The World, and especially the West, has forgotten what God made man and woman to be. Jane Austen provides some examples. Christian men would do well to study them, emulate them, and teach others to do the same.
By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA
American society no longer seems to know what a man or a woman is. Just as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson could not define a woman, so the media, academia, and large organizations in the public and private sectors insist that “male” and “female” are products of the mind and culture with little or no basis in objective reality, if objective reality exists at all. The world tells each person to decide what gender they want to be. Then, the world tells the person to scream at, hit, protest, fire, reject, sue, and perhaps jail anyone who doesn’t like what that person has chosen. This is provided, of course, that the person chooses one of the identities favored by the world.
As a result, millions of men and women throughout the world cast about without knowing who they are, what they should do, and how to relate to others. A reality based only on personal preference is not a strong anchor to weather the storms of life. Broken people wander alone through the years, driving others away while seeking solace in activities, money, hookups, or alcohol. Unable to douse their God-given fire for marriage and children, women sink into despair, however passionately they refuse to admit it. Men who once thought that free sex would lead to Shangri-La now realize how meaningless it is and perish alone, often at their own hand.
Christians should never wonder what a man or a woman is, because God has told us. Christians as individuals don’t get to decide who we are because God created us to do His will in our lives. God tells us who we are. If He gave us XY chromosomes, we are male, and He expects us to live and act as males. If He gave us XX chromosomes, we are female, and He expects us to live and act as females.[1] Our sex is a gift from our Creator, a precious treasure, a great responsibility, and a reason for gratitude. Christians must rejoice in all things, including our gender.
In the Bible, men are given three tasks in relation to women (home and church). The first is to lead (Genesis 3:16, Isaiah 3:12, 1 Tim 2:12). The second is to provide (1 Tim 5:8) and the third is to protect, which is part of providing. Women are not given these tasks, and even the model woman in Proverbs 31 exercises her virtue under the leadership, provision, and protection of her husband. Her husband, of course, loves his wife and leads, provides for, and protects her and the rest of his family under the authority of God. Man is not the final authority…God is.
Jane Austen’s Contribution
Modern men can find powerful and good, albeit imperfect, role models in the Holy Bible. However, the world of the Bible seems vastly different than our modern world. Jane Austin (1775-1817) was an English novelist whose works have stood the test of time. Never married, she had an eye for human nature, a tongue for social commentary, and a pen with great facility.
I have never read a Jane Austen novel. The first time my wife asked me to watch Pride and Prejudice, I was dubious. I am glad I did. We have since enjoyed video renditions of Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion many times. The movies carry the viewer with characters and dialogue rather than sex or violence. They provide a dictionary of quotable quotes and provoke hours of thought. I encourage men to learn what they can from this skilled communicator.
Pride and Prejudice
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy – Darcy, the male lead, is virtuous and supremely self-disciplined. He is strong, honest, smart, generous, and willing to bear responsibility. Darcy is wealthy and keenly aware of his status, rank, and privilege. Nevertheless, he feels more noblesse oblige than arrogant superiority. His primary flaws are his ineptitude at dealing with people and his lack of tolerance for those not as self-controlled as he. Darcy gives his best, and he expects the same from everyone else.
One important characteristic of Darcy, and all the Austen leading men, is their physicality. Darcy rides, fences, shoots, swims, and dances. While it is true that all life 200 years ago was more physical than life today, Darcy’s restless brawn reveals much about who he is. By contrast, Collin’s relatively sedentary lifestyle gives him a paunch and reveals something about who he is.
Regardless of our economic and social position as Christian men, Darcy is a good model. The fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) including self-control, and even self-denial, are required. We lead, protect, and provide. We give ourselves for others as Christ gave Himself for the Church. Though our position on earth may be low, our position as God’s sons is high. We take responsibility for ourselves, and sometimes others, out of generosity and love. And we answer to God.
Mr. Bennett – The father of the main female character Lizzie, Mr. Bennett spends more time running his small estate and reading alone in his library than he does with his hysterical wife or five daughters. He chooses poorly when deciding to let his immature daughter travel with unreliable acquaintances. Mr. Bennett’s virtues are that he is the source of hilarious one-liners and that he realizes and admits his folly.
Mr. Wickham – Darcy’s former and current detractor, Mr. Wickham has none of Mr. Darcy’s virtue but all the appearance of it. Wickham is handsome, charming, socially aware, and willing to say or do anything to advance his designs. Mr. Wickham struggles with alcohol and gambling. Christian men should master Mr. Wickham’s talents but must reject his morals.
Reverend William Collins – Judging by how she portrays them, Jane Austen did not like the clergy. Mr. Collins is a sycophant to those with money and power. He alternatively grovels, boasts, mocks, and threatens. Mr. Collins shows no interest in or aptitude for his work. By contrast, Christian men should find work that they consider meaningful or consider meaningful the work that they find.
Mr. Bingley – Darcy’s friend, Mr. Bingley is a good natured and naïve aristocrat. He is happy to let events push him one way or the other. Bingley requests Darcy’s approval for much of what he does. Being good-natured is a virtue but being pushed by God and not by men is better.
