Collins' Proposal
Elizabeth's first offer of marriage comes in the form of Mr Collins, Mr Bennet's cousin. Mr Collins is introduced in chapter 13 in a somewhat comic way by Mr Bennet, when he informs the family of a letter that he has received from Collins.
From the letter we can gain a lot of insight into Collins' personality and attitudes. He first writes about the 'disagreement subsisting between yourself (Mr Bennet) and my (Collins') late father', and then moves on to write about the 'Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh'. He is showing off his high connections by using her full name, suggesting that he thinks that he is important because he knows her. He also describes her as having 'bounty and beneficence', words which mean the same thing, and so only one of these is needed. He has false humility and uses exaggerated, formal language. He gives a hint of his further plans (i.e. to marry one of the Bennet sisters), and it seems that he is only visiting because Lady Catherine has allowed him to, 'Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday'. He is lacking in manners as he simply invites himself to stay without asking the Bennets to see if they mind, but at the same time he is obsequious, as he is over-apologetic and likes to flatter. After reading the letter to the rest of the family Mr Bennet mocks Mr Collins, and it appears that the only reason he wants to meet him is so that he can mock him further. Mr Bennet realises that although Mr Collins seems to be polite and gracious, he finds his formality amusing and knows that he is actually proud and self-obsessed. Collins is snobbish as he has such great respect for Lady Catherine, but only because of her status and wealth. Elizabeth sees Collins as an 'oddity' and having "something very pompous in his style", and she doubts he can be sensible.
Elizabeth's first offer of marriage comes in the form of Mr Collins, Mr Bennet's cousin. Mr Collins is introduced in chapter 13 in a somewhat comic way by Mr Bennet, when he informs the family of a letter that he has received from Collins.
From the letter we can gain a lot of insight into Collins' personality and attitudes. He first writes about the 'disagreement subsisting between yourself (Mr Bennet) and my (Collins') late father', and then moves on to write about the 'Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh'. He is showing off his high connections by using her full name, suggesting that he thinks that he is important because he knows her. He also describes her as having 'bounty and beneficence', words which mean the same thing, and so only one of these is needed. He has false humility and uses exaggerated, formal language. He gives a hint of his further plans (i.e. to marry one of the Bennet sisters), and it seems that he is only visiting because Lady Catherine has allowed him to, 'Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday'. He is lacking in manners as he simply invites himself to stay without asking the Bennets to see if they mind, but at the same time he is obsequious, as he is over-apologetic and likes to flatter. After reading the letter to the rest of the family Mr Bennet mocks Mr Collins, and it appears that the only reason he wants to meet him is so that he can mock him further. Mr Bennet realises that although Mr Collins seems to be polite and gracious, he finds his formality amusing and knows that he is actually proud and self-obsessed. Collins is snobbish as he has such great respect for Lady Catherine, but only because of her status and wealth. Elizabeth sees Collins as an 'oddity' and having "something very pompous in his style", and she doubts he can be sensible.
