Explore The Social Institution Of Marriage In Jane Austen's Society In A Comparison Of The Proposals Of Mr Collins And Mr Darc

Authors Avatar

Explore The Social Institution Of Marriage In Jane Austen’s Society In A Comparison Of The Proposals Of Mr Collins And Mr Darcy To Elizabeth Bennett

In the following essay I am going to closely examine the proposals of marriage Elizabeth by her cousin Mr Collins, and aristocrat Mr Darcy. I am also going to compare and contrast the events of each proposal. In Jane Austen’s lifetime a women’s status in society came firstly from her parents and secondly when she married. Jane Austen shows the marked differences in class frequently, as this was a major feature of everyday life in the 19th century. Men were seen as being far superior to women as they were able to work and thus earn a small, and in rare cases a large fortune. Pride and Prejudice in some ways mirrors Jane Austen’s own life, as her heart was broken at a tender age. Jane Austen gave her undying love to her hero Tom Lefroy, however the match proved incompatible as neither Jane or Tom had a sufficient income to allow them to live as man and wife. At only twenty Jane Austen’s real love had come and gone and she never went on to love anyone else. Pride and Prejudice portrays the struggle for women to find compatible men, that not only satisfied their own need for love and adoration, but also suitors that meet their families’ best interests.

In chapter nineteen it becomes clear to the reader that Mr Collins is interested in Mrs Bennet’s daughters. He firstly questions the availability of Jane but is told that she is soon to be engaged to Mr Bingley.  After this set back Mr Collins inquires about Elizabeth (the second eldest daughter of Mrs Bennet.) “ May I hope madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the course of this morning.” Elizabeth tried to interrupt Mrs Bennet to no avail, “ I am sure Lizzy will be very happy – I am sure she can have no objection.” This shows that Mrs Bennet is desperate for Elizabeth to go with Mr Collins. Despite Elizabeth’s pleas of not wanting to spend time alone with Mr Collins, her mother makes sure she stays with Mr Collins and asks her to listen to what he’s got to say. “ He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear.” “ Lizzy I insist upon your staying and hearing Mr Collins.” This leaves Elizabeth no choice but to spend the morning with her cousin Mr Collins. After Mrs Bennet has left the couple Mr Collins’ intentions are clear from the moment he starts talking, “ Believe me, my dear Elizabeth that your modesty, so far from doing you any disservice rather adds to your perfections.” This quotation shows us that Mr Collins is very keen to let Elizabeth know that he wishes to be seen as a serious suitor. It is also ironic as Elizabeth is not Mr Collins’s first choice as his preference was Jane. There follows an equally flattering quote, “ I singled you out as the companion of my future life. But before I run away with my feeling on this subject, perhaps it would be advisable to state my reasons for marrying.” This quotation is a little ironic as Elizabeth is not Mr Collins’s first choice of Bennet daughter to marry as we find out a little earlier that his preference would have been Elizabeth’s older sister, Jane. Collins then declares his reasons for wishing to marry Elizabeth (the most important point set out first.)  “I think it is a right thing to do for every clergyman in easy circumstances to set the example of matrimony in the parish. Secondly I am convinced it will add greatly add to my happiness and thirdly, it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady of whom I have the honour of calling patroness.” The reasons made by Mr Collins for marrying Elizabeth seem quite feeble. I think this because if you really loved someone you would actually make it known to them rather than going off on a complete tangent. However in these times it was vitally important to be seen as a righteous good upstanding figure of the community.  Part of this was to have a respectable wife who had come from an honourable family. During this conversation he also brings up the delicate but factual matter of the entailment and uses this to try and persuade Elizabeth into marrying him, “…I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father, I could not satisfy myself without resolving to chuse a wife from among his daughters, when the melancholy event takes place -- which, however, as I have already said, may not be for several years.” This shows the reader that he will use any information in order to acquire Elizabeth.

Join now!

Before Mr Collins embarrasses himself further, Elizabeth finds a moment to interrupt him. “Accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me. I am very sensible of the honour of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them.” This gives us a clearer picture of what Elizabeth is like as a person. Instead of laughing in Mr Collins’s face she shows gratitude in her rejection of the marriage proposal. This also shows although Elizabeth’s feelings are not the same as those of Mr Collins she acknowledges him in a respectable manner. However Mr ...

This is a preview of the whole essay