“I think it is right for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish.”
In his first reason he makes out that he is a good clergyman and he is setting other clergymen an example. He makes assumptions that he will be setting a good example if he is married; this tells us he has no self-doubt. He praises himself which he is not worthy of because he is unchristian and hypocritical. He is also unchristian when he reacts to Elizabeth’s sister Lydia’s elopement later on in the novel. He sees it as a social disgrace towards himself. He is ashamed of his cousins doing and this affects his reputation even though he does not understand the circumstances. He is always thinking of himself and how he is affected by anything that takes place. He offends the Bennets in his letter of condolence when he hears about the elopement.
Mr Collins says that his second reason is that, “it would add greatly to my happiness.” This is very selfish and he does not realise it. He is “full of himself” and does not realise it; this makes him more comical.
He goes on to state the third reason and to him most important reason of marrying Elizabeth. It is because of Lady Catherine’s particular advice and recommendation to marry and bring his wife to Hundsford. Mr Collins is under the commands of Lady Catherine; he does everything she wishes.
“Chuse properly, chuse a gentlewoman for my sake; and for your own sake. Let her be an active sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income, go a good way.”
This quote suggests that Lady Catherine De Bourg wants a say in whom he will marry, not because she cares for him but she wants to marry a certain sort of woman for her own benefit. Lady Catherine De Bourg is a rich, domineering noblewoman: Mr Collins Patron who epitomises class snobbery. She doesn’t want Mr Collins to marry a woman who is classed higher than her, which makes her very selfish. This is the sort of person Jane Austen detests.
Mr Collins obeys lady Catherine’s commands because she is giving him a living; he wants to impress her so he remains priest of her parish and with a reputation. She is taking advantage of controlling him but his ignorance is blinding him to the fact that she is giving him a living. He is obsequious and servile he creeps around almost idolizing Lady Catherine.
Mr Collins wrongly assumes that Elizabeth will like Lady Catherine. The very things that make Elizabeth a unique person, Mr Collins feels that Lady Catherine will not like,
“your wit and vivacity I think must be acceptable to her…”
Elizabeth’s wit and vivacity are the very qualities that made Darcy fall in love with Elizabeth.
Another reason he states for marrying Elizabeth is:
“...That being, as I am to inherit after the death of your honoured father (who, however may live many years longer. I could not satisfy myself without resolving to chuse a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be as little as possible.”
Mr Collins is showing Elizabeth that he is a kind-hearted person towards the fact that the Bennets could be left with nothing after he inherits their property, after Mr Bennet dies. It has really nothing to do with love and because of the way Mr Collins’ acts; it is as if he is incapable of love. He thinks it is better if he is married to one of the Bennet daughters so that the family has some source of security, although we know this kindness is not genuine.
Elizabeth is not interested in his reasons for marrying, as her ideal marriage would be for different reasons. Mr Collins is a materialistic person he is impressed by wealth luxury and reputation and not what is in people’s hearts. He is sycophantic doesn’t realise what people think of him, a comical, idiotic clergyman. He expects to be valued because of social advancement because he is a ‘social climber’ himself. His function in the novel is to convey Jane Austen’s feelings on some clergymen using his position in the church for his own favour and not for Christian reasons.
After his long speech Elizabeth is desperate to talk.
“It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now.”
After a long speech by Mr Collins a single line on its own stands out. We almost feel relieved when this sentence comes because Mr Collins is talking continually. Elizabeth thinks that Mr Collins is tedious.
Elizabeth politely tells Mr Collins that she is thankful but cannot accept his proposal. She does not give any reasons for refusing him.
In turning Mr Collins’ proposal down, we see that Elizabeth is a strong person with a lot of courage. She would rather be single rather than marry someone that she does not love.
