What the Two Proposals in "Pride and Prejudice" Reveal About Marriage in that Culture

A marriage proposal is an occasion where one person in a relationship asks for the other's hand in marriage. Overtime, marriage proposals have changed in virtually all cultures. In the 1800s, marriage was more for social gain or monetary gain. However, marriage for love wasn’t unknown. William Collins proposal to Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice and Bradley Headstone’s proposal to Lizzie Hexam in Charles Dickens's’ Our Mutual Friend are perfect examples of two different types of marriage proposals that may have been giving during the 1800s. Analyzing Mr. Headstones and Mr. Collins’ techniques and the language used in their proposals reveal the weaknesses and strengths of their proposals.

In Mr. Collins proposal he starts out in the Bennet’s home because he is visiting the family. Elizabeth makes excuses to not talk to him alone but her mother insists that she stays and listens to him. He always makes comments to Elizabeth on how beautiful she looks and etc. In his proposal he never once tells her or expresses

Although many people did marry for the wrong reasons and ended up in a marriage without love, lots of the main characters in Pride and Prejudice are determined to find love. You can see that with Elizabeth. In the book when Charlotte Lucas says ?Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance? and Elizabeth says ?you make me laugh, Charlotte, but it is not sound?. This shows that Elizabeth believes in love and a good marriage and is not willing to marry until she finds someone who she really

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen introduces the major thematic concept of marriage and financial wealth. Throughout the novel, Austen depicts various relationships that exhibit the two recurring themes. Set during the regency period, the perception of marriage revolves around a universal truth. Austen claims that a single man “must be in want of a wife.” Hence, the social stature and wealth of men were of principal importance for women. Austen, however, hints that the opposite may prove more exact: a single woman, under the social limitations, is in want of a husband. Through this speculation, Austen acknowledges that the economic pressure of social acceptance serves as a foundation for a proper marriage.

Austen’s character, Mr.Collins, mainly focusses on himself when he is proposing, which causes him to come across as selfish and unemotional. Mr. Collins thinks that “It is the right thing” for him to get married to “set the example”(2). This suggests that Mr. Collins wants to be married because he feels he needs to set the example for his parish

In Pride and Prejudice Author Jane Austen claims that marriage should be between a man and women who love each other equally. Austen's disgust of Marriage and decorum in British culture is written through the eyes of main the main character in Pride and Prejudice, Miss Elizabeth Bennett. It is sad to think that marriage could be bought or in Elizabeth Bennett’s case not afforded. Marriage shouldn’t be the only measure of worth for women. Someone should not feel “repugnance” for a marriage due to situation.

The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen shows two proposals that shows what marriage should be but class seems to get in the way. The proposal that both men gave to Elizabeth Bennet are full of rhetorical devices that signify why they have asked her to marry them. Mr. Collins's proposal seemed more of a business deal then a proposal of love. When Mr. Darcy’s proposal was about love but became very focused on class and how she is not at all suited for him. Mr. Collins uses a satire, logos, and tricolon to emphasize that he is proposing because he was told to,he feels that he needs to lead by example and it will make him happier. In contrast, Mr. Darcy uses pathos, ethos to emphasize he is proposing because he loves her but he then uses ethos to defend himself when she said no.

Contrast and compare the two marriage proposals made to Elizabeth Bennet in the novel: Mr Collins ' proposal to Elizabeth and Darcy 's proposal to Elizabeth

Mr. Collins possesses a definite sense of vanity. He is in no way concerned about his own opinion of his character, for as we see his character leaves much to be desired. All he cares about is what others think of him. He always needs the approval of his present company. When he gives Elizabeth the grand tour of his nothing-spectacular home, he is looking for her approval of his position and possessions. It is not important to Mr. Collins for people to like him as a person, they just had better be impressed his status in life and his connections.

  While Pride And Prejudice is demonstrably concerned with the subject of love, from Lydia's physical passion for Wickham, through Jane's slightly too patient and undemanding feelings for Bingley, to Elizabeth's final "perfect" match with Darcy, it would be doing the novel and its author a great injustice to assume that it is merely a love story, and has no other purpose or design. The scope of the novel is indeed much wider than a serious interest in who will marry who and who will have the manor that is worth the most money, or even the less shallow subject of women trying, failing, and succeeding at finding their perfect mates on a romantic level. While the investigation of love in its

Collins’s proposal is amusing it is also serious since it contains the fallible expectations on women when they receive a marriage proposal. Elizabeth combats theses expectations on women in marriage and do not allow them to be contributing factors in her decision to accept or refuse a marriage proposal. Mr. Collins warns Elizabeth that if she does not marry accept his marriage proposal she may never marry since there is no guarantee she will ever receive a second marriage proposal. Elizabeth defies this a still refuses to marry Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins also mentions the idea that a woman should accept a marriage proposal if it comes from a person who is more well to do. Even though Mr. Collins is more well to do Elizabeth refuses to marry him. Finally, Elizabeth is sincere when she refuses Mr. Collins proposal even though it was believed by Mr. Collins and even her mother that a women is dishonest when she refuses a marriage

Through strictly observing the final chapters of Pride and Prejudice, it may come across that Jane Austen’s intent was to glorify the marriages of the main characters, in what might seem like an unrealistic or unjustified way. This exaggerated scenario in which the main characters get married to the men they love, and enjoy the copious wealth of their husbands, makes it possible for a reader to jump to the conclusion that Austen wrote the novel to argue that wealth and love are tied together. Critic Mary Poovey interpreted the fairy tale ending as such, claiming that Austen’s goal was to “make propriety and romantic desire absolutely congruent.” However, taking into

Elizabeth not only shows this tenacity in regards to her sister, but in her love life as well. When her father’s cousin, Mr. Collins, proposes marriage to her, she declines him, not only because she finds him a disagreeable person, but because she wishes to marry for love when she does enter into a lifelong pairing. The people of her acquaintance, including her closest friend Charlotte, feel that this expectation is an unrealistic one, and that Lizzy should instead marry for privilege. Elizabeth, however, holds onto her ideals, resigned to remaining an old maid if she cannot find a man whom she loves. Love was considered a luxury during this time, and one that very few people were lucky enough to wed for. While Elizabeth maintained her high ideals in terms of passion, Charlotte Lucas found herself more drawn to the side of propriety.

In her personal life, after receiving a proposal from Mr. Bigg-Withers, although not having or showing affection towards him, accepted the proposal. However, the next day, she rejects. In the book, Mr. Darcy’s manners influence her to reject him. After she rejects him is when he starts to change his attitude and more suitable for Elizabeth’s needs. “It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins 's making two offers of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted” (Austen 120). During this scene, Elizabeth shows that she believes that love should be built on a foundation of love, trust, and respect for one another. Most women of the 1700s married for material comfort and solely for the respect of society. Jane Austen’s views reflect Elizabeth Bennett’s views in his book.

Mr. Collins was expecting Elizabeth to accept his proposal, but Elizabeth rejected the proposal showing her desire to marry for love even if it puts her financial security in jeopardy.