The first proposal that Elizabeth receives is from Mr. Collins. His proposal to Elizabeth is very funny. He wants to marry Elizabeth because he thinks that “it is a right thing for every clergyman” to do (72). He creates the impression that he is proposing to marry Elizabeth because he feels a certain responsibility towards the Bennet family to marry one of the daughters; he is not marrying for love. One of the other reasons is because Lady Catherine de Bourgh has told him to get married, to settle down and that she would be pleased to pay a visit to Hunsford to meet him. Elizabeth is amazed by his attention to Lady Catherine and how he thinks that marriage is a business deal. He does not even mention any good qualities that Elizabeth has, and he is selfish and narrow-minded.
When Elizabeth first refuses for the marriage proposal, Mr. Collins thinks that it is a ritual for women to first refuse even if they secretly admire their match. Mr. Collins is convinced that Elizabeth cannot find a better match than himself because she is not going to inherit much money. He is convinced that she is refusing the proposal so that he can be encouraged to propose again. Elizabeth declines the proposal again. He foolishly says that Lady Catherine would not approve Elizabeth’s behavior but her superiority would never disapprove Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth refuses him again, he says, “I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given me” when they meet again (74). He assures Elizabeth financial and economic stability but no love. He is convinced that his marriage proposal will not be turned down, but ultimately it is turned down.
The second proposal comes from Mr. Darcy at Hunsford. Mr. Darcy is confused and anxiously starts walking around the room. He approaches Elizabeth and says, “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” (125). This comes as a shock to Elizabeth because all this time she has been thinking that Mr. Darcy has been trying to find a way to mock her. Elizabeth is astonished and feels sorry for him at first because she is going to refuse his proposal. She rejects his proposal based on his pride and incivility to people below his social class. Elizabeth’s first impression of him at the Meryton Ball caused her to feel that Mr. Darcy was an arrogant man who judged character by social class. Her judgment is right because Mr. Darcy proposes to her out of pride and he thinks that since he is rich and well settled Elizabeth will marry him.
Mr. Darcy is an honest man with the will to speak the truth about Elizabeth’s family. He does not deny the accusations that Elizabeth puts on him for separating Jane and Mr. Bingley. He shows his honesty when he tells Elizabeth that he proposes to her against his better judgment. He proposes to her with all his heart.
Mr. Darcy is a very reasoning man: he breaks Mr. Bingley’s and Jane’s relationship because of closely watching the manners of the rest of the Bennet family and finding them ridiculous. Mr. Darcy says, “I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been” (128). The evidence shows that he regrets to have proposed to Elizabeth against his feelings but he doesn’t regret what he has done to Jane and Mr. Bingley.
When Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins propose to Elizabeth, they both think about their own social status but the difference between them is that Mr. Darcy does it for love and Mr. Collins does it thinking that he is doing a favor to Elizabeth. Their expectations are that Elizabeth will not turn down their proposals but she does. Mr. Darcy is a gentleman because he does not object the wrong insult about Wickham that Elizabeth puts on him. He simply wishes for the best of her health and leaves. Mr. Collins reaction is far amusing because he thinks that Elizabeth has lost something valuable.
In the end Mr. Darcy says, “I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself.”(249) showing that Elizabeth changed him. Elizabeth also changes her view towards Mr. Darcy and soon they get married. As Pearl Buck said, “A good marriage is one which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love” (Quote). Same applies to Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth because they learn to improve their character by loving each other.
Works Cited
Austin Jane, Pride And Prejudice. ed. Donald Gray. 3rd ed. New York: Norton, 2001.
Quotes. 10 February 2005. Quotations Page. 1994. <http://www.quotationspage.com>
