Comparison of Elizabeth Bennet’s Marriage Proposals in Pride and Prejudice Essay

Through the course of the novel, Elizabeth bennet receives devil very different marriage aims, and a declaration of kip down. In chapter 19 Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth in his hanker-winded and pretentious worldly concernner, and in chapter 34 Mr. Darcy makes his own conflicting proposal of marriage. In chapter 58 Darcy asserts his delight for Elizabeth in spite of her previous rejection of him. From the way each man makes his proposal we learn a great deal ab off their cites, and we see Elizabeths own character reflected in her reaction to each.Even by chapter 19, the reader has been drawn in to such an extent by these characters that we empathise with them greatly, especially Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The reader identifies especially with Elizabeth, the protagonist.At the beginning of the novel, long in advance Collins proposal, we deplete bounteous to dislike him. When Collins proposes to Elizabeth, the reader knows that he will non be successful. We squander a d istaste for Collins aft(prenominal) we are told he first wanted to marry Jane, but then turned to Elizabeth when he discovered Janes relationship with Bingley. We know he had no partiality or attraction to either, so we hope that his efforts towards Elizabeth fail. out front proposing, he effectively asks for permission by informing Mrs. Bennet of his intentions. He planned it out and went about it in such an orderly manner that we imagine that he had rehearsed it. His three reasons for marrying are solely hardheaded I think it a right thing for all(prenominal) clergyman in easy mickle to set the example of matrimony in his parish. I am undisputable it will add greatly to my happiness. It is the particular recommendation of the very terrific lady Lady Catherine de Bourgh whom I have the prise of calling patroness. He is not interested in love. despite Mr. Collins assurance of the violence of my fondness, he has no true affection or love for Elizabeth, so shows himself to b e insincere. His snobbery and arrogance are evident when he bruises Elizabeths family and lack of wealth and uses his connections to the De Bourgh family as a reason to marry him.Elizabeth is amuse by the ridiculousness of the situation, but keeps herself composed and cl primeval refuses the proposal. It is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them.Collins is incredulous and tries to convince himself that she is teasing him. He is condescending and patronizing, and refuses to take her seriously. You are uniformly charming. He reveals his vanity in his presumption she will say yes.Elizabeth viewed marriage as something to be underinterpreted by cardinal people who were in love. By refusing Collins, she was taking an enormous risk, as no one might ever propose to her again. In the early 1800s marriage was the only way for women in Elizabeths position to give a true(p) future for themselves Elizabeths future was in enquiry as was her familys estate, Longbourn was enta iled. A womans only other options besides marriage were, as women were not permitted to work, to live with and be mutualist upon relatives, e.g. brothers, cousins, hook up with sisters etc. Perhaps if she were well educated she might have become a governess.Elizabeths refusal shows her to be a woman with virtue and great tact. She hides her odourings of distress and diversion, and is polite. When she refuses she is extremely polite, commenting that she is well aware of the honour of your proposals. She is dignified and does not react to Mr. Collins insults about her familys wealth and status, or indeed his willful self-deception when it came to her answer.Shortly afterwards, Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeths friend, receives an tornado of marriage from Collins and brooks. Charlottes view of marriage was more hardheaded marriage was primarily about guarantor love was a supplementary criterion. Charlotte certainly did not love Collins it was the hope of financial security that at tracted her into the marriage, if she were in love with Collins it would only be a luxury. These were the true beliefs at the sentence among the middle and upper classes. Charlotte would endure a unloving marriage for the hope of financial security.In chapter 34 Darcy makes his first proposal to Elizabeth at Hunsford, the worst possible time for him to do this, as Elizabeth could not have hated Darcy more at this time. She blamed him for the unhappiness of Jane as Darcy had discouraged Bingleys affection towards her, and for that of Wickham, whom she believed had had his inheritance denied to him.Darcy appears greatly agitated when he made his proposal. He enters her room and walks about for a while before speaking, even then to make a few awkward enquiries after Elizabeths health. He was fervently in love with Elizabeth and speaks briefly and passionately. In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My find outings are not to be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardent ly I extol and love you. This outburst is in sharp contrast to Collins long pre-planned monologue, and shows true emotion instead of false sentiments of affection.But Darcy is also strikingly similar to Collins in his arrogant presumption that she will accept him, he spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed substantial security. His utter bewilderment that she should refuse him no less pettishness than surprise. His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance of his mind was visible in every feature. This demonstrates the same sort of conceit that Collins displayed.Darcy then goes on to insult her Elizabeths family and circumstances. