Elizabeth’s first proposal came from her cousin Mr Collins, a clergyman. Elizabeth did not have a high opinion of her cousin, referring to him as, “A conceited, pompous, narrow- minded, silly man.” At no time did she take his proposal seriously. She knew the acceptance of his proposal would be foolish and would make her a very unhappy lady. Mr Collins’ proposal was more in the form of a speech, than a proposal, which is not surprising, as he loved the sound of his own voice. Mr Collins’ pomposity is partly revealed by his being incapable of employing one word if six will do. He refers to his feelings for Elizabeth as, “violence of affection.” Not exactly the kind of language we would expect a man in love to use, but then Mr Collins was not in love with Elizabeth. When she refuses him he is unwilling to accept this, he implies that she is playing a game with him, “it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept.” He continues to ignore her rejection, his arrogance allows him to proclaim that he, “shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long.”
Although Mr Collins is a clergyman, he does not possess the kindness or morality that the reader would expect from a man of his social standing. Initially Mr Collins was interested in Jane Bennet; he only turned his attention towards Elizabeth when he learned of Jane’s affections for Bingley.
After Elizabeth manages to finally make Mr Collins understand that she has no intention of marrying him he proposes to her friend, Charlotte Lucas. The proposal to Charlotte comes very quickly after he has proposed to Elizabeth, highlighting his lack of sincerity. Although Elizabeth is gracious in her refusal of Mr Collins’ proposal, she is aware that he is quite idiotic and is also aware that he is very insincere. Elizabeth finds the situation of Mr Collins asking for her
hand in marriage highly amusing. We are told that she, ‘so near laughing.’ His proposal she cannot view seriously, as she has so little respect for him. Her rejection of him is polite, “Accept my thanks and for the compliment you are paying me…you could not make me happy.” Elizabeth judges the character of Mr Collins well. This is how Jane Austen wishes her readers to view Mr Collins. As mentioned earlier, Mr Collins would not initially accept Elizabeth’s refusal, he hoped she would be persuaded by her parents to marry him, as this was the norm at the time that the novel was written.
What Mr Collins did not realise was that Elizabeth was able to make independent choices and would not obey the wishes of others. Elizabeth was also aware that her father, whom she was very close to, would not force her to do anything, which would make her unhappy. Mr Bennet refuses to intervene on Mr Collins behalf as he amuses him, and like his daughter he questions his sincerity. We feel he shares Elizabeth’s thoughts about Mr Collins, “Can he be a sensible man, sir?” The reader cannot help but feel that Elizabeth and her father find Mr Collins absurd. Therefore an acceptance of his proposal would be beyond belief. Eventually Mr Collins realises that Elizabeth will not change her mind. Mr Collins implies that marriage was an arrangement, which did not necessarily include love. Love was however, important to Elizabeth. The reader can not help feel it is also what Jane Austen believed. Marriage to Mr Collins would have been loveless; Elizabeth was therefore right to refuse him.
At the time when Jane Austen wrote this novel, social gatherings were very important, these gatherings were an opportunity for matchmaking. At such gatherings Elizabeth meets Darcy. The first gathering in the novel is the Netherfield ball. Here we learn that Elizabeth finds Darcy, ‘arrogant’ and ‘intolerant.’
“I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine.” She does however, enjoy amusing herself with Darcy. Elizabeth enjoys provoking him, she teases and argues with him. Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth comes at a time, when Wickham has charmed Elizabeth.
George Wickham has made a favourable impression on Elizabeth. He has told Elizabeth lies about Darcy, lies she believes, because of her initial thoughts about him. At this point in the novel Elizabeth is not such a good judge of character.
Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth is her second. Acceptance of this proposal would have made Elizabeth’s life much more pleasant, as Darcy was a wealthy man; it would also have pleased her mother. Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth was very different to Mr Collins. Darcy spoke of love, Mr Collins did not. Both proposals were however, unexpected. After Darcy’s cry, “I admire and love you.” We are told that, ’Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression.’ Elizabeth however, refused Mr Darcy, although Austen informs us, ‘In spite of her deeply- rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man’s affection.’ There were a number of reasons why she refused him. In the early part of the novel we learn that Elizabeth has, “no very cordial feelings towards him.” She found him a very cold and distant man. She is therefore shocked when she first hears his proposal.