Mr Collins does not care that Elizabeth has refused him and implies that he knows Elizabeth wants to marry him, despite what she might say. This shows further humour in the language and behaviour of Mr Collins. He thinks it is customary for young ladies to initially turn down a proposal for marriage. He believes that Elizabeth really wants to accept and intends to do so in the end; as a result, he repeats his proposal. Elizabeth declines again, refuting his arguments. Mr. Collins, however, is blinded by conceit and does not realize that the lady is truly not interested in him. Mr Collins is very proud and feels he deserves her. He feels that she will impress Lady Catherine De Bourg. Elizabeth knows that she will could never make him happy and vice versa because they are two different people.
Mr Collins is still positive that Elizabeth is interested but just needs more time.
“ My proposals will not fail of being acceptable”
Mr Collins is not giving up and is still convinced she wants to marry him. He shows his lack of consideration and sensitivity as he tells Elizabeth she may never be proposed to again. This shows that his proposal is not about passion or love he is very tedious, We grow to like Elizabeth’s character as we sympathize with her. Elizabeth is patient to hear what Mr Collins has to say. He thinks she is only being reluctant towards him because of her modesty. He is foolish because he is self-important and he doesn’t even think about how Elizabeth is feeling about him because he has no self-doubt.
He simply dismisses the refusal “with a formal wave of the hand” and it does not bother him that Elizabeth has refused it because he will not believe it. He continues to show his lack of self-doubt. This scene continues to be humorous.
Mr Collins is using compliments to influence her to agree with the proposal. She is not flattered as there is no passion behind his words.
“I singled you out as the companion of my future life.”
Here Mr Collins is deceitful because Elizabeth was not the first that attracted his attention but her older sister, Jane. She was already acquainted with a gentleman. He uses the word ‘companion’ which tells us that he doesn’t think of her as much because anyone could be a companion but not anyone can be a wife.
From this rejection we know that his pride has been hurt. His foolishness and lack of self-knowledge means that he does not understand why he has been rejected. Mr Collins is also very insensitive and his feelings are shown to be shallow when he proposes to Charlotte Lucas almost immediately after his rejection. He is pompous and the object of great satire in the novel. He is not perceptive enough to notice that Lady Catherine De Bourg is overpoweringly patronizing. Mr Collins likes to appreciate and value the quantity or size of houses and furnishings while totally ignoring their aesthetic qualities; this maybe one of the reasons he is laughed upon by others.
Elizabeth learnt from this proposal that her cousin is a very odious and completely conceited person. This proposal was very inappropriate. The entire scene is amusing to the reader and frustrating to Elizabeth.
Mr Collins’ proposal highlights the main plot, which is the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. Mr Collins does not develop and continues to be a caricature throughout the book. Darcy, who starts off with a similar attitude to Mr Collins develops because he loves Elizabeth.
Almost immediately after Mr Collins proposal was rejected he in desperation proposed to another woman Elizabeth’s friend, Charlotte Lucas. To Elizabeth’s surprise Charlotte accepts Mr Collins proposal. She is a twenty-seven years old middle class woman; she was not very attractive so her options were very limited. We learn the kind of marriage that women took advantage of by Charlotte because she was no longer marriage material, although Charlotte wanted to marry for love but she is a realist and realises that her chances for love are low, so she may have stayed a maiden. Charlotte gets married for security because she knows her chances of marriage are low so she accepts. Charlotte marries Mr Collins for future security. This proves that Mr Collins’ feelings were not real and that his proposal was very superficial.
The second proposal is from Mr Darcy:
Mr Darcy is seen as a proud, arrogant and isolated character from Elizabeth’s perspective at the foremost ball in Meryton, which is when we initially meet him. Mr Darcy was bought up to be proud, superior and of a higher status than Elizabeth. There is a difference in class between them, and his upbringing has conditioned him to unquestioningly accept this.
During the ball Mr Darcy is accompanied by his friend Mr Bingley, who found himself hastily acquainted with the eldest of the Bennet daughters, Jane, accompanies Mr Darcy. They enjoyed each other’s company and danced together. But there was an inappropriate interference by Mr Darcy who thought Jane and Mr Bingley’s relationship was unsuitable. Mr Bingley moved to London on the say of Mr Darcy. This shows how influenced Mr Bingley is by people like Mr Darcy who is a very powerful character.