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? His insensitivity to Elizabeth is puzzle out he describes his feeling for Elizabeth as against his better judgement, his sense of her inferiority of its being a degradation of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclina tion. once again he shows himself to be proud, snobbish and superior, like Collins.Elizabeth is flattered initially by Darcys attention, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a mans affection. But Darcys attacks on her pride provoke her to anger, Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment. This indignation finally climaxes with a severe blow to Darcys upper class sensibilities it spared me the concern in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner.Darcy is shocked and hurt by this accusation. Despite his pride, this causes Darcy to reflect deeply on his behaviour and to modify it in future.The two of them leave each other, both of them angry and upset.Elizabeth is shocked by Darcys proposal but keeps her composure and remains dignified. She is brave and strong-willed in standing up to Darcy. She is not moved by his wealth or status and stays true to her principle of marrying for love. She does not accept the conventions of her time tha t it was acceptable to marry for money. She is completely honest and sincere with Darcy, and shows great righteousness and independence. Elizabeth however is completely serious when dealing with Darcy, compared with her guarded politeness when with Collins, whom she implant to be ridiculous.In chapter 58, during a visit by Darcy and Bingley to Longbourn, Elizabeth and Darcy proclaim their love for each other, and it is understood that they will be married. There is no conventional proposal from Darcy the idea of a future marriage is implicit.Elizabeth admits that her feelings have formd. She had been blind by her initial poor first impressions of Darcy, and hurts produced by her being taken in by Wickhams deception. She admits that she was wrong, She explainedhow all her former prejudices had been removed. She is embarrassed by the remarks she made to Darcy during his proposal, do not repeat what I then utterI have been most heartily ashamed of it.Darcys love was unmoved by El izabeths rejection he still wants to marry her. He admits the follies of his past behaviour conceit, arrogance, snobbery. I have been a selfish being all my breeding, in practice, though not in principle.We know that Darcy had been transformed. kind of of shunning the Bennets because of Lydias social disgrace, he tracked down the catch and paid Wickham to marry her, thus rescuing the family from ostracism in society. Furthermore, he seeks fixture with Jane by encouraging Bingley to marry her by admitting his misunderstanding of her affection for him, and his blanket of her visit to London. He is also gracious to the Gardiners when they visit Pemberley, even inviting Mr. Gardiner to go along him fishing.Darcy explains how he made a conscious effort to change after Elizabeths accusation of ungentleman-like behaviour. This was an uncomfortable truth for Darcy, and the reproach spurred him to change his behaviour. Those were your wordsyou can scarcely conceive how they have tortu red me. Before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice.Elizabeth tells us how she began to lose her prejudice after receiving a letter from Darcy explaining his actions in the affairs of Wickham and Jane. Darcy mentioned his letterShe explainedhow bit by bit all her former prejudices had been removed. She is also pleasantly surprised by Darcys civility during her visit to Pemberley, and this too affects a change in her emotions. each(prenominal) of them has helped the other become a better person we feel the two are right for each other. We feel confident that they will be contented together in married life and grow in mutual love and respect.After the correction of Elizabeth and Darcys faults, the two have earned each other. They deserve a happy married life based on mutual devotion and financial security, with which Austen rewards them.I feel that Elizabeth was right to reject Collins his focus on the financial and practical side of marriage was the antithesis to Elizabet hs ideal of love in married life. The marriage would not have been happy for either. I also feel that Elizabeth was right to reject Darcys proposal of marriage. At that time, neither had had the luck to change in response to each others criticisms, and as Elizabeth would have accepted his offer of marriage without truly being in love, we, the reader, would lose respect for her, as would Darcy, and it would appear her interest is fiscal quite an than romantic. It would also be an unhappy marriage. I feel that Elizabeth was right to apply to marriage in the end. She had overcome her prejudice, and Darcy his pride, and we know that they are a frank match for each other. We hope that they will have a secure and happy married life.