Mr Collins

Mr Collins is an important character in the novel. He is there so that Austen can firther explore the idea of marrying without love and the views society had during her time. He is also there for the slight humour in which he carries himself and to convey just how strong and independent Elizabeth is, in the fact that she wont marry him. Elizabeth declines his proposal and her refusal goes against all the conventions of that time. She declines because she thinks that Collins is foolish, and because she wishes to marry for love. Jane Austen uses Mr Collins as an example of a rich but idiotic character & Austen pokes fun at him and societies views. He is a very proud character- Mr. Collins frequently boasts of his connection to Lady Catherine, the only person he does not make himself superior to. He is mainly used to show the tradition of marrying for wealth and social status instead of love. Elizabth does not want this and disagrees with this tradition. The reader is positioned to dislike Mr Collins and see him as ridiculous and pompous and he comes across as quite superficial. One of the central themes in the novel is marriage. Mr Collins is there so that the reader can reflect upon this theme. He visits the Bennets with the sole purpose of proposing to one of the daughters.