A Modern Day Comparison of Mr. Collins: A Foil Character
Throughout Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, she uses characterization to clearly portray prideful people in the regency era. The novel is best known for its depiction of pride, which is seen in the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth; two prideful people who somehow are able to see above the pride to fight for their love. Audiences rave over the triumph of love in era of advantageous relationships, however when examining the novel it is vital to also consider the prejudices Austen portrays as well. In literature, a study of prejudice can also be called the study of foil characters. Austen uses many foil characters to make the prominent characters more likeable to the audience.
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An example is the odd character Kirk who unintentionally acts in strange ways. Therefore, Austen uses Mr. Collins to portray a foil character for Mr. Darcy in the eyes of Elizabeth; which parallels with the characterization of Kirk in Gilmore Girls who is unaware of his abnormal personality.
Furthermore, seen in the novel is Austen’s depiction of Mr. Collins as strange man who knows nothing more than to be unconventionally odd. Austen wrote, “Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary” (Austen 120). Here she presents the thought that it is more reasonable for Elizabeth to marry a prideful man rather than a weird one. She goes on to describe him as a nuisance for those around him including his love interest, Elizabeth. The novel makes it clear that Elizabeth would not settle for the strange man who could only offer stability. Moreover, author Danielle Lucio from Chapman University, wrote in the Jane Austen Society of North America an article called Punctual to His Time: An
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Kirk and Mr. Collins have many things in common, as they both do the job of making other characters look better. Therefore, the common question arises in many audiences. Is it fair to use the characterization of foil characters, even if that means demeaning the foil characters? Both Austen and the directors of Gilmore Girls, would argue that yes the use of foil of characters adds depth to the work. Without Mr. Collins, Elizabeth would not be ahead of her time in waiting for true love. Similarly, without Kirk there would be no way for Luke stand out in the show. These characters also bring comic relief to the work that would not be present without them. However, they are also purposefully being criticized and ridiculed. Furthermore, throughout the work The Realist Novel, Dennis Walder examines the prejudices in using foil characters in different works including Austen's Pride and Prejudice. He writes, “In the main, Mr. Collins epitomizes a grotesque form of servile pride and its resulting prejudices” (Walder 52). Here he mentions how foil characters provide the prejudice that most works lack. He interestingly mentions that prejudice is an outcome of this is pride. This goes to strengthen the arguments of Austen and the directors of Gilmore Girls and their opinion that foil characters are beneficial to a work. For the audiences sake, it is fair to use foil characters, and in
If you have the Harry Potter series, or almost any other story you have been introduced to this literary device that instantly makes your story attention-grabbing, and page-turning. This writing tool is known as a character foil. A character foil is a character that displays contrary, or opposite character traits. An example of a character foil is Draco Malfoy, and Harry Potter. Their rival relationship and other conflicts are the perfect example to showcase foils at work. To continue, in the iconic “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare, there are two known character foils in the first Act: Benvolio and Tybalt, and the Nurse and Lady Capulet.
A foil is when a characters differences contrast with another in order to show the main characters traits clearly. By using certain parts of their personalities, the reader sees the other characters opposing qualities. When an author uses foil in a novel the main character is thoroughly developed because the reader can gain more information about the characters own reactions. Mary Shelley’s use of foil characters in Frankenstein Or, The Modern Prometheus enhances the story greatly. Shelley’s way of comparing Victor, the Creature, Robert Walton and Clerval is what leads to the readers greater understanding of who Victor is. The most obvious foil throughout the novel is the Creature and Victor, child and father figure. Shelley uses their similarities
Atticus Finch and Aunt Alexander is an example of a character foil in the book.
Be it in films, television series’ or works of literature, it is true when one says, “[the] Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations” ( Bradbury 139). We always bear in mind the characters that bring us the essence within the storyline; the ones that we most often remember are the heroes and their villains. Character “foils” allow us to differentiate between the good and the evil present within the storyline. The classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, consists of several opposing characters, who inform us of the good, and the bad of Maycomb County. This includes Boo and Nathan Radley; Walter Cunningham Jr. and Burris Ewell; and Miss Maudie Atkinson and Miss Stephanie Crawford.
A foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another character. Writers often use foils to emphasize differences and traits of characters. Such an author would be William Shakespeare, author to many plays, including “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”. William Shakespeare uses foiling to emphasize one of the main character’s traits and differences. This “ foiling” relationship is between the main character Romeo and Paris.
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Jane uses the novel to show the common day romance of the time period. In the novel, Elizabeth Bennet, a sophisticated, lively girl manages to change Mr. Darcy, a cocky, stubborn man into a person who is head over heels in love. Although it takes her some time, Elizabeth is able to change the way Mr. Darcy feels about love in general and causes him to act differently then he has ever done before. Mr. Darcy’s self- discovery in response to Elizabeth Bennet’s blunt honestly allows him to re-evaluate his approach to love.
1. Plays have foils to help the audience understand important characters in the play. Foils are minor characters that have similarities and differences with a more important character in the play. Sometimes the minor character is just there for the character to talk to; this is the basis for being a foil. In the play "Hamlet," [Titles] by William Shakespeare, the character Ophelia is a foil to Hamlet.
Austen disapproves of Mr. Collins and that is why she attacks and satirizes him. Mr. Collins is a "suck-up." His living with Lady Catherine has caused him to demoralize himself. He thinks and talks highly of people higher than himself, such as, Lady Catherine DeBourgh. An example of this is when they were invited to dine with Lady Catherine DeBourgh and Mr. Collins then tells Elizabeth,
Random House Webster's dictionary defines a foil as "a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast." This essay will focus on the use of the foil to contrast another character. The characters of Nora and Mrs. Linde provide an excellent example of this literary device. Mrs. Linde's aged, experienced personality is the perfect foil for Nora's childish nature. Mrs. Linde's hard life is used to contrast the frivolity and sheltered aspects of Nora's life. Nora's optimism and belief in things improbable is an opposite to the rationality and down-to-earth mentality of Mrs. Linde. Finally, the rekindling of the flame between Mrs. Linde and Krogstad is a direct contrast to the burning down of Nora and Torvald's "doll's house."
In Hound of the Baskervilles written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Watson have a special type of relationship. In the beginning the reader is shown that Dr.Watson is a foil to Sherlock Holmes. The meaning of “Foil”s a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. In the book the reader see’s 3 things that are always memorable. Watson is seen as smart but Holmes will always be seen as a genius,Watson is very open while Holmes is very Watson is the one that trusts more.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has emphases on how characters are perceived by the world they live in. Mr. Darcy is an unpopular and misunderstood character who is the symbol of pride throughout the novel. Mr. Wickham is a charismatic soldier who is perceptive of those around him and capitalizes on his knowledge. Throughout the novel similarities and differences between characters are highlighted. Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy grew up together, yet Mr. Darcy is known for having a disagreeable countenance and a large sense of pride and Mr. Wickham is more charming, charismatic, and socially well-versed. In the fourth chapter of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth says “It does not necessarily
Every good book series has a character that is such a polar opposite of the main character that they make the main character seem better than they are. These characters are known as literary foils. In the Harry Potter series, that role is assumed the sole purpose of Draco Malfoy’s character, but when both characters are, further analyzed one can see that might not be true. The many differences between the characterization of Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series can portray Draco only as Harry’s literary foil; however, when the overall story arch of the Harry Potter series is considered Draco can also double Harry through the expectations and outside pressures put upon them.
Jane Austen is known for her never ending satirical criticism towards England’s social stratification in “Pride and Prejudice” along with her other works. We see the difficulties Elizabeth Bennet faces with the marriage system and her social class rank that was faced by women all over the world. Elizabeth Bennet’s personality complexity breaks the women stereotype in this novel, showing how independent and logical they could be. “Pride and Prejudice” is a reflection of gender oppression and social roles influenced by Jane Austen’s life during eighteenth century England.
Literary Analysis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The novel Pride and Prejudice, is a romantic comedy, by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is a story about an unlikely pair who go through many obstacles before finally coming together. Pride is the opinion of oneself, and prejudice is how one person feels others perceive them. The novel, Pride and Prejudice, uses plot, the characters of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and the status of women and social standing, to portray the theme of the novel - pride and prejudice.
This well written novel shows that having pride and being prejudiced is not always a bad thing. Works Cited Austen, Jane. A. “Pride and Prejudice.” Cyclopedia of Literary Characters, Revised Third Edition 1996:n. pag.