Social Commentary and Satire in Mr. Collins, The Fool

In chapter 19 of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Collins makes his marriage proposal to Elizabeth, and in his words we find many of Jane Austen's stylistic traits. Also, we see how the subject matter of Mr. Collins and Lizzy's discussion (marriage) is, obviously, a major theme of the novel. In this passage it is evident that Jane Austen uses Mr. Collins' character to convey her social commentary. Mr. Collins verbalizes the popular sentiment of the time about the importance of marriage and how often it was more of a business transaction than it was about love. After Lizzy's refusal to his proposal, he argues that "it does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desireable. My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Bourgh and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favor." Here, Mr. Collins displays his bewilderment of why anyone would not want to marry such a wonderful man, and completely ignores the notion of love. His ignorance of love in the course of marriage is also displayed in his statements a couple pages earlier when he says, "my reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. secondly, that I am convinced it will ass very greatly to my happiness, and thirdly, which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advise and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness." Here, as in the other passage, Mr. Collins makes no mention of love in his reasons for marriage (for neither himself nor Elizabeth). He goes on to point out to Elizabeth that, "in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you." This uncertainty pointed out by him is why so many women married without love, for if they passed up an offer to get married, they may be left with nothing when their father died and his inheritance was transfered to the male members of the family.

Aside from Jane Austen's social commentary, we see other aspects of her style through Mr. Collins. Jane Austen's language is very elegant, but it is often satirical at the same time, and her characters can be very funny in what they say (and how they act) while still speaking eloquently. Mr. Collins displays this elegant satire in his obstinate display with Elizbeth. After proposing marriage with a long speech, he ends saying, "when we are married," forgetting that Lizzy has yet to make an answer, so confident is he that she cannot decline. She does, however, decline, stating that her feelings could simply not allow their union (for Lizzy does consider love, or at least attraction in her consideration of marriage). Mr. Collins proceeds to be sure that Elizabeth really does mean to marry him, but that it is her wish to increase his love by suspence, "according to the usual practice of elegant females," and thus continues to look foolish. He repeats these suspicions after numerous refusals by Elizabeth where she practically begs him to believe her sincerity. This scene, while using Jane's elegant language, is certainly satirical and hilarious in Mr. Collins' ignorance and pompous confidence.