Report On Mr.

Collins Proposal
Lisa Chen
English IV
Ms. Boyd
2014












Mr. Collins Proposal is originally from the novel Pride And Prejudice written in the 18
th

century by Jane Austen. The story takes place in a conservative time where class and reputation
are the defining qualities of people, especially women (Pride and Prejudice Themes, 2014). This
literature shows virtue and courtship along the lines of social expectations, etiquette, and focuses
on the motives of marriage such as effects of marriage on the social standings of the families and
its relations to other families (Pride and Prejudice Analysis, 2014). Most importantly, Mr.
Collins Proposal brings up the essential question: what is the goal of marriage? What is the role
of love or happiness, and how does it compete against benefits such as money and social status?
Author
Family and education. (16 December 1775 18 July 1817) Jane Austen was born in Steventon,
England. She came from an elite family, both her parents were members of the landed gentry.
Her father worked in the rectory and additionally supported the family by farming and tutoring
while her mother nursed her six brothers, one sister, and Jane herself. As a family tradition, Jane
received education from Oxford by a tutor named Ms. Ann Cawley, she and her sister Cassandra
studied together until her family could no longer afford the tuition for the both of them. Privet
theatricals were also a part of the familys traditions in education, the family and close friends
staged a number of plays at that time, including The Rivals and David Garricks Bon Ton, where
Jane was a spectator in her young age and later participated in these stage plays. At one point
Jane and Cassandra both caught typhus, during this time of poor health and medical conditions
they were lucky to survive. Jane acquired the remainder of her education guided by her father
and brothers, and reading books on her own (Jane Austen, 2014).
As a writer. Jane started writing poems, short stories, and plays at the age of 13 and some of
these original works were later compiled together into what we refer to today as the Juvenilia. As
she grew older Jane wrote historical writings and satirical novels such as The History of England,
Love and Friendship, where she mocked sensibility in popular novels (Jane Austen Books, 2014).
In adulthood, she published books including Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma.
Life and love. Jane remained unmarried until the end, however she did have a lover named Tom
Lefroy. Tom and Jane met in London when Tom was studying to become a barrister. They often
spent time together Jane wrote vigorously to her sister Cassandra about their relationship. Tom
and Jane did not marry both of them did not have money and both families saw the engagement
impractical. Soon Tom was sent away by his parents and even when in town again, they were
forbid to see each other (Warren, 2014).
Last chapter. At the beginning of 1816 Janes health began to decline but she ignored it to
continue her career as a professional writer. By this time her father had passed away and her
family was not affluent as it once was, Jane became more and more ill. It is unclear what her
sickness was but at that time it had no cure. At the age of 42 Jane died and was buried in the
Winchester Cathedral (Warren, Jane Austen Timeline, 2014).
History
Politics and stability of England. During the late 1700s and early 1800s, The Kingdom of Great
Britain was under the rule of King George III. The state joined with kingdoms of Scotland and
Wales, and with the Treaty of Union and Acts of Union they agreed to come together as one
United Kingdom including the whole island of Great Britain and its minor islands, excluding
Ireland (Kingdom of Great Britain, 2014). The years 1760 to 1770 was called the Decade of
Ministerial Instability. During this decade, public opinion began to criticize governments,
especially through news paper. The instability in England was due to industrial revolution
problems such as oppression to agricultural workers, air pollution, diseases, and economic
disparity (A Web of English History, 2013).
Industrial revolution and capitalism. As the industrial revolution progresses England is
relatively advanced in technology, which leads the country in favor of Capitalism and as we have
seen before and during this time England has claimed many colonies including India, America,
Australia and other lands in Africa. However, England was not as efficient in governing as it is
in conquering. For example, in North America the British parliament passed a series of acts
referred to as the Townshend Acts that raised revenue in the colonies numerous times to enforce
loyalty and establish its right to tax. This lead to many conflicts and attempts of the 13 colonies
to withdraw from British rule. Soon the Declaration of Independence of the United States
occurred in 1776 releasing them from all allegiance to England (Townshend Acts, 2014).
Following the example of the United States many other colonized lands also started to rebel
against British rule.
Culture. The most important part of Englands culture during this time was also due to the
industrial revolution, the change from cottage working to factories. As factories widespread
about England, the demand of low skilled laborers increased, this provided a copious amount low
salary jobs for women as well as children. Women and child labor were often abused, their
wages were only fractionally as high as men, long working hours were required under heavy air
pollution, diseases spread everywhere (New South Wales Government, 2013). The rate of rural-
urban migration also increased rapidly due to the mass influx of farmers that poured through
cities to work in factories. Living qualities were so poor and the majority of people were illiterate.
The famous novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens was also written in this background, and as
we are familiar with the novel, it portrays the poverty of England and the impoverished lives of
young kids who had to steal for their next meal (Oliver Twist, 2014). The upper class lead very
contrasting lifestyles (Clothing of 18th Century England, 2014). For the wealthy and noble class
including occupations such as factory owners, clergymen, and politicians, it was fashionable to
be a writer or keep a diary, conducting theatricals and ballroom dances were also popular. The
relationship between the upper class and the laboring class was vile, before industrialization
there was communication and bonding between master and servant; after industrialization the
relation changed to provider and wage earner (Clermont).

