The main reason for Mr Collins' selection of a wife in Elizabeth is purely convenience. Her father’s house is going to be left to him. Marrying Mr Collins will not leave Elizabeth’s family left without a home. Many aspects of Mr Collins's proposal reflect his lack of feeling. The first, being how the proposal comes about. He comes to Hertfordshire, 'with the design of selecting a wife,' and he ironically feels that his choosing one from Longbourn was, 'disinterested on his own part,' due to the estate being entailed to him. Any lady from Longbourn will be adequate. He admits to Elizabeth that the house is a motive for his choice, proving that his proposal is dominated by convenience not love. His proposal was far from a spontaneous act of love. It was planned and his choice calculated with Mrs Bennet. Elizabeth was clearly aware of his intentions, and tries desperately to avoid being put in a position where they can come out. However once forced to by her mother, Elizabeth wishes to, 'get it over as soon and quietly as possible.' Elizabeth obviously does not have feelings for Mr Collins and takes no pleasure in his proposal.
The content of Mr Collins's dialogue throughout his proposal is very open in its lack of feeling. He begins by stating his reasons for marriage. His first reason it that he believes marriage will add to his happiness, and Lady Catherine told him, ' Mr Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry.' Mr Collins wants a good little wife to use as a tool to improve his public image. He talks of how a marriage will please him.
He does not talk about how the union between him and Elizabeth will bring him great happiness. It does not matter who his bride is, as all he wants is a wife, to improve his status and please Lady Catherine; he does not have to have feelings for her. It could be said that Mr Collins's greatest incentive to marry is to please Lady Catherine. He is being forced into a proposal by another woman, not true feelings. Although there is a mention of his feelings, Mr Collins talks of how; ‘the violence of his affections’ would overlook the downside to marrying Elizabeth. Not how violently he respects and admires her.
Elizabeth's refusal does not discourage him as he thinks it is quite usual for elegant young ladies to decline and persists in his decision. However, when Charlotte appears he transfers all his attention to her. The story begins to move faster and Mr. Collins makes his proposal of marriage to Charlotte who promptly accepts it. Her attitude towards marriage is very different from that of Elizabeth. Once in a conversation between them Charlotte claims that: 'Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.….and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.' Her philosophy about marriage gives us a clue to how she will deal with a forthcoming proposal. It seems she does not care how well two people know each other before they marry. For Charlotte security was the main thing, not love. She states it firmly when telling the news to Elizabeth: ' I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home;' All she wishes for is a stable life and what is more she thinks her reasons for marriage are satisfying enough to enter into it.
Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth is a complete contrast in its emotional conflict. The whole proposal is much more vibrant and there are clearly strong emotions and feelings involved. Darcy immediately tells Elizabeth he loves her. W0rds are used such as, 'and agitated manner,' 'the color rose,' 'became pale with anger,' 'painfully greater,' these clearly demonstrate active, strong feelings. They illustrate the greater depth of feeling felt throughout Darcy's proposal than in that of Mr Collins.
Their proposals act as a great insight into the character of Mr Collins and Darcy. Mr Collins' proposal greatly shows what is important to him. The thing of greatest importance to him seems to be money and connections. His public image is very important to him, he wishes to marry to improve it and please Lady Catherine.
Mr Collins' personality traits are also portrayed very well in his proposals. He is unmoved by Elizabeth's refusal and continually refuses to accept it. His first reaction is to dismiss the refusal, 'with a formal wave of the hand. He believes, ' it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept.' He then goes on to say; ‘give me leave to flatter myself’; that he believes Elizabeth's refusal, ' is merely words of course.' he clearly has an extremely high opinions and an over-confidence in himself and his situation in life; he simply cannot believe why anyone would not wish to be a part of that. Despite great efforts from Elizabeth to convince him otherwise, Mr Collins still leaves his encounter with Elizabeth, believing, ' his proposals will not fail of being acceptable.; it is greatly apparent that Mr Collins is too conceited to accept Elizabeth's strong refusal. He is deluded enough to believe himself and Lady Catherine as irresistible to Elizabeth, and will not believe it when she manages to revisit them. He goes as far as too view the refusal as encouragement.