Mr Darcy is socially superior and this is evident at the beginning at the Meryton ball. He stands and dresses in a particular style and he kept his distance from anyone he didn’t particularly know. He has contact with very few people, so he is isolated. He feels it is below him to dance. When Mr Bingley asks if he should be introduced to Elizabeth, he says:
“She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”
His first impressions of her are negative and this shows his arrogance because he doesn’t know much about Elizabeth until he meets her but judges her only by rank.
He is rude and bitter towards her; this shows how superficially cold his character is. Jane Austen created his character to comment on how important class was.
From the very beginning of Pride and Prejudice we get a very negative impression of Darcy to show us that social expectations are very different between the two characters. When Elizabeth and Darcy meet for the second time, the dynamics of their relationship changes. When Darcy sees Elizabeth walking from Longbourn to Netherfield to take care of her sister he is impressed and thinks she is very independent. The more responsive he becomes in his speech the more she insults him and this pleases him because he likes to see she is a courageous character. His interest in her strengthens by this and this leads to his proposal.
The proposal scene begins in a negative manner as Elizabeth has just discovered in the scene before that Darcy caused distress towards Jane by urging Mr Bingley to move to London, away from the Bennet’s. Elizabeth is compassionate towards her sister. This shows that Elizabeth is a very caring person and is prepared to put others before herself.
Elizabeth is alone in the parlour when Darcy comes in. She is surprised to see him. Darcy came in and was very nervous. He inquires about the health of her and her family. As Darcy wanders around the room, Elizabeth “answered him with cold civility.” This shows that this proposal will not work and Darcy wandering around the room shows his nervousness. He then he declares his love for her. It is short, sharp and full of emotion he’s being honest and passionate.
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
This shows he is nervous and disturbed by his feelings and how desperate he is to let his feelings out. This proposal is rushed but full of feeling. It leaves Elizabeth feeling stunned. She had no idea that Darcy felt this way towards her. He is being honest and her reaction gives hope because she is affected by his sudden outburst, which is full of feeling.
Elizabeth’s reaction is thunderstruck and speechless. She has forced herself to detest him as he had troubled her sister. But there was a certain interest between the two characters. Her reaction was prepared; as she knew she was going to cause him hurt.
“…She was at first sorry for the pain she was going to cause…”
This gives the reader a negative feeling that this proposal is not going to be successful due to the shortcomings of both characters and that she feels she will cause him pain.
His attachment to her must be very strong as he says he is sacrificing his position in society and is boasting about it as if he’s done more than she is worthy of. He doesn’t really know Elizabeth but is attracted to her because she is original and self-determining. She is disturbed but fascinated by this man. He has done nothing that she could use as an excuse to get married to him.
“ It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you. But I cannot-”
This illustrates Elizabeth’s courage in forming down such a prosperous future. Elizabeth forcefully says that she cannot feel appreciation towards him and it is clearly said. She doesn’t want to cause him pain but this feeling is wiped out by what he says to her about having to overcome the idea of an inferior marriage.
Mr Darcy was forcing himself to stay calm and relaxed because he was so bewildered that she had rejected his proposal.
“Mr Darcy, who was leaning against the mantel-piece…At length in a voice of forced calmness he said.”
He was in control as his posture was tranquil, but he began to feel tense, as he grew angrier. He was in control at the beginning because he felt it was Elizabeth’s privilege to marry him, just as Mr Collins did. Both men were certain that Elizabeth would accept their proposals and her refusal surprised both of them.
Mr Darcy is particularly disturbed, he says:
“And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting! I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why with so little endeavour at civility, I am thus rejected. But it’s of small importance.”
Mr Darcy’s expectations were not going to be fulfilled by Elizabeth. He says ‘honour’ because he thinks she is lucky to be proposed to by someone with wealth and reputation. He is angered by the fact that she refused; this is completely different to how Mr Collins reacted because he wasn’t angry after he was rejected. This shows that Mr Collins had never loved Elizabeth so he didn’t care about her refusal. This also emphasizes the measure of tremendous affection Mr Darcy has for Elizabeth underneath.
