Charlotte Collins Research Paper

In 19th century England, women were limited in nearly every aspect of life. Women could not own land, inherit possessions or work the same jobs that men had. They were inferior in most ways, molded into mindless housewives, utterly dependent on their husbands. However, there existed one tool to improve a woman’s life. It was marriage, more specifically marrying well. Having a rich husband provided a woman with financial security, a good house to tend and a materialistically satisfying life. In Pride and Prejudice, one woman who recognized the merits of a good marriage was Charlotte Collins. Charlotte married Mr. Collins primarily to secure a good future for herself. This future that did not include living in her parent’s house for the rest of her life. Charlotte was 27, and at that age, women did not …show more content…
Before proposing to Elizabeth, Lady Catherine de Bourgh ordered Mr.Collins to “chuse properly, chuse a gentlewoman for my sake; and for your own, let [the wife be]...active, useful...person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way.” This order from Lady Catherine de Bourgh pushes Mr. Collins into the marriage state. It is not for his own happiness, even though he claims to Elizabeth that “[he was] convinced that [marriage] will add very greatly to [his] happiness.” He needed to marry quickly, to keep his job and patroness. His happiness was not an important factor in his decision. Just like Charlotte’s manner of selecting a spouse, Mr. Collins is calculating. This sort of view on marriage is nearly opposite of Elizabeth Bennett’s. Elizabeth believes in marrying for love, and only because of love. Charlotte and Mr. Collins’ marriage of convenience leaves Elizabeth stricken. Throughout Pride and Prejudice Austen implies that “entering the marriage state” should benefit the bride and groom, and