Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen

In Sense and Sensibility, a book by Jane Austen, the character John Willoughby is a major playor. Everywhere  he scampers, he leaves broken hearts in his midst.  His charming personality and handsome nostrils would draw women in, and he would evidently have no serious feelings for any of them.

Take Colonel Brandon's ward Eliza-- she is hooked right in, impregnated, and then left alone with no help. Willoughby is too cowardly to approach his own child (or children, as there could have been many more instances before the start of this book.) He gets everyone in love with him-- even sensible Elinor is rather fond of him\at a point. Marianne, however,  becomes infatuated with him. They see each other every day and give each other hair locks and she takes take part in some unladylike behavior for him. Then comes the wealthy Miss Grey. She is very rich-- Marianne is not any longer-- and he wants money. So he leaves Marianne on "business" to town (the business, of course, being courting Miss Grey.)

When Willoughby marries Miss Grey, at least he is settling down. He won't be running around breaking so many more hearts. But this idea of learning, and being less of a player I believe did not start with Miss Grey, but with Marianne. He was most likely in love with her, and certainly was exceedingly fond of her.Just having the experience of actually caring for someone can be very changing-- especially when you cannot have them.

Mr. Willoughby exits the book the villain, but a changed man. He cares for Marianne, but is to marry Miss Grey, due to his own actions. He has to live with himself and his guilt-- to acknowledge that he is the reason for his misery. He is not happy with Miss Grey, but after a while learns to become a decent husband. As he explains to Elinor at the end of the book, he knows that he would have been happy with Marianne, but what really would have made him happier-- a loving wife or a load of money?