Mr Collins In Pride And Prejudice

Throughout Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, written in the 18th century, she describes her character’s traits and personalities through their actions, responses, and mannerisms. At the beginning of chapter sixteen, Austen notes traits that reflect Mr. Collins’ behavior for an event occurring later in the book. Mr. Collins’ proposal of marriage to Elizabeth revels several of his less than admirable traits. Austen provides a few of Mr. Collins negative traits when she writes: “…with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility” (71). Mr. Collins’ pride in his authority as a clergyman is reflected in one of his reasonings for Elizabeth to accept his proposal, “My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish…” (105). Mr. Collin’s wants to set an example and be admirable in the eyes of his parish and marrying will help him achieve this. A …show more content…
Another trait of Mr. Collins that Austen shows is his resiliency. Despite being rejected by Elizabeth Mr. Collins refused to take no for an answer and expressed his trait of resiliency when he said, “…and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time. I am, therefore, by no means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long. ”(107). Not only did his words exemplify his resilience but his trait of being insensible and lack of humility as well. In all Mr. Collins’ proposal to Elizabeth supported the claims Austen wrote earlier in the story about Mr. Collins and his characteristics. Her words give reasoning behind Collins’ behavior and express his less than admirable