Mr Collins Pride And Prejudice Rhetorical Analysis

In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Elizabeth Bennet, second daughter, is popular as a potential wife. Living in a house with a mother who is trying to marry off her daughters despite age or character, Elizabeth expresses less interest in the practicality of marriage. Although her likelihood of marrying into a high social status is low due to her own middle class status and a poor family reputation, she rejects her first two marriage offers, both by men in beneficial social standings. The first proposal is from a most distasteful cousin, Mr. Collins, while the second two are from Mr. Darcy, a wealthy man who develops from his arrogance into an acceptable fit for Elizabeth. Differing from her sisters and mother, Elizabeth values the character

Mr. Collins is the first to be rejected by Elizabeth and with this rejection Austen proves that on the occasion of proposing, showing feeling is imperative. Though he does attempt it, Mr. Collins fails to pull at Elizabeth’s heartstrings in any way as he remarks, “But before I am run away with my feelings on the subject.” He is later described with “solemn composure” (Austen 103). Being near the beginning of Mr. Collins’ proposal (as it is a long one), Austen uses irony to portray Mr. Collins as actually a very unemotional man. The idea of Mr. Collins being “run away with [his] feelings” is discredited by his order of importance: “But before” as his priority is stating the logical reasons for his proposal and

Darcy is portrayed as a selfish, vain man at first and he is the second to propose to Elizabeth and swiftly denied. Mr. Darcy’s overbearing phrase “You must allow me to tell you,” has a dominant tone, implied by the demand: “you must” (Austen 185). Mr. Darcy’s superiority, even in confessing his love, cuts off the possibility of personal attachment by placing him and Elizabeth on two different levels and repels love for him by condescending her with dominance. Elizabeth being a character of independence and strong will, his superiority over her is an insult. Mr. Darcy’s high status gives him credibility as well as his brutal honesty: “In vain have I struggled” (Austen 185). He tells her outright that he has tried to resist his feelings for her, but he cannot, which tells one that he is not lying. Especially with his reputation of not associating outside his social group, the reader understands this must be outside his comfort zone to be “tempted” by one inferior to him. However, his credibility is trodden underfoot by his insulting language and lack of