The Bennet family think very differently of Mr. Collins as we see as we read on. We see that Mr. Bennet thinks of Mr. Collins as a fool and would rather enjoy making a fool of the man. He jokes about his servile manner to Lady Catherine de Bourge by saying. “…especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again.” This shows that Mr. Bennet thinks he can have fun with Mr. Collins. Mrs. Bennet shows just how shallow she really is by completely changing her opinion of Mr. Collins as soon as she hears that there could be marriage on the cards. This shows a contrast from Mrs. Bennet as we see her changing her attitude from not wanting anything to do with either Mr. Collins or the letter to a much more positive outlook on Mr. Collins. Eliza sees Mr. Collins as an oddity and this is probably due to the structure of the letter and the way Mr. Collins has worded and phrased the letter. This shows that letters do show a persons personality and if written wrong can make people think wrongly of you. Catherine and Lydia do not care for the man as he is not from the army. This shows the child like nature of the two youngest and also shows how they both think alike. Mary studies the letter and almost tries to show off her intelligence by studying the composition of the letter and tells the family that the letter structure is good; this may show that Mr. Collins has tried with the letter and although got most of the letter wrong has got at least something right. Jane’s good nature comes through as she tries to find some good in the man. She does not really see how his atonement to the family can really be met but still gives him credit for trying.
Mr. Darcy’s letter is a great contrast to the slow laborious pace of Mr. Collins letter. Darcy’s letter is written to Elizabeth after the talk they have about Wyckham and Mr. Bingley. He does not let his emotions show at this point in the story and instead heads to his home and thinks about what to do. This shows the gentlemen like manner of Mr. Darcy and also shows that he has great control over his emotions. He decides to write a letter, which is, at its least, complex, well thought out and straight to the point. This shows that Mr. Darcy is not an angry man and would rather write his emotions down, in a controlled manner than express them without really thinking. We can see the contrast between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wyckham, who is more likely to let his emotions get the better of him. Mr. Darcy does not do this and cares a lot about his reputation.
The weighty, detailed and planned letter shows just how important it is for Mr. Darcy to keep his character and reputation at its most highest. It also shows that he wants his character and reputation to be dealt with fairly. We can see this at the point that Mr. Darcy starts to talk about Mr. Wyckham. “With respect to that other more weighty accusation, of having injured Mr. Wyckham.” We can see from this piece of the letter that Mr. Darcy thinks of Jane’s unhappiness is less important than his own reputation being damaged, this also show that he thinks he is higher than other people and that he has a haughty, aloof nature.
The letter is not driven by emotion and looks as if it has been written by a very calm person who knows what he is talking about, this, and the fact that it shows only the facts, makes it a lot easier to understand, also the reader is much more inclined to believe Mr. Darcy’s good will and believe him. We see this at the start when Mr. Darcy starts the letter. “…and the other, in defiance of various claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted prospects of Mr. Wyckham.” From this very fast-paced sentence the reader is drawn into the letter and not bored, like Mr. Collins letter. The reader finds it a lot easier to believe as it is very fast and straight to the point. The letter also misses out the self-indulgence and slowness of Mr. Collin’s letter. Instead of this we see a letter which is totally selfless and the only point we do see a bit of selfishness is when he tries to clear his name. But this is put across so well that the reader does not really notice it.
“If, in the explanation of them, which is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be obeyed, and further apology would be absurd.” At this point we see a man who is totally confident and sure about his view point and will not change it for anyone. This again will make the reader believe Mr. Darcy’s letter. It also shows that Mr. Darcy is somebody who is not afraid to relate matters truthfully and honestly. It shows the reader that he is not hiding anything.
The wrong doing of Darcy which Elizabeth thinks of as the worst is of Mr. Darcy’s misjudgement towards Jane and Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy says that he has often seen Bingley in “love” before and thought it best to keep a keen eye on the couple to see if the feeling was mutual. “Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard.” Although what he did was wrong as Jane really did like Bingley we can see the kindness of Darcy here as he cares for his friend and does not want to see another love get away from him. He is trying to protect his friend and not trying to keep him away from someone “below” him. Darcy also, with the help of Bingleys sisters kept Bingley away from Jane in the hope that they would not marry. Mr. Darcy realises that he did not show his gentlemanly like manner at this point and so was deeply concerned that things were to be straightened out. We see that gentlemanly conduct is still very important to Darcy. Mr. Darcy starts to explain the events that made him dislike Mr. Wyckham. We start to believe him as the contents of the episodes that we hear are very clear without any part being missed out. The clear, confident manner that the story is told to us makes us believe him a lot more than if Mr. Collins had told us the exact same story, mainly due to the fact that it is straight to the point with lots of detail. It does not waffle on like Mr. Collins letter so blatantly does. The episodes have also been mentioned earlier by Wyckham and so it is a lot easier to believe. The way Darcy describes Wyckham at first shows that he was a good friend and that he may well have been a good person when he was a child.
