The Bennet family consists of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters Jane, Lizzie, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Unlike most families of the time all five of the daughters were out in society at the same time. Mrs Bennet wanted no more than to see at least one of her daughters married within the year and strived greatly to do so. Jane, the eldest is admired wherever she goes so Mrs Bennet is quick to do her best to try and marry her off to Mr Bingly, the very eligible bachelor (whom, by the way has five thousand a year!)
Once Mrs Bennet feels that Jane would soon be engaged she is happy to oblige Mr Collins, Mr Bennet’s somewhat ‘silly’ cousin, in his quest to find a wife. As most men do, Mr Collins first sets his sights on Jane but is by no mean discouraged when he is told of her expected engagement. Of course the next obvious choice is Lizzie, the pretty, sensible girl whom could make a very agreeable wife, in his mind. Over the weeks Mr Collins attempts to woo Lizzie in various ways, most of the time trying to impress her with the grand splendour of his patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s estate Rosings Park. Of course Lizzie’s intelligence is somewhat insulted by Mr Collins’ company and she would never be able to marry him but Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins think quite the opposite.
Lizzie knew of her mother’s intentions and when Mr Collins asked for her permission, Lizzie tried her hardest to escape from the expected proposal. Lizzie is sat down and Mr Collins begins, at first Lizzie looks on to the proposal as amusing, she was close to laughing at the thought of him being ‘run away with his feelings’ and she has a light heartedness towards him. Mr Collins however, is quite serious on the subject. He is certain right from the start that Lizzie is his future wife and the thought that she may refuse him doesn’t even cross his mind, he has selected his bride and that is the bottom line. He confirms his selection of a wife and the implications are definite that Lizzie is the object of his desire, he does not wait for Lizzie’s reply however, he proceeds straight into his ‘reasons for marriage’. It is obvious form the start that marriage had been a main fixture in Mr Collins’ mind, his ‘reasons for marriage’ come across as rehearsed as if he had been going over them in his mind for a long time. His first reason is ‘it is right for a clergyman..to set the example of matrimony in his parish’, maybe not what Lizzie had dreamed of to be the first reason for anyone to marry her, but then again this is Mr Collins. Reputation was a lot to Mr Collins and he was concerned how he was perceived and a wife would add to his status. It would also add, to his reason number two, his happiness. Lizzie’s happiness is not mentioned for who could doubt that Lizzie would be happy? Married to a clergyman whom is associated with Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Mr Collins couldn’t imagine why she would not be happy so the subject does not arise. The third reason (which he adds should maybe have been mentioned to begin with), that it is ‘the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling my patroness’. Clearly Mr Collins had listened attentively to Lady Catherine de Bourgh for she specifically asked ‘chuse a gentlewoman for my sake; and for your own let her be an active, useful sort of person.’ Whether or not it was Lizzie whom Mr Collins was proposing to, have it be Mary or even Kitty, they would suit this criteria from Mr Collins’ point of view, he is not a perceptive type and sees people how he desires them to be.
