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Example research essay topic: Jane Austen Catherine De Bourgh - 2,355 words

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Explore the social institution of marriage in Austen's society in a comparison of the proposals of Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennett In this essay, I will attempt to answer the above question by going through a number of stages. I will firstly gather a detailed knowledge of what marriage was like in Austen? s society.

From this I will be able to apply my findings to the proposals of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins. Whilst doing this, I will compare and contrast the two proposals and look at the reasons why they wanted marriage, their approaches to the matter and their reactions from the responses of Elizabeth Bennett. In Jane Austen? s society, marriage was hugely different than that of today.

This was evident in every aspect of marriage. Marriage was necessary for women in Austen? s society. Without it they would have no income and could not create one for themselves.

Women were also unable to inherit property after the death of a previous landowner. These factors mean that women were keen to marry early and not for the reasons associated with marriage of today. Nowadays, people wouldn? t even consider marrying if love wasn? t involved. During the time in question, however, love was somewhat irrelevant.

Public perception of the couple was taken into consideration, however, regardless of the intentions of the couple. Marriage was seen as a status symbol and was closely linked to the class system. Jane Austen knew this society well as she was the unmarried daughter of a clergyman which fell in the social class known as gentry. She had no income and therefore had to depend on her brothers for support.

All these factors must be considered when looking at the proposals of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins. The Bennett family has five daughters ranging in age from fifteen to twenty-five.

They have no sons. In Austen? s time, this would have been seen as a burden rather than an advantage. For each daughter that is married, a dowry has to be paid and in the case of the Bennett?

s, you are looking at a huge financial burden. The Bennett family is relatively well off and own land? ? Longbourn House? . As daughters cannot inherit, the land would pass on to Mr. Collins, a cousin of the family. Mrs.

Bennett is desperate to find husbands for her daughters. Because of this, she is somewhat rash in making decisions for her daughter? s futures. Elizabeth Bennett, the daughter who is focused on in this essay, is the most independent and assertive and unlike most women in Austen? s time and society, will only marry for love.

She presents a problem for the family as she is independent and thinks for herself and is likely to be the most difficult to get? married off? . The Bennett family has five daughters ranging in age from fifteen up to twenty-five. They have no sons. At Jane Austen? s time, this would have been seen as somewhat of a burden.

This is because, for each daughter that is married, a dowry has to be paid and in the case of the Bennett? s, you are looking at a huge financial burden. The Bennett family are quite well off and own areas of land, in this case, ? Longbourn house? .

As daughters cannot inherit, the land would pass to Mr. Collins, a cousin of the family. He will be focused on later in the essay. Mrs.

Bennett is desperate to find husbands for her daughters. She is somewhat rash in making her daughters? decisions which will decide their future though you can see it from her point of view as she has five daughters to marry off. Elizabeth Bennett, the daughter who is focused on during this essay, is the most independent and assertive and unlike most women of the time and society, will only marry for love. She presents a problem for the family and will undoubtedly be the most difficult to get married off. Austen?

s opening description of Mr. Collins? approach to proposal tells us a lot about his character. Austen writes, ?

Mr. Collins made his declaration in form? This quotation tells us two things about the character of Mr. Collins. Firstly, Austen uses the word? declaration?

rather than? proposal? . This tells us that Mr. Collins is extremely confident that he will receive a positive answer and even if he doesn? t, he remains confident that he will marry Elizabeth. Austen also writes?

form? . This gives the implication that Mr. Collins is not talking about a subject which is? close to his heart? but is laying down his personal reasons for marriage. This fact is later proved correct.

So, before the? proposal? has even begun, from a one line description of Mr. Collins, we have learnt that he is extremely selfish and probably does not really love Elizabeth.

Austen follows this line with, ? Having resolved to do it without? ? ? ? ... business. ? The first part of this quotation shows us that the only reason Mr. Collins is proposing at that particular time is because he does not want to miss another Sunday at church. These are not the actions of a man truly in love.

Austen follows this up with a remark that Mr. Collins is proposing in a? very orderly manner? . This reiterates my first point surrounding the lack of love in the? relationship? . Austen finishes with the word?

business? . This proves to be an operative word in the analysis of Mr. Collins and is to be discovered later on. After asking to talk to Elizabeth, we see the perceptive side of her character as she begins to move away and refuse to talk to Mr. Collins.

This shows us that she knows what is going on yet clearly is not interested in Mr. Collins. This alone would be considered enough to deter him. He is the opposite of perceptive, however, and continues with the? proposal? . Mrs.

Bennett? insists? upon Elizabeth? s staying and it is clear that neither her or Mr.

Collins are concerned about Elizabeth? s feelings. It is quite evident that she does not want to be in the position she has been forced into yet Mr. Collins perceives this quite differently, ? Believe me? ? ? ? ? ? perfection?

s. ? Rather than accepting the obvious refusal of Elizabeth, Mr. Collins follows this up with a compliment directed towards Elizabeth in a futile attempt to win her over. From a reader? s point of view, this seems pathetic and even humorous as Mr. Collins?

true character begins to surface. Even after this, he continues to have the audacity to compliment her further. He says, ? Almost? ? ? ?

life. ? This is not the complete truth, however, as he originally attempted to marry Jane yet was deterred by Mrs. Bennett. In Mr. Collins? ? finest moment? , Austen writes, ?

before I run away with my feelings. ? This appears not only humorous to the reader but also to Elizabeth who has realised the futility of Mr. Collins? proposal, ?

The idea? ? ? ? ? ? continued, ? Mr. Collins now proceeds to list his reasons for marrying amongst which love is not mentioned once, he says, ? My reasons? ? ? ? ? ... parish. ?