Emma
Mr. Knightly – Knightly is probably the most virtuous in Austen’s pantheon of leading men. He runs his sizeable estate with skill, firmness, and humility. Mr. Knightly provides wise counsel to his much younger friend, Emma, and her widowed father. When Mr. Knightly later proposes to the now grown-up Emma, he is open and honest while remaining a gentleman. He lacks the jaunty charisma of Mr. Wickham but makes up for it with his sterling character.
Reverend Elton – While Collins is obsequious, unskilled, and totally without charm, Elton is handsome, intelligent, and conniving. Collins gets an older but reasonable wife who fears that she may never get another proposal while Elton snags a young, attractive, wealthy woman who oozes pretense in every encounter. When Elton sees Harriet, a girl who previously had a crush on him, sitting alone at a community dance, he spurns her. Knightly comes to her social rescue.
Mr. Woodhouse – The father of the female lead, Emma, lost his wife when Emma was young. He is afraid of everything, preferring to stay in his house to avoid any possibility of infection or misfortune. In so doing, he also avoids much of life. Mr. Woodhouse evokes sympathy but not much else.
Mr. Frank Churchill – Churchill is a boy from Emma’s village who was sent away when his father died near the same time that Emma’s mother died. Heir to a fortune, but engaged to Jane Fairfax, a woman of whom his aunt disapproves, Frank deceives everyone and nearly loses his fiancé. While courageous in rescuing Harriet from a mob of gypsies, Frank is a weak role model.
Sense and Sensibility
Colonel Brandon – The male lead, embodies the courage and honor expected of a British Army officer in the early nineteenth century. He follows social convention and does not let his attraction to the much younger Marianne override his character when she is emotionally whisked away by the rogue Willoughby. Brandon gives Edward Farres a generous living after Dame Farres disinherited him for going into the church. He takes the girl that Willoughby impregnated into his care, as well as her child. Finally, Brandon fights Willoughby to the blood, but not to the death, for honor’s sake. Like Knightly, Brandon lacks easy charm and a smooth tongue. But also like Knightly, he offers far more.
Mr. Edward Farres – A young man who carried the expectations of his aristocratic parents and disappointed them in his choice of career and spouse. He is emotional, lacking Brandon’s gravitas, but genuine in his affections. He tries to do right but makes some ill-judged decisions. The realism and discipline of Elinor, who becomes his wife at the end of the show, is an excellent match.
For those Christian men whose personalities and experiences are not like Brandon’s, Farres is a good role model. Brandon starts with nothing and earns his fortune, while Farres defies his mother even though it means losing a fortune. Farres is true to his love and true in his choice of work. Unlike others in Austen’s clergy, Farres comes across well.
Mr. Willoughby – A young man with a fortune awaiting him, Mr. Willoughby is ruled by his passions. He impregnates a 15-year-old and falls for another who is only 17. Mr. Willoughby charms all those around in a way that would make Wickham proud. His hoped-for inheritance allows him to make ostentatious gifts and big promises. When faced with the loss of his inheritance, however, Willoughby abandons the girl that he says he loves only to marry an older rich woman whom he despises. Willoughby’s behavior inspires Marianne to ask Elinor, “Do men think we are people or playthings?” Excellent question in 2024.
Emotions are God-given and therefore good, but Christian men have no business being like Willoughby. Emotions serve the will and reason of man, not the other way around. Sexual intercourse outside the covenant of lifelong marriage is forbidden to the Christian man. Even implying that you have more interest in a woman than you actually do is duplicitous.
Persuasion
Captain Frederick Wentworth – The leading man, Wentworth exhibits many of the virtues we have seen in other novels. Like Colonel Brandon, Captain Wentworth is a military hero and has earned a hefty sum of money from his exploits. Eight years before, he proposed marriage to Anne Elliot, the leading lady in the film. Due to his lack of money and the poor counsel of family and friends, Anne rejected him. Throughout the subsequent years, Wentworth stayed faithful to Ann. When he saw her again, he remained a gentleman and respected her wishes. Wentworth is hard-working, loves what he does, self-controlled, and virtuous. As a result, he became prosperous.
Sir Walter Elliott – Anne’s father, who is also vain and a spendthrift. Not much to emulate here.
Conclusion
Though Jane Austen’s novels are over 200 years old, the issues they bring up never fully go away. Christian men are to lead, provide, and protect women. God gave men those tasks and has not changed them in 6000 years of recorded human history. To have any other opinion is to delude oneself, harm others, and disobey the Almighty. Neither a hurricane of tears nor an avalanche of bitter words will change this.
Followers of Christ are called to demonstrate God’s plan for the earth. Insofar as our marriages work, we glorify our Lord and serve others. Whether we feel like it or not, we rejoice in the wives of our youth and are satisfied with their love. The men of Jane Austen reveal thoughts, words, and actions, both good and bad. But the men pictured in her work are bigger and better than the confused, helpless, whimpering men we see so often in the world today.
Christian men must live bigger and better lives in their obedience to our beloved Lord. God will be glorified, and the world will see a light to guide them out of the mist, if they choose to follow it.
Christian women will also appreciate it.
[1] Contrarians will note that some people have X0, XXY, XXX, and other chromosome combinations. No kidding. But these rare exceptions don’t change the reality.
