Although Pride and Prejudice revolves around Elizabeth Bennet, the men in the story: Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Bennet especially, play a large role in the novel, and each of them seem to represent a different theme in the book.
The beginning of the story starts with a conversation between Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet, who disagree on the importance of a rich Mr. Bingley moving into their neighborhood. Mr. Bennet is portrayed in this scene as a father figure who wants the best for his daughters, as opposed to his wife's desire for them to be wed off to essentially the highest bidder. To Mrs. Bennet's exclamation of Mr. Bingley moving in, he simply says: "How so? How can it affect them?" (1). As the story progresses, Mr. Bennet isn't heard from a ton, however, whenever he is heard from, he tends to be the voice of reason, and a wise father figure who loves his daughters. After Elizabeth has denied Mr. Collins' hand in marriage, Mrs. Bennet is up in arms, but Mr. Bennet supports Lizzy's decisions. He says, in what is perceived as a playful way: "An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth...Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do" (100). This exchange is one that showcases Mr. Bennet's love for his daughters, and his portrayal of a great father figure and parent in Austen's eyes.
I believe that Mr. Collins represents all that is wrong with men at the time that this book was written. Throughout the entire text, he comes off as arrogant, selfish, and all-around unlikeable. I think that Austen used him as a critique on men of the era. From the very beginning, it's clear that Mr. Collins isn't liked by many, and especially not the Bennet's, given that he will inherit their estate once Mr. Bennet is dead. Even as he compliments the home of the Bennetts, it's clear that he has other motives. "The hall, the dining-room,, and all of its furniture, were examined and praised; and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property" (64). His visits to the Bennet's never serve any purpose other than his own personal ones, further proving his selfishness. A main case in point is his proposal to Elizabeth, which I personally find to be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. Mr. Collins' ignorance speaks volumes to his self-absorbed nature. "As I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females" (97). The fact that he believes Elizabeth isn't being serious in her rejection is astounding, especially with how vehement she is in her statements. She leaves no room for interpretation, however Mr. Collins believes that since he is so "well connected" no one would refuse him, which may have been how many men in this era felt about themselves.
Mr. Darcy's role in the story is to prove that people aren't always what you believe them to be. While Darcy is viewed by Elizabeth as a "despicable" man because of Mr. Wickham's false claims, he is proven by Austen to be a good man who actually has compassion for others, given his offer to Mr. Wickham that was actually quite generous. "Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable" (283). In Mr. Darcy, Austen is telling readers, essentially, to not judge a book by its cover, and to seek the truth about others before developing opinions on them.
I agree with your assessment of Mr. Collins and his ignorance throughout the novel. He is definitely meant to be a model for the gentleman that has enough money but doesn’t quite have the brainpower to know what to do with his life. When he proposes to Elizabeth, he gives the following reason as justification: “the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters” (81). So basically, he feels that he has a duty to marry one of cousins just to protect their father’s money, which he is set to inherit anyway. Not the most romantic motivation for a wedding, but that’s Mr. Collins for you.
ReplyDeleteAusten’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy is a bit controversial. You definitely see him as someone redeemable, who experiences a positive change to his character through true love. That is definitely one way to look at it, but I think there’s more evidence to him being a rude person than just Wickham’s claims about his character. After all, Wickham is a terrible person, as Elizabeth comes to realize when “She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions with his conduct” (155). His opinions on Mr. Darcy aren’t exactly credible, but Darcy did quite enough himself at the beginning of the novel to deserve disdain, including rejecting Lizzy quite bluntly, describing her as “tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me” (7). He may have shown changes throughout the rest of the novel, but it is difficult to tell how genuine they are.
Finally, I think your interpretation of Mr. Bennet could use some refinement. It is true that he loves his daughters, but I don’t know if he always has their best interests at heart, especially when he gives Lydia permission to elope with Mr. Wickham, who we’ve already described as some dishonorable and irresponsible. He also constantly mocks his wife. “To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement” (177). He seems too uninterested in his daughters’ lives and inconsiderate of his wife to be considered a good role model, although he is still better off than Mr. Wickham.