Literature
Analysis. In Mr. Collins opening speech, he mentions the factors that create an elegant female
including modesty, reluctance, and a little bit unwillingness. He continues with his proposal
assuming that he has been accepted already and explains his reasons for marrying. Firstly,
because he wants to set an example of matrimony in the district; secondly, he thinks it will add
greatly to his happiness; and thirdly, because it is the particular advice and recommendation of
his very noble patroness Lady Catherine. (When I read these three reasons I thought all of them
were irrelevant to marriage, because getting married is a life long decision you know, it
shouldnt be about anyone else but the both of them) When we examine these three reasons for
marriage no trace of love is found anywhere, however, one could argue the second reason is
related to love but Mr. Collins only considered happiness for himself and did not take into
account of Elizabeths happiness, nor did he acknowledge at all that he had completely forgotten
to hear her voice in this marriage. In my opinion, this male predominant culture has long existed
since the earliest civilizations and women are often stripped of their rights and choices, even
today you still see many examples of women objectification in everyday social media. (The more
astonishing thing about this story is when Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins. He is so convinced that
Elizabeth is following the custom of elegant females of rejecting a pursuer to encourage their
love by suspense. Like, what the heck, I think its unbelievable. Then he comes back by saying it
does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy of your acceptance or that the establishment I
can offer would be any other than highly desirableagain no word of love is spoken)
Essential questions. What is the goal of marriage? How does the role of love or happiness
compete with other factors of marriage such as money or social standings?


Bibliography
A Web of English History. (2013, 11 11). Retrieved from The Age of George III:
http://www.historyhome.co.uk/c-eight/constitu/min-inst.htm
Clermont, R. E. (n.d.). Standards Of Living In Britain During The Industrial Revolution (1770-1820).
Ontario: University of Western Ontario.
Clothing of 18th Century England. (2014, 5 23). Retrieved from American Revolution:
http://www.americanrevolution.org/clothing/clothing4.html
Jane Austen. (2014, 5 19). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Great_Britain
New South Wales Government. (2013, 8 2). Retrieved from Conditions in England in the 1780s Stage 2 :
http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/go/hsie/background-sheets/conditions-in-
england-in-the-1780s-stage-2-british-colonisation-of-australia
Oliver Twist. (2014, 5 15). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist
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http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/pride-and-prejudice/summary-and-analysis/chapters-
1923
Pride and Prejudice Themes. (2014, 5 19). Retrieved from Sparknotes:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pride/themes.html
Townshend Acts. (2014, 5 15). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townshend_Acts
Warren, R. (2014, 3 25). Jane Austen. Retrieved from Jane Austen Biography:
http://www.janeausten.org/jane-austen-biography.asp
Warren, R. (2014, 1 25). Jane Austen Timeline. Retrieved from Jane Austen:
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