Elizabeth is exceptionally offended and outraged that according to Mr Darcy status is significant in a relationship. She is angry so she challenges him.
“I might as well enquire’, replied she, ‘why with so evident design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your reason and even against your character? Was not this some excuse for incivility if I was uncivil?”
She is saying that he is going against his reasons for an ideal marriage but is still proposing to her. This insults Elizabeth and she is prepared to oppose to him and his wrong feelings about marriage. So she brings in the fact that he ruined the happiness of her most beloved sister as evident against him.
Mr Darcy’s anger is now focused on why she is going against him when he believes it was the right that he told Mr Bingley to keep away from the Bennets.
“Mr Darcy changed colour; but emotion was short.”
He was aware of what she was coming to. He didn’t react remorsefully or guiltily. But he admits his wrongdoing and feels pleased of what he did. This is complete irony because it is exactly what he is doing right then; engaging himself with a member of a lower classed family as he prevented Bingley from doing.
Elizabeth is hurt because he is pleased about destroying Mr Bingley and Jane’s relationship. And he has ruined any chances of Jane getting married. Mr Darcy is continuously insulting Elizabeth without realising. She has more against him.
“But it is not merely this affair’, she continued, ‘on which my dislike is founded…your character was unfolded in the recital which I received many months ago from Mr Wickham.”
Elizabeth accuses Mr Darcy of upsetting Wickham. Mr Wickham is a handsome, fortune-hunting militia officer. Wickham's good looks and charm attract initially. She feels sorry for him because of his present state of poverty. At this point in the novel she doesn’t know the truth about Mr Wickham. This hurts Mr Darcy because she has not been given the truth and he doesn’t tell her but he is very close to letting her know the truth. He is angry.
“And this,’ cried Darcy, as he walked with quick steps across the room, ‘is your opinion of me! This is the estimation in which you hold me! I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed!”
He paces up and down the room this makes the scene very dramatic and serious. He makes us wonder why he’s so annoyed and there may be another calculation that we don’t know yet. He is frustrated but won’t tell Elizabeth the truth because he is worried that she will not believe him as she is against him and wants him to go and think about this matter.
Darcy accepts the accusations made by Elizabeth without apology, but it hurts him when she says that his demeanour is not gentlemanly.
“ You are mistaken, Mr Darcy, if you suppose that the modes of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemen-like manner.”
Elizabeth angrily accuses him of ungentlemanly conduct, Darcy has heard enough, for he greatly prides himself on "his stately bearing."
Elizabeth made it clear that she was put of him completely by his attitude and arrogance. She still has a lot to learn about Mr Darcy. This also shows her own pride and that her own feelings have put a barrier between them.
Mr Darcy is ashamed and is forced to go away thinking about what damage he has caused.
“You have said quite enough, madam.”
He is polite and dignified to cover up his feelings. She goes on to tell him that she did not like him “from the very beginning.” This is very forceful and passionate.
This upsets him because he was willing to give up his pride because he was allowing himself to be socially inferior. He says,
“Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness.”
When Darcy leaves the house, Elizabeth is so greatly flustered that she breaks into tears. After this he left and Elizabeth was starting to regret what she had said. There was a dramatic effect of this proposal because Elizabeth “sat down and cried for half an hour.” This shows that unlike Mr Collins’ proposal, this proposal had an effect on her.
After Darcy left, he wrote a letter to Elizabeth explaining the whole situation with Wickham. He explained that Wickham was a “womaniser” and not very Christian so he could not have worked for a church. He also explained why he had persuaded Mr Bingley to leave Netherfield.
