William+Collins+Period+6

William Collins is a tall, heavy looking man of about twenty-five. He is confident and eager to speak, though he doesn't always follow the rules of etiquette when addressing others. He tends to have too high an opinion of himself, which allows him to think he can approach anyone or say anything he wants. He is not a very sensible man. The majority of his life was spent under the guidance of his illiterate and miserly father. He has little education or experience in society, though he comments, “I have often ovserved how little young ladies are interested by books os a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess;-for certainly, there can be nothing so advatageous to them as instruction…” He is entailed to the Longbourn estate, meaning when Mr. Bennet dies, his home will be passed to Mr. Collins. There was a feud between Mr. Bennet and the late Mr. Collins, but William Collins has decided to bring the two families back together by marrying one of the Bennet daughters. His eyes are first set upon Jane, but Mrs. Bennet advises him away, for Jane is almost certainly to be married to Mr. Bingley. So Mr. Collins sets his sights upon Elizabeth. He asks to have a private discussion with her and makes a proposal for marriage. Elizabeth turns him down, but he doesn’t want to listen. He believes that she is only playing hard to get, stating, “When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this suvject I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given me...” and, “You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your refusal of my address is merely words of course…” But she does her best to convince him otherwise, for she is sincere in her refusal. Elizabeth has her friend, Charlotte Lucas, start spending time with Mr. Collins to distract him from her. Mr. Collins soon proposes to Charlotte, who accepts. They are married and travel back to Hunsford, where Mr. Collins lives and works as a clergyman, with Lady Catherine as his patroness. Charlotte invites Elizabeth to come visit her at her new home, and while she is there they have many visits with Lady Catherine. Mr. Collins holds Lady Catherine in the highest esteem, but Elizabeth isn’t quite so impressed. Charlotte doesn’t seem particularly happy in her marriage, she seems to avoid speaking with Mr. Collins as much as she can, always sending him out to work in the yard.

Emily Key 12/2/11 Period 6