Pride and Prejudice; Mr Collins proposes to both Elizabeth and Charlotte but their reactions are very different. What does the behaviour of all three characters during chapters 19, 20 & 22 tell us about the different attitudes to marriage in the early nin

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Mr Collins proposes to both Elizabeth and Charlotte but their reactions are very different. What does the behaviour of all three characters during chapters 19, 20 & 22 tell us about the different attitudes to marriage in the early nineteenth century?

         Throughout the book Pride & Prejudice, there are many different views towards marriage expressed. For example, Elizabeth Bennet wishes to marry for love whereas Charlotte Lucas doesn’t mind marrying someone she doesn’t love just for the security of marriage. Mr Collins, on the other hand, wants to marry to set a good example as the vicar, and on the advice from Lady Catherine de Bough.

          These attitudes are different from ours today in that women today don’t need the security of marriage and rarely marry without even liking their prospective partner.

           In chapter six, Elizabeth shows that she only wishes to marry for love and not for money or security. When Charlotte tells Lizzie her advice, that you should know as little as possible about your partner before you marry them, Lizzie says “You make me laugh Charlotte…you would never act this way yourself!” This shows that Lizzie does not agree with this view of marriage and finds it slightly ridiculous. This is similar to our attitude to marriage today in that, like women today, Lizzie wants to know her partner properly, unlike Charlotte, and love them before she marries them.

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           Mr Collins proposes to Lizzie in chapter 19, but Lizzie declines because she does not love or even like him. This is very admirable of her as many women in her situation would have accepted purely for the security of being able to stay in her family home. However Mr Collins perseveres in his proposal, convinced she is only joking when she refuses him, and she becomes more adamant, saying “I am perfectly serious in my refusal – you could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in ...

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