Pride and Prejudice: ch 1-2.4

                The title of the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen explains the social interactions between the characters. The novel features a judgmental society where a person’s pride is one of the first characteristics to be judged. Mary, one of the Bennett sisters, says that “Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves” (Austen 19). When Elizabeth Bennett first meets Mr. Darcy she believes him to be a very proud man. Mr. Darcy’s initial excessive pride and indifference toward Elizabeth causes him to be viewed as unpropitious in the Bennett household. First impressions are very important within the novel’s society, and pride can make or break the perception of a character. Along with judgment of pride, there is also a great deal of prejudice within the society. Mr. Collins tells Elizabeth, “I consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide what is right than a young lady like yourself” (Austen 85). Elizabeth is not an obsequious character; rather, she likes to express her opinion freely. However, Elizabeth’s opinion is not highly regarded within society because she is a woman, and she is especially a woman of lower social class. Gender and class division are extremely apparent within the novel, for the Bennett girls must marry in order to be guaranteed a place to live after their father passes away. All in all, pride and prejudice refer to the interactions among characters within the novel.

                A major section of the novel is when Mr. Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth. Mr. Collins starts of the proposal with “My reasons for marrying me are” (Austen 92) and goes off to list a laundry list of reasons why Elizabeth should marry him. From start to finish, the proposal appears to be very businesslike. Mr. Collins came to the Bennett’s residence in order to marry one of the girls because Mr. Collins will inherit the residence after Mr. Bennett dies. Mr. Collins then selects one of the girls and proposes only a few days later. Although Mr. Collins says there is a “violence of my affection” (Austen 93) for Elizabeth, a few days are not long enough for him to develop any true feelings for her. Elizabeth gracefully, but profusely, denies the proposal, but Mr. Collins believes the refusal is simply a sign of her affection. Mr. Collins appears to be an awkward character, so his inability to take obvious social cues may be due to his lack of social interaction. However, Mr. Collins inability to take the rejection may also be at the fault of a society where most people appear to be in a hurry to get married. He may believe a marriage proposal, especially one with a guaranteed settlement, is virtually impossible to refuse. Hence, Mr. Collins proposal is extremely businesslike as many other marriages appear to be within the novel.