfulness with a fantastic and hilarious performance. Browbeating and patronising poor Jane Fairfax 😖 the sheer talent of Jane Austen for sketching the pettiest human traits.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I'm definitely going to listen to that audiobook next time I reread Emma! And yes, Jane Austen is a master at creating these annoying characters you just love to hate

[@ricktownend9144]

@@SpinstersLibrary Do you think JA is more cruel to her women characters than to her men? We are introduced in painful detail to all the character flaws affecting Lizzy Bennet, Emma and Catherine Morland (perhaps less for Elinor Dashwood, Fanny Price and Anne Elliot). However, Darcy's pride is simply a misunderstanding on our part, Edward Ferrars is only a bit bumbling and shy, Edmund Bartram a little dim (not to see through Mary Crawford) and Messrs Knightley and Tilney, and Capt Wentworth have no flaws! On the whole I think the same applies to the 'baddies' e.g. John Thorpe, while very unpleasant, is drawn in broad brush-strokes, whilst we are given elaborate detail of Isabella's nastiness and manipulative behaviour. Almost one is drawn to H L Mencken's 'a misogynist is a man who hates women nearly as much as women hate one another'!

[@einahsirro1488]

I'd rank them by their intentions: are they actually out to do damage? That would compel me to put Caroline B and Lucy S and Isabella higher, and drop Mrs E lower. I agree with your take on Mary Crawford. I'd probably put Elizabeth Eliot just above Mrs. E, because she's a right bitch.

[@michaelodonnell824]

For me 1 Lucy Steele - utterly manipulative; single-mindedly ambitious; selfish to the point of blindness to everyone else. There's also a real possibility that she sought out Elinor to stymie any ambitions Elinor might have had for Edward. 2 Caroline Bingley - snobbish with NO Reason to be - she has wealth but her Social Position is little higher that the Gardiners whom she despises without even meeting. 3 The Eliot Sisters - a Joint one here. Elizabeth is Caroline Bingley WITH the Social Position. Mary is a Mrs Bennet in training. 4 Isabella Thorpe - Klaudia said it all! 5 Penelope Clay - bit of left field thinking here but, firstly, Mrs Clay abandons her children for months so she can live the high life and pursue Sir Walter in Bath. Then when that doesn't work out, she becomes Mr William Elliot's Mistress / wife - completely self serving and manipulative - Lucy Steele with a little more subtlety! I'm not sure if EITHER of the Crawfords deserve a place on any list - yes he does "Seduce" Maria Bertram, yet I always had the impression that Maria was a willing participant in that relationship. However, both Brother and Sister break the mould by actively seeking relationships with the POORER options.

[@datiatamus-isenberg940]

Lady Susan!

[@deniseenglish5306]

The nastiest girl in Austen is Lady Susan. Every person in her sphere was used by her. Every manipulative move she made was premeditated. But her worst offense was her mental, emotional, physical abuse of her daughter

[@louisehoward8711]

I agree with you about Mrs. Elton. She is the most obnoxious of Jane'e characters, so unlikable, aggressive, obtuse and unable to see anything beyone the end of her own nose.

[@staffanlindstrom576]

But she is so entertaining.

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

The three Austen novels I read have the top 3 mean girls. This isn't persuading me to read the others....

[@HamsavahiniVajraasthra]

Namaste 😊This was fun to watch and yes, I would rank Caroline Bingley as Number One - she was too mean & sophistically sarcastic towards Elizabeth and Jane Bennett. Great video😊💕💕💕👍

[@SpinstersLibrary]

She is definitely the more sophisticated schemer compared to Mrs Elton's petty clumsiness

[@loisthiessen5611]

My top "Mean Girl" is Emma. I have not developed a liking for her at all. Emma is so self-satisfied.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I love her as a character but yeah, she's a bit of a nightmare

[@miranda8598]

😃😃