Marriage Proposals
A marriage proposal is an occasion where one person in a relationship asks for the other's hand in marriage. Overtime, marriage proposals have changed in virtually all cultures. In the 1800s, marriage was more for social gain or monetary gain. However, marriage for love wasn’t unknown. William Collins proposal to Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice and Bradley Headstone’s proposal to Lizzie Hexam in Charles Dickens's’ Our Mutual Friend are perfect examples of two different types of marriage proposals that may have been giving during the 1800s. Analyzing Mr. Headstones and Mr. Collins’ techniques and the language used in their proposals reveal the weaknesses and strengths of their proposals.
Mr.
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Collins in his marriage proposal is more direct and straightforward while Mr. Headstone is more sincere. Mr. Collin starts off his marriage proposal by being logical and giving reasons why he is interested in marrying Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins doesn’t mention his love or her value to him. In fact, Mr. Collins mostly speaks about another woman, his sponsor, Mrs. De Bourghs. To discuss another women during a proposal is not flattering. Mr. Collins reveals that he only wishes to marry due to Mrs. De Bourgh’s “recommendation” that he get married. Marriage proposals only should focus on the person you are proposing. Not only did Mr. Collins include another person in his proposal, he talks about her power and influence over him. He admits the type of women is one that is a “gentle women for [Mrs. De Bourghs’] sake.” His focus on Bourghs needs and desires in his proposal suggests his lack of passion and regard for Ms. Bennet and would only appeal to a woman with only practical concerns.Thus Mr. Collins direct, passionless approach and his mention of Mrs. De Bourghs creates a more logic based and dull proposal. However, Mr. Headstone discusses Ms. Hexam’s value and the power she has over him. His initial statement of “I love you” crescendos through his proposal. Also, he later states that she “draw [him] to anything.” Mr. Headstone reveals that his love for her can cause him to do anything she wants, even if it means going to the”gallows.” Thus, Mr. Headstone creates a much more emotion based proposal. In the end, Mr. Collin’s direct approach which lacked pizzazz, passion and emotion created a less effective marriage proposal. Ultimately, Mr. Headstone’s expression of his emotions and love, his connection to her and his sincere approach allowed him to create a more effective marriage
Colonial American citizens faced several challenges through the time span of the 16th century to the 18th century. It was a time of great change and growth as well as being full of obstacles. The Revolutionary War, hostile Native American tribes, harsh living conditions, and disease all played factors in the struggle for survival in early America. However, there is a topic that is also significant but not discussed as often. Marriage was a confusing and exhausting situation for many individuals. One may wonder, ”What were the challenges of finding a spouse during the Colonial Era in American history?” It was difficult for young men and women to find a suitable marriage partner who would meet all their needs or standards and stay by their side till death do they part. Oftentimes, there was no choice in the matter. During this timeframe in American history, there were several barriers that affected whom one was allowed to marry. These obstacles included race, culture, social and economic status.
Mr. Collins partner will most likely reject him due to his arrogance, however, Mr. Headstone’s partner will probably agree to marry him on account of his touching, honest proposal. Marriage proposals should be about love and the wish
In observing Headstone´s more genuine and honest attitude towards marriage, it is clear that his proposal is more convincing than Collins´. In Collins proposal, he speaks of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whom he relies on very heavily for advice. She says that marriage is for [her] sake; and for [Collins],” showing the selfish intentions behind Collins proposal. His self-interested goals of marrying Bennet are insincere and not as persuasive, making her less likely to empathize with Collins and accept his proposal. He is merely proposing to Bennet for the purpose of pleasing his patroness, unlike the romance-fueled marriage perspective clearly shown in Headstone’s proposal. Contrary to Collins, Headstone appeals to an honest and
So this Mr. Collins starts his proposal “my reasons for marrying you” (91). The rhetorical device that is used in this quotation is logos. So this is Mr.Collins going to explain why he is marrying her. This can be related to logos because the thought out what he wanted to say. This proposal is terrible because he does not really think out what he says at all. So these are Mr.Collins’s reasons that he first talked about. “First, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in...example of matrimony in his parish”(91). “Secondly , that I am convinced it will add to my happiness; and thirdly-which perhaps ought to have mentioned earlier… recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness”(91). So these are his reasons to marry. So first he thinks it is good to
In Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, Mr Collins is shown as a comical man, who we as readers are not expected to take seriously throughout the novel. Mr Darcy is a much deeper character, and Austen uses him to portray divisions between classes. She uses their proposals firstly to highlight the difference in the attractions the men have towards Elizabeth, but secondly to emphasise the importance of social class within a marriage proposal. This is seen in the form she writes in the content of the proposals (dialogue in Collins’s proposal versus free-indirect discourse in Darcy’s), and the structure of the proposals.
