Pride_and_Prejudice__Mr._Collins_Proposal_to_Charlotte

Discuss the importance of Mr. Collins proposal to Charlotte Lucas. Explore the methods used to present these ideas. (40 marks) Jane Austen’s novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is predominantly about marriage in the Georgian era. The book revolves around the love affairs of the Bennet sisters, especially Jane, Elizabeth and Lydia. There are other marriages which contribute to the plot, which reflects to the readers the attitudes towards marriage at the time, and what constituted an ideal match. For instance, the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas reveals thus. These ideas are mostly presented through the use of the omniscient narrator, dialogue and diction. Social expectations in the Georgian era were in stark contrast to what the modern audiences are familiar with. The primary function of women in the era was to marry and marry well. The opening aphorism of the novel ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife’ strikes a keynote of Jane Austen’s theme in the novel – marriage. It is clearly evident that marriage in 19th century society was governed by economic considerations, indicated by the diction ‘fortune’ and ‘possession’. The opening sentence also sets the tone for the rest of the novel. The aphorism is intended to be ironic as it claims that a wealthy mans ultimate goal would be to find a wife, when in fact, it is the husband hunters, the mothers and daughters of the upper classes whose aim it is to trap a wealthy man into marriage. Hence, it shows how Austen condemns people who marry for anything than love such as the union of Mr. Collins and Charlotte. However, Austen does agree with materialistic marriages based on wealth more than those built on foundations of temporary feelings. This idealistic view is mostly conveyed through Elizabeth, the centre of consciousness in the novel. Elizabeth’s views although not entirely realistic are commendable. She finds the mere possibility of Charlotte marrying Mr. Collins ‘unfathomable’ and she automatically links her views to Charlotte’s; ‘that Charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far from possibility as that she could encourage him herself’. The words ‘far from possibility’ expose Elizabeth’s pure disbelief of Charlotte’s actions. The reader may find this lack of understanding in Elizabeth completely unfair since Charlottes state her view on marriage quite and lack of concern for her partner quite lucidly ‘I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home.’ The abrupt statement ‘I never was’ implies that Charlotte was always a pragmatic thinker and unfortunately must have never had the chance of being silly and romantic because of her unfavorable circumstances of ‘little fortune’. Also, the omniscient narrator consolidates Charlotte’s views, averring that she “accepted [Mr. Collins] solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment.”Thereby, Austen uses Charlotte’s marriage to inject a grim note into the romantic happiness that Elizabeth will later find. Furthermore, marriage would offer Charlotte the best possible cover from economic dependence and the social stigma of being a spinster. Charlotte’s dialogue captures the sad fate that awaits women who did not marry in that era ‘I ask only a comfortable home… and I am completely convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering a marriage’. It is clear that Charlotte believes that ‘Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance’. Charlotte’s straight forward diction ‘entirely’, crosses out idealistic views such as love and compatibility. However, Elizabeth’s view of marriage is clearly expressed in her disapproval of the union between Charlotte and Mr. Collins. This is effectively communicated through the omniscient narrator who coldly claims that Charlotte has ‘sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage’ and that it will be ‘impossible’ for her to be even ‘tolerably happy’. Thus, it is clear that Austen condemns Charlotte’s motives and her choice. She has chosen to live an unhappy life with a man who is barely sufferable, yet as readers we question Austen’s disapproval. Even though Elizabeth’s views towards marriage is commendable and sits well with a contemporary audience, we must remind ourselves that Charlotte was ‘plain’ and has ‘little fortune’, her only other alternative is to become a burden on her brothers who are thus ‘relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte’s dying an old maid’. However, as readers we may even admire Charlotte for taking control of her own future and not simply expect that someday someone will deign to propose to her. She actively plays a role in the making of her marriage because the ‘only honorable provision for well educated young women of small fortune’ is ‘marriage’. She sets out to meet Mr. Collins ‘accidentally in the lane’ when she sees him ‘from an upper window as he walked towards the house’. The employing of the diction ‘accidentally’ draws humor in the reader yet effectively exemplifies that Charlotte shows ‘excellent understanding’ in taking control of her own life and shows startling autonomy through that act for a lady of her day and age. Moreover, the marriage benefits Mr. Collins and Charlotte fairly well. This is because Mr. Collins is only looking for a companion and wife to occupy his home and help him to set an appropriate example of marriage to his congregation. He claims that his ‘object has been to secure an amiable companion for myself’. The diction ‘object’ adds to making his proposal sound like a mission and not a proclamation of his feelings. However, since this appears to be Charlotte’s intention of marriage as well, it seems to work well for both of them. Thus, they come to the marriage with expectation that can easily be fulfilled. Charlotte and Mr. Collins can be certain of companionship and loyalty to one another, as they both portray that this opportunity of marriage is scarce and because their own personal needs will be met. Nonetheless, the omniscient narrator does not fail to remind the reader that Mr. Collins is ‘neither sensible nor agreeable; his society irksome and his attachment to [Charlotte] must be imaginary’. The omniscient narration callously lists the negative qualities of Mr. Collins. It also shows that Charlotte is very aware of these flaws yet she ‘felt all the good luck of it’ since marriage meant security. In the contrary the readers would find this quite contradictory as it is not really ‘good luck’ to marry Mr. Collins and it was not purely ‘luck’ since Charlotte played an active role in securing the arrangement. In conclusion, the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte appears to be a fair engagement for they both have alternate motives of marriage: love not being the core foundation. Also, although Austen does not commend Charlotte’s selection and motives she enables the reader to understand Charlotte’s lack of choice in the matter. Through the techniques of omniscient narration, dialogue and diction Austen sheds light on the fact the role of women in the Georgian era was simply to be amiable, attractive, submissive and even grateful for the attention of any man whose were ‘superior’ to her own, thus the tragic note of the marriage is revealed.