Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia were the 5 daughters of Mr and Mrs Bennet. Elizabeth and Jane were very close being far more sensible than their younger siblings. Mr Collins was Elizabeth’s 1st cousin and they didn’t know each other before Mr Collins came to the house. He knew that when Mr Bennet died he was entitled to inherit Longbourn and he wanted a wife to share it with and because Lady Catherine had instructed him to find a wife. Mr Collins thought that one of his cousins would want to marry him to hold on to the family house so he proposed to Lizzy after just 2 weeks, having first considered Jane only to be told she was shortly to become engaged.
Mr Darcy came to Longbourn with his friend Mr Bingly because he had rented a house. Darcy first met Elizabeth at a ball and became social acquaintances. They knew each other for about a year before the proposal and knew each other better than most other couples when they got married.
Mr Collins proposed to Lizzy before Mr Darcy but neither thought they would be rejected as they had a lot to offer Lizzy and knew she wasn’t wealthy. Mr Collins proposed at the family home and thought his proposal would be accepted but was shocked when he was rejected.
Darcy proposed at Roslings and when he arrived he was clearly agitated “after a silence of several minutes he came towards her in an agitated manner.” This shows Darcy was not happy despite that he loves Lizzy. Mr Darcy, when proposing, made Elizabeth very angry with the things he said, “Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations beneath my own?” Darcy implied to Lizzy that he was doing her a favour as her family were clearly beneath his and despite that he loves her he is not happy as she is not wealthy and has a lower status than him.
Mr Collins felt that what he said in his proposal was good and positive; he also thought he was doing an honourable thing by proposing to Lizzy but insulted her greatly with what he said. “My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it is a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish.” This implies that Mr Collins feels the most important reason to get married is because it is the right thing for a man of the parish to do Mr Collins also tells Lizzy how it was Lady Catherine who instructed him to find a wife. “To fortune I am perfectly indifferent, and shall make no demand of that nature on your father, since I am well aware that it could be complied with; and that one thousand pounds in the 4 per cents. Which will not be yours until after your mothers decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to.” This shows that he thinks Lizzy will marry him because of money and hes asking her to marry him but doesn’t show much compassion and talks about the death of Lizzy’s parents. You can tell this is from the 18th century because if somebody did talk about that now it would be considered very offensive.
Mr Darcy also offended Lizzy when proposing his first words are “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed.” This shows he is not happy despite that he is in love with Elizabeth. Darcy also goes on to talk about Lizzy’s family “could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition is clearly beneath my own?” This tells us that he is not happy about Elizabeth’s family as they are clearly below his and he could never be happy about it.
Neither proposal was typical of the 18th century. Mr Collins was proposing for money and wanted a pretty wife to share it with and although at first he wasn’t sure Darcy proposed for love.
