Mr. Collins' Proposal Essay

Peter Sanfacon

Mr. George

World Lit Honors

13 February 2011

Mr. Collins, The Loser

            Mr. Collins, the unusual cousin of the Bennet sisters, enters the story with a unique aspiration: to find a wife. He is not searching for a soul mate, but for someone to “complete” his life. Elizabeth Bennet peaks his interest after realizing that Jane is unavailable. Mr. Collins, once he decides that he wishes to marry Elizabeth, brings his proposal to her, but not in the most planned or heart felt way. Mr. Collins’ proposal is absolutely pitiful because it lacks sincerity, love, passion, and honesty; he lacks the principles of a proposal that make it so appealing.

            Mr. Collins’ proposal lacks merit from the start, considering his original reasons for marrying in the first place. According to Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine told him “a clergyman like you must marry” (Austen 92). Mr. Collins, being the buffoon he is, automatically believes that getting married is something he must do simply because someone with a high reputation, such as Lady Catherine, told him to. Most women wouldn’t think it too sincere to propose simply because someone advised it. He also believes that it is important for a clergyman “to set the example of matrimony in his parish” (92). Instead of marrying because it’s his heart’s desire, he wishes to marry because it will raise his reputation. This is a fairly selfish pursuit. Elizabeth is smart enough to recognize that this reason alone would mean that Mr. Collins does not view Elizabeth as a person, but as property. Although that is the custom, Elizabeth is a headstrong woman who wants nothing but a unique relationship filled with love. This is evidence that Elizabeth wasn’t necessarily Mr. Collin’s specific choice for a spouse, thus the lack of sincerity and passion.

            His following statements systematically contradict any sign of sincerity and honesty he may show. He says that the marriage would “add very greatly to my happiness” (92), but directly after that, he says, “perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier” (92) which implies that the latter statement is more important than the former. The latter statement is that Lady Catherine recommended the marriage. According to Mr. Collins, someone else’s opinion is more important than his own when it comes to a decision that should involve love.

            The relentless proposal continues even after being rejected several times by Elizabeth.  She says it is “impossible for me to do otherwise than decline [the proposals]” (93). Elizabeth is bluntly stating that there is no way in hell that she will ever marry Mr. Collins. Again, he makes a foolish mistake, but this time attributes her rejection to a “typical” female flaw: “it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept” (94). There are several insults to Elizabeth in this statement. First, he is putting Elizabeth in the same category as other women, which Elizabeth prides herself in not being a part of. Second, he does not take Elizabeth’s rejection seriously, which to Elizabeth is a big deal because it also means that he doesn’t respect Elizabeth, or women for that matter, enough to warrant trusting her opinion. Third, Mr. Collins automatically thinks that Elizabeth is playing a game with him, again calling into question his respect for women.

            Mr. Collins’ proposal is despicable because it is not truthful and he insults Elizabeth’s intelligence by continuously proposing even after being undisputedly rejected. Mr. Collins is a foolish individual for thinking that he would be successful; this simple fact exemplifies exactly what Elizabeth dislikes about Mr. Collins, and why she believes him to be an unfit husband.