Family and Situation
Mr. Denny is an officer of indeterminate rank in Col. Forster’s regiment, stationed at Meryton.
Character
Mr. Denny seldom speaks in the novel, so the reader is left to determine his character based on his relationships and habits. He quickly establishes himself as a good friend of Lydia Bennet, who at one point mentions she is going into town to get the gossip from him. He later introduces George Wickham to the town, prompting Lizzy to refer to him as Wickham’s “most particular friend,” and seemingly encourages him to join the regiment. Later on, when Wickham avoids the Netherfield Ball, it is Denny to explains to Lizzy that business kept Wickham away but adds “I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here.”
Despite this, it would seem that Denny and Wickham do not actually know each other all that well. After Wickham runs off, we are told that the town discovers “it was not known that Wickham had a single relationship with whom he kept up any connection,” suggesting that Denny is not a longstanding friend. It is also Denny to tips Col. Forster off to the fact that Wickham did not really intend to go to Gretna Green, throwing into question how acceptable Denny may have found Wickham's actions.