Much of Darcy' character is also revealed in his proposal. He is clearly not used to feeling the way that he feels. He first, 'sat down for a few moments,' then 'walked about the room.' He is seemingly unaware of how to deal with this situation. He came toward Elizabeth, 'in an agitated manner.' Darcy is far from his usual character of cool composure. He has clearly been moved by visible feelings; unlike Mr Collins.
Darcy shows that money and status are important to him as well. He says, 'In vain I have struggled; and 'in spite of all his endeavours’ Darcy cannot overcome his feelings and must express them to Elizabeth. Unlike Mr Collins Darcy talks of his great affections for Elizabeth. However just as Mr Collins Darcy also talks of money and connections. His speech is described as being, ' not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride’; although money and status are undoubtedly very important to Darcy, unlike Mr Collins, he proves that love and happiness are more important to him.
Darcy is portrayed as being very honest. He gives Elizabeth the full story of his affections; the good and the bad. He makes not an attempt to deny his actions in trying to separate Mr Bingley from Elizabeth's sister, even though he must be aware that it will damage Elizabeth's opinion of him. The fact that Darcy is willing to give Elizabeth the full story, reflects the openness and extent of Darcy's feelings for Elizabeth.
Darcy is much more realistic and down to earth than Mr Collins. He is not too deluded to realize that the insults of Elizabeth's family will damage her pride and upset her. However Darcy respects Elizabeth, and feels it better to give her the full story. Darcy is not too conceited to hear Elizabeth's refusal. He accepts it and is clearly moved by it. His, ' complexion became pale with anger,' and he struggles, ' for the appearance of composure.' He stops Elizabeth and, 'hastily left the room.' Despite his higher status than Mr Collins, Darcy is not too self absorbed as to not believe Elizabeth's rejection as being real.
Darcy gives everything to Elizabeth. He shows her all his feelings, and vulnerably puts his entire self out on the line. By exposing himself so openly, he wants the great gift of love and happiness. However Mr Collins' proposal in comparison is very superficial. He is not searching for lover or a joyous union between man and wife, but selfishly, and improved social standing for himself.
As well as contrasts some similarities can be found between the two proposals. Both Mr Collins and Darcy assume a positive outcome to their proposal and an acceptance of their offer. It is apparent that Mr Collins is so certain of acceptance, as he is so greatly conceited and believes that what he can offer will be unavoidably tempting to Elizabeth; she will not be able to refuse. However there is a sense that Darcy's assumption is based on other reasons. It feels as though, Darcy's feelings are so strong and have been so overpowering that he has not thought of refusal. Perhaps he feels that it would not be possible for him to feel so strongly for her, if Elizabeth did not feel the same. Although he assumes acceptance, when Darcy is faced with refusal he accepts it very quickly, unlike Mr Collins.
In their proposals both Mr Collins and Darcy inflict pain on Elizabeth's pride by reminding her of her vulnerable social situation. Mr Collins is willing to overlook Elizabeth's poor fortune. Darcy has been forced by his true love to overcome his opinions about Elizabeth's social standing. Mr Collins sees economic reasons, his high connections, his ability to improve Elizabeth's social standing, and his opportunity to improve his social status by obtaining a wife, as reasons for marriage, not the opportunity of love and happiness. Darcy however does not try to use his ability to improve Elizabeth's economic situation as reasons for her accepting his hand. Darcy sees the questionable economic and social situation as a reason for not marrying Elizabeth. In contrast to Mr Collins he sees the potential for love and happiness as the fuel for marriage, not money. It is because of this that he is able to overcome his pride and propose.
Both proposals reflect the great importance of money and class when it comes to marriage. Mr Collins' proposal was fuelled by economic and social reasons. It appears that to some these are substantial enough reasons for marriage.