The scene in which the third proposal takes place is set of in an expected way as all the pieces of the jigsaw of Darcy and Elizabeth’s indifferences are finally put together. Elizabeth’s refusal is the turning point of Darcy’s character. Because of his love for Elizabeth and his astonishment in what she had said, he changed for the better. He developed as a character and learnt that status was not everything. From now until the last proposal both Elizabeth and Darcy change for the better. They are not proud or prejudiced.
When Mr Darcy and Elizabeth are left alone to entertain each other Elizabeth feels very uncomfortable to have known that Mr Darcy had settled Lydia’s dowry. Darcy saved her family from disgrace; He paid off Wickham’s debts and was there at Lydia’s wedding. She then realises that Darcy is not a bad person. She courageously begins to thank him and apologizes to him.
The last proposal is different to both proposals. The atmosphere between Darcy and Elizabeth is very calm and both characters had been through a lot. Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley, Darcy’s home, made her see that Darcy is not a flawed person after all. She did not expect to see him there and she could se that he had changed for the better. They both got along much better. She is now really regretting that she refused him. He has come over social boundaries since the second proposal.
The third proposal begins with an apologetic language.
“Mr Darcy, I am a very selfish creature; and, for the sake of giving relief to my own feelings, care not how much I may be wounding yours.”
Darcy realises that people can be good despite their wealth or status in society. This proposal is not really a proposal if contrasted with the first and second proposals. The language is different and they both have an equal input. It is much calmer and we know that this time they will be engaged. Darcy says that he still loves Elizabeth and asks whether she feels indifferent to what she said last time. This shows how much both characters have learnt about each other and are willing to go ahead with the relationship.
Darcy blames his behaviour on his upbringing,
“I was spoilt by my parents, who though good themselves, allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing...”
They talk of the things that have passed in the past months. They talk of the letter and their reconciliation at Pemberley and also of Jane and Mr Bingley. They continued to apologise to each other during the whole proposal.
“Let me thank you again and again, in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion…”
Elizabeth would have never considered Mr Darcy being generous before. This shows how much she learnt about him, that she did not know and expect. The language used by both Elizabeth and Mr Darcy is complementary and peace making but not excessive.
Jane Austen’s message is that first impressions don’t always count. Relationships are not based on status or class but love and respect. Mr Darcy’s respect towards Elizabeth grew more and it was obvious he loved her. He demonstrates his continued devotion to Elizabeth. He says,
"If you will thank me, let it be for yourself alone... I believe I thought only of you."
This shows that he rescued the Bennet family from shame by settling Lydia’s dowry only for Elizabeth. This shows his deep affection for her. The words are italicised to emphasize the fact that he loves her.
She feels his affection that is why she feels all the more awkwardness of the situation to carry on the conversation.
“…And immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change,”
Elizabeth uses the term ‘material’ to show how her opinion had changed about him and it was a big change because she thought directly opposite of what she thought of him earlier on in the novel.
Everyone was surprised when Elizabeth told her family that she was engaged to Darcy. Jane refused to believe it but then believed Elizabeth when she told Jane that she loves Darcy.
Elizabeth and Darcy got married and so did Mr Bingley and Jane. Everything works out for the best. Lady Catherine eventually forgave Darcy for refusing to marry her daughter and came to Pemberley to make peace with her nephew and his wife.
Throughout the novel both characters develop for the better. Darcy crosses social boundaries to be with Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Darcy is forgotten.
During this novel there was a change in Elizabeth’s character, as she didn’t realise what an intelligent, forthright and sensitive person Mr Darcy is. She suffered from lack of self-knowledge. Darcy’s revelation about Wickham's disgraceful past clues her in to his true nature and simultaneously draws her closer to Darcy. Elizabeth tells him that she her feelings for him have changed, and as they walk, they talk of how they've finally come together.
Their marriage was ideal because it contained elements of all things; physical attraction, financial security, mutual respect, accepting each other and believing that status is not everything.
I enjoyed studying this novel because it was different to other romantic novels. The characters developed as the story did and the conclusions of the story were unpredictable. Overall this novel has a very unique and interesting story line, which tells us about the early 19th Century life.
Bushra Akram 10CRE
