page_title: Mr William Collins
section_title: Portrayal
hierarchical_section_title: Mr William Collins / Portrayal
caption_attribution_description: English: "Protested that he never read novels" - Mr. Collins claims that he never reads novels. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. London: George Allen, 1894, page 87.
context_page_description: Mr William Collins is a fictional character in the 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. He is the distant cousin of Mr Bennet, a clergyman and holder of a valuable living at the Hunsford parsonage near Rosing's Park, the estate of his patroness Lady Catherine De Bourgh, in Kent. Since Mr and Mrs Bennet have no sons, Mr Collins is also the current heir presumptive to the Bennet's family estate of Longbourn House, in Meryton, Hertfordshire. Mr Collins is first introduced during his visit to Longbourn, Mr Bennet's estate. Mr. Collins is some-what comparable to the Shakespearean character, Malvolio, from Twelfth Night.
context_section_description: Mr Collins is first mentioned when Mr. Bennet tells his wife that his cousin will be visiting them. Mr Bennet reads them a letter sent to him from Mr Collins, where Collins speaks of making amends for any past disagreements between his father and Mr Bennet. In his letter, it is clear that Mr Collins just readily assumes that his overtures of peace will be gratefully accepted, and further presumes upon the family as to announce that he will come stay with them for a week, without even first asking for permission.
  Upon the first night of his visit, he spends time dining with the family and reading to them from Fordyce's Sermons in their parlour. It is at this point that Mr Collins seems to take a fancy to the eldest daughter, Jane Bennet. When discussing his intentions with Mrs. Bennet he is told that Jane may very soon be engaged. It takes Mr Collins only a few moments to redirect his attentions to Elizabeth Bennet, who he believes, in "birth and beauty", exceeds her sister.
  He spends the rest of his stay making visits around the neighbourhood with the young Misses Bennet. They visit Mrs Phillips, Mrs Bennet's sister. Mr Collins is quite charmed by this encounter and seems extremely pleased to be treated so well by the family. He continues to pay specific attention to Miss Elizabeth.
  Collins first gives Elizabeth a hint of his intentions prior to the Netherfield ball hosted by Charles Bingley. He asks Elizabeth if she will allow him the pleasure of being her partner for the first two dances. Though Mr Collins quite enjoys himself during these dances, Elizabeth has entirely different feelings on the matter. Miss Elizabeth has a strong aversion for Mr Collins. However, she usually tries to avoid any conversation beyond what is polite and proper. At the Netherfield ball, she describes her dances with Mr Collins as "dances of mortification". She comments that Mr Collins acts awkwardly and solemn and gives her "all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give".
  At the end of Mr Collins' weeklong visit he seeks a private audience with Miss Elizabeth. Oblivious to how Elizabeth might be feeling, Mr Collins tells her that "almost as soon as he entered the house, he singled her out as the companion of his future life". He also expounds upon his reasons for getting married which are:  
  He 'feels' that every clergyman should set the example of matrimony in his parish.
  he believes it will add to his own personal happiness.
  Lady Catherine has 'urged' him to find a wife as quickly as possible (contradicting his first reason, cited above).
  Mr. Collins declares himself to be 'violently in love' with Elizabeth; Elizabeth, however, knows that his professed feelings for her are completely imaginary, and that they are a complete miss-match (not wishing for a marriage that would most certainly end up miserable like her parents, only with the roles reversed), and all of her attempts to dissuade him had been too subtle for him to recognise:  When Elizabeth rejects his proposal, despite her mother's approval of the match, Collins is quite taken aback and does not believe that she is serious. Elizabeth has to tell him firmly that she is in fact serious. Mr Collins seems surprised and insulted. He had not considered that his proposal would ever be undesirable. Miss Elizabeth has to insistently repeat to Mr Collins that she does not intend to marry him since he believes she is really only trying to behave with propriety by refusing him. Collins only accepts her refusal once Mrs Bennet admits that it is not likely that Elizabeth intends changing her mind.
  In a few short days after this rejection, Mr Collins' sentiments are quickly transferred to Elizabeth's particular friend, Charlotte Lucas, who encourages his regard because she seeks to improve her own social position (and does not wish to remain a spinster). Since Collins has very good prospects, Charlotte is determined to gain his favour. Her plan works well. A few days after this Elizabeth hears that Charlotte is now engaged to Mr Collins. Upon hearing this 
caption: Mr Collins "protested that he never read novels" by Hugh Thomson, 1894
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