Human beings are strange, complex creatures whose reactions are never set in stone. Things get even more complicated when it comes to romance. Though it is easier to woo someone familiar opposed to a stranger, the reader finds that this is not always the case. William Collins in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, as well as Bradley Headstone in Charles Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend, are faced with the task of asking for their lady’s hand in marriage. Bradley is proposing to Lizzie Hexam whilst William is proposing to Elizabeth Bennett. Several factors play a role in their, as well as any, proposal’s successfulness, such as the wording, the emotions they convey/evoke, and the time/energy that is put into the speech. William’s and Bradley’s proposals
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Bradley, in Dickens’ novel, persuades Lizzie at first not through logic, but through emotions. In his opening statements, he says “I love you,” which was not a common thing to say during this time period. During the 1800’s, marriage was seen as a social contract that allowed two people to pool their wealth and up their status on the social rankings. This makes Bradley stand out from the crowd, as well as show Lizzie that his proposal is not for any personal gain- he feels genuine affection towards her. Lizzie, knowing that Bradley is coming with good intentions from the beginning would take everything that follows with not just an open mind, but with an open heart. Bradley follows this confession with a more logical approach to wooing Lizzie, saying that “[his] reputation stands quite high, and would be a shield for [Lizzie’s]”. This, just like the previous quote, was unusual to say in their time period. But, it something to be desired. In where Bradley/Lizzie lived, social classes were determined by your wealth and reputation. The fact that he had a high reputation would have been enough to convince any woman to take his hand in marriage, but Bradley goes one step further and says that he was willing to sacrifice it to be with Lizzie. This is an effective approach in that it reveals Bradley’s determination and self-sacrifice to her, as well as his …show more content…
This in itself was a bad move (one should never talk about another person whilst trying to get laid), but he continues this note, saying how she told him to “chuse a gentlewoman for [her] sake.” This immediately tells Elizabeth that William wants to marry her only because he has to, because his source of income demands it so (he doesn’t care about her, only the money). This also encourages the idea that Elizabeth is merely an object that the clergyman can simply choose to “buy”, or wed. Elizabeth, from his fraction of a statement, would have thought that William was a tool. And nobody wants to marry a tool or an
Bradley, in Dickens’ novel, persuades Lizzie at first not through logic, but through emotions. In his opening statements, he says “I love you,” which was not a common thing to say during this time period. During the 1800’s, marriage was seen as a social contract that allowed two people to pool their wealth and up their status on the social rankings. This makes Bradley stand out from the crowd, as well as show Lizzie that his proposal is not for any personal gain- he feels genuine affection towards her. Lizzie, knowing that Bradley is coming with good intentions from the beginning would take everything that follows with not just an open mind, but with an open heart. Bradley follows this confession with a more logical approach to wooing Lizzie, saying that “[his] reputation stands quite high, and would be a shield for [Lizzie’s]”. This, just like the previous quote, was unusual to say in their time period. But, it something to be desired. In where Bradley/Lizzie lived, social classes were determined by your wealth and reputation. The fact that he had a high reputation would have been enough to convince any woman to take his hand in marriage, but Bradley goes one step further and says that he was willing to sacrifice it to be with Lizzie. This is an effective approach in that it reveals Bradley’s determination and self-sacrifice to her, as well as his …show more content…
This in itself was a bad move (one should never talk about another person whilst trying to get laid), but he continues this note, saying how she told him to “chuse a gentlewoman for [her] sake.” This immediately tells Elizabeth that William wants to marry her only because he has to, because his source of income demands it so (he doesn’t care about her, only the money). This also encourages the idea that Elizabeth is merely an object that the clergyman can simply choose to “buy”, or wed. Elizabeth, from his fraction of a statement, would have thought that William was a tool. And nobody wants to marry a tool or an