“My father was not only fond of this young man’s society, whose manners were always engaging; he had also the highest opinion of him, and hoping the church would be his profession, intended to provide for him in it.”
The way Darcy uses so much praise for Wyckham shows that he did like him. This also shows that he is not afraid to tell people this. Mr. Darcy then tells of the wrong doings that Mr. Wyckham has done to his family and to himself. “My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. Wyckham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly recommended it to me, to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow – and if he took orders, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant.” This shows that Darcy really loved his father and wanted to do his bidding after he died. Even though Mr. Darcy knows that Wyckham is a charlatan he still wants to respect and follow his father’s wishes. This again shows the honourable nature of Mr. Darcy.
“He had some intention, he added, of studying law, and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be very insufficient support therein. I rather wished, than believed him to be sincere – but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal.” At this point the reader (and Jane) has confidence in Mr. Darcy. This is due to the truthful, confident account of the story. Austen makes new information about Wyckham known and so we are left to question both Mr. Wyckhams character and the reader may think that Mr. Darcy has been wrongly accused. How we perceive Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wyckham has now changed. We now see Darcy as the gentlemen and Wyckham as the villain. We now delve deeper into the story and as we read on in the letter our perceptions of Wyckham our changed dramatically.
“…also went Mr. Wyckham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to be a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived…whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen,” Wyckhams desire to prey upon such a young, impression able girl shows just how evil he really is. This marriage would have ruined Georgiana’s reputation and would have also tarnished Darcy’s name at the same time. This act would have made Wyckham a despised and hated character in Austen’s time and indeed our own. This also shows how naïve Jane is at believing what Wyckham had looked to be. Mr. Darcy, after writing this, talks faithfully to Elizabeth. “this, madam is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wyckham.” We see that Mr. Darcy really wants to clear his name of all atrocities. We also see that Darcy does not want to condemn Wyckham only to clear his name and in this we see that Darcy is an honourable gentlemanly man. He then tells Elizabeth that if the story is not to be believed than the man she must talk to is Colonel Fitzwilliam, who can substantiate all that is told in the letter. Wyckham cannot prove his stories through witnesses and so Mr. Darcy must be believed. And as the letter draws to a conclusion a touching goodbye is left for Elizabeth, “I will only add, God bless you.” This shows that he is not a bad person at all and probably cares for Elizabeth quite a lot. This letter is very different from Mr. Collins dull, tedious and complicated letter. It is not rude like his and only tells the facts. Darcy does not really try to raise himself above anybody like Mr. Collins does and instead of the bad manners shown in Mr. Collins letter, this letter is very well mannered and sets out to straighten the matter where as Mr. Collins letter, although it looks to be trying to sort the matter out there is an ulterior motive.
Lydia’s letter is a good contrast to both these letters as it is incredibly short and does not explain things well at all. The briefness of the letter shows just how foolhardy Lydia is and it also shows the naivety of the young girl. It adds to the plot and also adds dramatic impact. It displays the precision of Austen in showing peoples characters as Lydia’s character is portrayed brilliantly in the letter. The letter is filled with Lydia’s child like manner and it does not show any concern for how others are affected by her actions. “…but I wish you would tell sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed.” This shows that she does not think she has done anything wrong and that everything will be fine on her return. This again shows the stupidity and blissful ignorance of Lydia. We see that she thinks of the whole affair as a big joke. “You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning.” This shows how much of a joke Lydia thinks it is. She also thinks that being married before her sisters is a lot more important than the reputation of the family and of course finding the right match. She does not actually see this at all and the reader can see this from the letter. The dramatic irony is used well in the letter as the reader knows that running off with Wyckham and that she is ignorant of what is going to happen. The style of Lydia’s writing is frivolous and selfish. It does not show any real compassion for others welfare and is very quick. She does not stop going on about how she thinks it is all just a big joke which shows the childish nature of her writing. Austen may be warning against her readers indulging in the exploits of young ladies who are childish and have no common sense.
After studying these three letters I conclude that the letters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice are an integral part of the story and as they are threaded through the story they add variety through the different characters that write the letters. They add dramatic effect to the story and help it develop. The letters also help the characters develop, like Mr. Darcy who, after his letter, is seen as not a bad tempered man but, quite a charming, gentlemanly man.
The way the letters are threaded through the story, also gives a good structural device in the novel and helps to add the variety that without them would be lacking. It also adds the variety of how the plot is revealed. The letters can also help to pick up the pace of the play moving it forward very quickly. This shows the variation and imagination of Austen’s style.
It is a means of providing drama to and after reveal some dramatic detail and provides the impression of news being discovered, immediately after one letter has been introduced the pace of the novel is quickened. Like Mr. Collin’s letter, after reading it the Bennet family walks outside and comes to meet him. Without this letter it would have been quite unexpected for the reader and the reader would not be able to understand Mr. Collin’s personality before meeting him. The letters are also entertaining additions to the novel on their own often giving entertaining or moving insights into characters personalities or situations.