Mr Collins tells, 'your portions is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications.' This implies that many would feel class, money and connections to be more important than admiration of the other, when in search of a bride. Even Darcy who feels genuine love for Elizabeth, must mention money. In the society of the time, money and class are such important issues that Darcy cannot let them escape when proposing. Although it is revealed that money is very important when it comes to marriage, it is also apparent that true gentlemen such a Mr Darcy will not give in to snobbery, they can overcome economic situations, because they have the correct moral understand to know that love is most important.
The relationship of Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley was from the beginning based on physical attraction. At the ball where they first saw each other Bingley exclaims; 'Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!' Their romance starts smoothly and soon they fall in love with each other. Mr. Bingley is even expected to propose to her, however influenced by Mr. Darcy, his close friend, he is gone to London and it is only at the end of the novel that he appears in Longbourn again. Even though the lovers are separated for a long time their love does not fade away. Jane Bennet is a 'simple-minded, pleasing and pretty young heroine' and Mr. Bingley is also easygoing and ready to like everyone. Thus their marriage is 'a union of two simple characters'. The love between them is shared equally and undeniably comes from the heart. It is evident that Jane Austen is very aware that to be in love is not enough, 'but when characters are suitably matched, and there is love and plenty of money, then there is a good chance of success in marriage.'
The youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet; Lydia is ironically the first one to be married. Certainly a marriage at the age of sixteen cannot be well thought out but she takes great pride in this very fact.
The man she chooses is a handsome officer named George Wickham. When Wickham first comes on the scene he woos Elizabeth and tells her lies about Mr. Darcy in such a way that she is all ready to believe in them and already prejudiced against her future husband. Wickham has won her sympathy and then all of a sudden Elizabeth learns that he is interested in another woman who has just inherited some money and she quickly forgets about the affair.
As the story unfolds Lydia is invited to Brighton where the army will be encamped for the summer and one-day news comes that she has eloped with Wickham. The message brings disgrace on the whole family and everyone does their best to find the missing couple. The truth comes out and it appears that Wickham is a gambler and a fortune hunter, forever in debt and forever seeking to marry a girl with money. When he runs away with Lydia he in fact wants to escape his debts letting her come along; not because he cares for her, but because she is willing to go with him and he does not mind having a female companion. In fact their marriage was mainly that of desire, attraction and financial reasons. 'Lydia was exceedingly fond of him' and sure that her sisters envied her such a charming husband. However: 'Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him.' Their marriage was unlikely to bring happiness and doomed to fail.
By the end of the play Charlotte, Lydia and Jane all obey the rules of society’s expectations. Elizabeth does quite the opposite in the first two marriage proposals but in the end there is a happy ending as she accepts Darcy’s proposal in the name of love. Marriage is the only logical conclusion to this novel. Had the novel ended any other way, it would have had no point. As said before, the movement of the novel is towards compromise.
Through marriage, Elizabeth and Darcy are making the ultimate compromise. They are both changing a little about themselves, so that their marriage can be successful. Had the novel ended without marriage, then the realizations on both Elizabeth, and Darcy's behalf would have been for nothing. Also, through the novel we see that Jane Austen is using marriage as a way of representing society. An ideal marriage is representative of an ideal society.
If people used the same methods as a couple would use to obtain an ideal marriage, then perhaps we would be able to obtain a model society. By researching Jane Austen we know that most of the heroes and heroines end up at the end of the story in a perfect marriage. By having Darcy and Elizabeth end the novel engaged in an ideal marriage is a significant detail. Jane Austen, in doing this, is suggesting that society would be better if it followed Elizabeth and Darcy's example. By controlling pride and prejudice, and by learning that compromise is sometimes the best way to happiness, society can hope to improve itself. Marriage in the closing stages is the perfect ending, since it is both an acceptance of the values of society as well as a personal fulfilment.
