Mr_Collins_Character_Sketch_an_Comparison

Subject: Literatures in English Book: Pride and Prejudice Topic question: Analyse the presentation of Mr. Collins in the novel and compare it to the character scene in the movie. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the movie portrayal of William Collins' Name: Rynelle Ruben Class: L6M Teacher: Ms S. Telucksingh- Birju Mr Collins is a cousin of the Bennets and the successor to their estate. He arrives at Longbourn with intensions of marrying one of the Bennet sisters, and decides on Jane. Upon hearing of her impending engagement he moves his attention to Elizabeth, Jane’s younger sister. The movie presents Mr. Collins as a short, slender man which is contrary to the book. In the book Austen wrote this character as being “a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty”. Both the movie and the book depict him as being welcomed gladly at the door by Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet is the mother of the Bennet household; she is obsessed with marrying off her five daughters. She views Mr. Collins as ‘fresh meat’, in other words as an opportunity to have another one of her daughters married. The Mr. Collins of the movie is a twitchy, nervous, stiff, confused looking little man. And withstanding all of this he regards himself quite highly. He seems to genuinely believe that all that he has to say is important and needed to be heard. Austen describes Mr. Collins as having very formal manners. In the proposal scene he appears to be saying exactly what he thinks he should. Telling Elizabeth how she attracted his special attention as soon as he got there, and listing his reasons for wanting to marry. He had fallen for Jane first but he probably lied because he thought it best and all of his reasons for wanting to marry seemed based on himself and his own happiness and peace of mind. This scene of the movie holds many similarities to the book. This character that was comical in the movie and serious in the book, he is condescending, think headed and proud of his inferiority to Catherine De Bourge, also causes him to believe the Bennets should be thankful to him for offering to marry one of their daughters. He also thinks him himself to be a real social butterfly when in fact he is probably the most socially awkward character in the book. He shows very little emotion and the emotions he does in fact show are in majority were not genuine. Till his proposal to Elizabeth became insulting in great deal owing to his own indulgence in his own ‘importance’. With all these things in mind I do think that the movie portrayal of Mr. Collins is quite effective in many ways and that some of the differences between him in the novel and him in the movie add to the performance. His height and nervous demeanour make him look inferior to other men. Also these traits effectively showcase just how awkward he really is.