Darcy’s proposal also follows Elizabeth’s receipt of a letter from her sister Jane, whom she is very close to. Elizabeth believes that Jane is depressed because of her feelings for Mr Bingley. Initially Elizabeth is surprised to find Darcy proclaiming his love for her, but then surprise turns to anger as she blames Darcy for the fact that her sister Jane is distressed because of Mr Bingley’s lack of attention. Elizabeth thinks that Darcy has deliberately encouraged Bingley to distance himself from Jane.
“Do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?” We hear Elizabeth ask Darcy. Elizabeth feels that Mr Darcy has interfered in the relationship that was developing between Mr Bingley and Jane. Her judgement is also affected by what Wickham has told her about Mr Darcy. Unfortunately, at this point in the novel Elizabeth is unaware of the truth about Wickham and therefore misjudges Darcy.
Elizabeth is also unaware that Mr Darcy speaks the truth when he tells her, “I admire and love you.” At this point in the novel Elizabeth does not really understand the sincerity of Mr Darcy’s proposal.
She tells him, “I have every reason in the world to think ill of you.”
This is what makes the novel so effective because Austen allows the reader to watch the anxiety that Darcy and Elizabeth suffer.
Darcy is upset by Elizabeth’s refusal he is also hurt by her claim that he was, “the last man in the world,” that she could consider marrying. The reader cannot help but feel Darcy’s pain when he tells Elizabeth, “You have said enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings. “Darcy is hurt at Elizabeth’s refusal, as he truly loves her. We are told that, ‘He was struggling with the appearance of composure.’ His proposal is genuine unlike the one received by Mr Collins.
After Darcy has departed we are told that, ‘the tumult’ of Elizabeth’s mind, ‘was now painfully great.’ The reader becomes aware that Elizabeth does have feelings for Darcy as she is affected by his declaration; we are told that she ‘sat down and cried for half an hour.’ Although Elizabeth is full of anger because of the Darcy’s ‘abominable pride’ she is however flattered that a man of his social standing should have proposed to her.
Darcy’s proposal and his letter of explanation, come at the central point of the novel. Although his proposal was badly timed the letter he sends to Elizabeth the day after his declaration of love, does however, make Elizabeth re think her opinion of him. The arrival of
the letter helps the reader gain an insight into Darcy’s feelings and Elizabeth’s reaction to the information contained in the letter. After the arrival of the letter the reader becomes aware that Elizabeth has misjudged Darcy. We cannot help but feel a little disappointed that Elizabeth has refused Darcy, but this is Jane Austen’s intention, as she wants their relationship to develop so that theirs will be lasting happiness.
There is a similarity in both of the proposals that Elizabeth received. Both Darcy and Mr Collins make reference to Elizabeth’s lack of fortune. Mr Collins feels he is granting an honour on the Bennet household by his proposal. He informs Elizabeth that, “To fortune I am perfectly indifferent… I am well aware that it could not be complied with.” Darcy tells Elizabeth that his passion has fought with his awareness of her low social standing. Elizabeth’s reply to Darcy is honest. She regards his account of how he had overcome his natural prejudice towards her social position as ‘uncivil.’ The reader can not help at this stage, but to agree with Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was quite right to refuse to marry Mr Collins, Elizabeth had values and moral standards and she was right to remain faithful to these beliefs. Jane Austen portrayed Mr Collins in such a way that the reader would have been pleased that Elizabeth refused him.
At the point in the novel when Mr Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, it is understandable from Elizabeth’s point of view why she refused him to. She is not aware of certain facts regarding Darcy’s behaviour. Wickham has influenced her opinion of Mr Darcy, and she also blames Darcy for her sister’s unhappiness. At this point in the novel Elizabeth has misjudged Darcy. Fortunately Jane Austen allows her heroine to discover the truth about Mr Darcy, but this is not until the latter part of the novel, when fortunately Darcy and Elizabeth are able to reveal their true feelings to each other. Their eventual marriage is fulfilling because they have learned to know why they love each other and because it is hard won.
