1. Darcy's Allegations: In Chapter 15, Darcy arrives at the Bennets' house and confronts Elizabeth with serious allegations against Wickham. He claims that Wickham is a scoundrel who has been involved in a series of bad behaviors, including gambling debts and attempting to elope with Darcy's sister, Georgiana Darcy.
2. Elizabeth's Shock: Elizabeth is shocked and upset by Darcy's accusations, as she had developed a favorable impression of Wickham based on his charm and flattering words. She begins to question her judgment and struggles to reconcile the two sides of Wickham's character.
3. Lydia's Elopement: In Chapter 16, Wickham's true nature becomes more apparent when he elopes with Lydia Bennet, the youngest Bennet daughter. This scandal deeply affects the Bennet family and threatens to ruin their reputation. Elizabeth is particularly upset because she feels responsible for Lydia's elopement, having previously encouraged her to get to know Wickham.
4. Financial Motive: Darcy reveals that Wickham has been motivated by financial gain in his actions. He explains that Wickham had inherited a sum of money from his father, but he squandered it on gambling and debts. To improve his financial situation, Wickham tried to elope with Georgiana Darcy, who had a substantial dowry, but Darcy intervened and prevented it.
5. Austen's Narrative Style: Austen uses her signature style of irony and wit to portray Wickham. Although he is outwardly charming and engaging, Austen suggests that his behavior is deceptive and self-serving. She also employs dramatic irony, where the reader knows more about Wickham's true character than the characters within the story.
In these chapters, Austen uses Wickham's actions and their consequences to highlight themes of deception, reputation, and the dangers of hasty judgments based on superficial appearances.