Why did Lydia run off with Wickham?

Lydia fell in love with charming George Wickham right away. She decided to run off with him because she was immature and naïve. Lydia wasn’t at all aware of Wickham’s shady past. She did not see the true motives of his marriage proposal.

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Lydia Bennet is the youngest Bennett sister and Mrs. Bennet’s favorite child. The girl never cared about her education or duties. Instead, she enjoyed gossiping, spending money, and flirting with men. Lydia’s carelessness made her an easy target for George Wickham. She hoped for a happy marriage and a lot of fun along the way. This illusion allows her to escape so easily.

Immature Lydia was head over heels in love. That’s why she did not notice Wickham’s depraved character and his ugly past. George also tried to get close to Darcy’s sister, Georgiana. He was doing it with a single aim to usurp her family’s fortune. So, his escape with Lydia seemed unlikely to end with a marriage. Wickham wanted to find an easy way to get away from his debts. At the same time, 15-year-old Lydia craved romance and excitement in her life.

Wickham was ready to marry Lydia if her family paid off his debts. He informed the Bennet family about it. Aware of Wickham’s affair with Georgiana, Elisabeth told Darcy about his proposal. Darcy bribed Wickham to rescue Lydia’s dignity and honor. The agreement was that Wickham marries her. Mr. Gardiner arranged the wedding, and Lydia became Wickham’s wife. The sad truth is that she remained unaware of his immoral behavior.

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