This line is fascinating in my opinion and has a certain edge of irony as Mr. Collins lacks perception yet is worried about the public? s perception of him. This makes him appear all the more pompous and arrogant. He continues, ?

secondly? ? ? ? ? . happiness. ? Note Mr. Collins says? my? happiness and again does not take Elizabeth?

s feelings into consideration. Mr. Collins is overtly ignorant to Elizabeth? s attempted interruptions and continues to discuss the fact that his patroness, Mrs. Catherine De Bourgh also wishes him to marry. It seems that there is more reason for marriage between Mrs.

Bennett and Lady Catherine De Bourgh than there is between the? couple? . This, in itself is ridiculously humorous. Mr. Collins has humoured Elizabeth but not insulted her as of yet. This is to come, however, ?

The fact is? ? ? ? . years? . The implications from this are that he wishes her father dead so that he can inherit the land. This is not only selfish and tactless but also hurtful towards Elizabeth. Mr. Collins then says, ?

And now? ? ? ? ? ? affection? . Just as it seems that Mr. Collins is to finally discuss love and affection, he contradicts himself by going on to talk about the matter of the dowry and his inheritance.

He continues his contradictory manner by saying, ? To fortune? ? ? ? ? ? ... indifferent? . Although he says so, it is clear that he is not indifferent to the matter of the dowry as he brings it up and discusses it on a number of occasions. Elizabeth finally gets the chance to speak and shows strength of character and is polite yet firm. Mr.

Collins now appears ridiculous as his naivet? leads him to discuss the fact that Elizabeth secretly means to accept his proposal. Elizabeth notices the fact that Mr. Collins wants to be rich and is selfish et cetera and finally succeeds in refusing but only by leaving the room. From the proposal of Mr.

Collins, a lot can be learnt about both his and Elizabeth? s characters. Elizabeth is polite, firm and assertive and by far the most strong-minded character featured. She knows what she wants from life and takes the correct steps in achieving her aims.

Mr. Collins, however, is much less of a character. He is overtly arrogant, audacious and na? ve. He is selfish, pompous and arrogant. He lacks perception and is tactless.

From the perspective of a non-reader of the novel, it would seem that I have simply listed all the negative words in the dictionary. This is Mr. Collins? character, however, and it is in my opinion that Elizabeth was correct to turn down his? proposal? . Elizabeth later receives another proposal from Mr.

Darcy. Austen writes, ? When they? ? ? ? ? ? Kent? .

So, from this quotation, we have learnt even before the arrival of Mr. Darcy, that Elizabeth bears a grudge towards him yet her cause for this is later proved incorrect. Austen continues to describe Elizabeth? s dislike for Mr.

Darcy. When Elizabeth first sees Mr. Darcy, it is described as being to her? utter amazement? . This proves to the reader that Mr. Darcy is the last person Elizabeth expected and probably hoped to see.

Darcy proceeds to inquire after Elizabeth? s health and Austen writes that Elizabeth, ? Answered him with cold civility? . This, in my opinion, is admirable on Elizabeth?

s part as it is evident that she possesses a distinct hatred for this man yet still has the manners to be civil with him. From the very beginning of Darcy? s proposal, it is clear that his differs substantially from Mr. Collins? . The opening line of Mr.

Darcy? s proposal reads, ? In vain? ? ? ? ? ? . love you? . This quotation tells us two things about the character of Mr.

Darcy. His opening line is rather inconsiderate towards Elizabeth? s feelings as he is saying that he has struggled against loving her. The reasons for this become evident further on. He does, however, use the word? vain? , Which shows that his love for Elizabeth outweighed his reasons for not proposing.

This proves that he really loves Elizabeth and is proposing solely for reasons of love. Elizabeth? s reaction to Darcy? s proposal are very useful in analysing her character and looking at her feelings towards Mr.

Darcy. Austen writes, ? Elizabeth? s astonishment? ? ? ? ? . silent? . This, to me, proves Elizabeth?

s complete and utter state of disbelief in hearing the beginning of a proposal by Mr. Darcy. This was the last thing in the world she expected. She had assumed a hatred between herself and Mr.

Darcy, one which did not feature on his behalf and this will surely influence her decision. Although Mr. Darcy speaks less fluently than Mr. Collins, it is obvious that his speech is coming from the heart. This real love for Elizabeth is the eventual deciding factor in the marriage. Even though Elizabeth is insulted when Mr.

Darcy tells her that he is marrying someone of a lower class and he purposely put his friend off marrying Elizabeth? s sister, I feel that this is huge evidence of his love for Elizabeth. He accepts the fact that he broke up her sister? s marriage yet goes on to say that his love is too strong to do likewise here. Although her anger prevents her from seeing this immediately, it is this which leads her to eventually marrying Mr. Darcy.

There are many great differences evident between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins. There are a few similarities, however.

In both cases, it is definitely a case of unrequited love and Elizabeth is shocked by both proposals. There are more differences though. After being rejected, Mr. Darcy, unlike Mr.

Collins keeps his cool and remains gentleman-like in accepting it. As already mentioned, Mr. Darcy speaks more of love than the marriage merely being a business agreement and is reminiscent of modern proposals in terms of intent and purpose. In today? s society, marriage is a partnership between equals and done for love but in Austen? s society, women had to marry to survive financially and it was usually a business agreement.

Social class was also an issue. With Mr. Darcy? s case as an exception, you did not usually marry out of your own class. There are many numerous other factors which make marriage today significantly different to that in Austen? s society, which have been proven by my analysis of characters in the previous pages.


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Research essay sample on Jane Austen Catherine De Bourgh

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