Mr Collins Proposal Essay

According to Jane Austen, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Now, imagine that you are a 27 year-old woman, unmarried, and living with your parents who must provide for your every need. Would you worry that you are a burden? Suddenly, a man walks in and offers you a chance at a new life. Would you accept his proposal and leave your parents? In “Pride and Prejudice”, Charlotte Lucas faced these challenges before accepting Mr. Collins’ proposal. “Pride and Prejudice,” a novel about love and marriage written by British author Jane Austen, reported the life of young women in search of an advantageous marriage. The novel shares the life of the Bennett family
Elizabeth Bennett’s view towards marriage in 18th century England is central to the tale. Her best friend, Charlotte, had to decide her own fate when a vicar, Mr. Collins, was rejected by Elizabeth and subsequently proposed to her. Collins, a braggart who worked for Lady Catherine DeBurgh, journeyed to the Bennett household to propose to one of the Bennett sisters. After finding rejection there, he offered marriage to Charlotte, who was fast approaching the time that a woman would be considered an old maid. His proposal was her opportunity to leave her family to start a new life. Marriage was a valuable goal for women living in 18th century England, as their worth was measured by their husband’s worth. Some readers may conclude that women should marry for love and not money while others may decide that women had to make choices that were best for their families. Some may believe that Charlotte’s decision to marry Mr. Collins was wrong while others may be of the opinion that the proposal was Charlotte’s opportunity to discover a new life away from home. Charlotte Lucas made the right choice to accept the proposal for three reasons; her marriage removed a burden from her family, her marriage fulfilled a necessity, and her marriage offered