Mr. Collins is one of my favorite characters written by Jane Austen. He is so awkward, tactless, and lacking in any social decorum. I read about him and I squirm! I get so uncomfortable that I have to stop reading for a moment to collect myself and then move on. When he arrives at Longbourn, it is irresistible for the Bennet sisters to mock him and lead him into drawn out descriptions of his "advantageous patronage".
My favorite part of the book involving Mr. Collins is where he attempts to court Elizabeth. Please enjoy the following excerpt:
It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now.
``You are too hasty, Sir,'' she cried. ``You forget that I have made no answer. Let me do it without farther loss of time. Accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me, I am very sensible of the honour of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them.''
``I am not now to learn,'' replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave of the hand, ``that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long.''
``Upon my word, Sir,'' cried Elizabeth, ``your hope is rather an extraordinary one after my declaration. I do assure you that I am not one of those young ladies (if such young ladies there are) who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. -- You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so, -- Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I am persuaded she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the situation.''
How do you feel about Mr. Collins? Do you know or have you met anyone quite like him?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
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