Marriage has often been described as one of the most beautiful and powerful unions one human can form with another. It is the sacred commitment and devotion that two people share in a relationship that makes marriage so appealing since ancient times, up until today. To have and to hold, until death do us part, are the guarantees that two individuals make to one another as they pledge to become one in marriage. It is easy to assume that the guarantee of marriage directly places individuals in an everlasting state of love, affection, and support. However, over the years, marriage has lost its fairy
In both proposals to Elizabeth there are rhetorical devices used. Mr. Collins uses appealing to authority, ethos, and logos to emphasize his proposal to Elizabeth because he thinks she will just say yes. He sees marriage as a business more than for love. Darcy uses pathos and ethos to emphasize his proposal because he actually loves Elizabeth and wants to show her that. Mr. Collins is unsuccessful while Darcy later on is.
In the late 1800’s through early 1900’s women and men were did not “tie the knot” like the women and men do in today’s day. In today’s world, women and men get married because they have many things in common, they are in love with each other, and they choose to get married to one another. In many stories written back then, readers can expect to read about how marriages were arranged and how many people were not having the wedded bliss marriage proclaims today.
Collins does not seem to possess his own conception of love: he intends to get married merely because it is the particular advice and recommendation of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, his patron and ‘first love’. He even goes so far as to explain this to Elizabeth within his proposal; ‘Mr Collins you must marry, Chuse…a gentle woman for my [Lady Catherine’s] sake’, showing his complete inaptitude to understand the feelings of others. No mutual acquaintance and love between each other was needed. Marriage, to Collins, was only ‘a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances’. Apart from explaining in his highly verbose manner that he is marrying because he was told to, he
One cannot accomplish much without the help and opinions of people such as their friends, siblings, or parents. This person, or confidante, must be willing to listen to and provide helpful thoughts and feedback. In Pride and Prejudice, a novel by Jane Austen, Elizabeth Bennet is a heroine who is in desperate need of a confidante. Jane Bennet, Elizabeth’s kind and honest sister, becomes that person Lizzy needs when she is feeling flustered. Jane perfectly fits the criteria of a confidante because she is optimistic and sanguine, in which she can provide Elizabeth a different, more positive, approach to her problems. The author uses Jane Bennet to portray a paradigm of a young lady in England during that time period, where marriages depended
The second proposal I am going to look at is Mr Collin's to Lizzie. Mr
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen introduces the major thematic concept of marriage and financial wealth. Throughout the novel, Austen depicts various relationships that exhibit the two recurring themes. Set during the regency period, the perception of marriage revolves around a universal truth. Austen claims that a single man “must be in want of a wife.” Hence, the social stature and wealth of men were of principal importance for women. Austen, however, hints that the opposite may prove more exact: a single woman, under the social limitations, is in want of a husband. Through this speculation, Austen acknowledges that the economic pressure of social acceptance serves as a foundation for a proper marriage.
Jane Austen’s novel is commanded by women; Pride and Prejudice explores the expectations of women in a society that is set at the turn of the 19th century. Throughout the plot, Austen’s female characters are all influenced by their peers, pressures from their family, and their own desires. The social struggle of men and women is seen throughout the novel. Characters, like Elizabeth, are examples of females not acting as proper as women were supposed to, while other women like Mrs. Bennett allow themselves to be controlled by men and society. Mr. Collins is a representation of the struggles males deal with in a novel dominated by women. The theme of marriage is prominent during Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Marriage can be examined in
Jane Austen shows the readers within the first sentence what the plot and main theme of Pride and Prejudice is and what social ideas she plans on presenting through this novel. The first sentence of Pride and Prejudice stands as one of the most famous introductory lines in literature. It states, “it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen 5). This statement puts the novel in motion by showing that the novel will deal with the pursuit of single wealthy men by various female characters. By stating this, Austen reveals that the reverse is also true in the nineteenth century English society, which is that single women of
This stands in stark contrast to what Miss Elizabeth Bennett wants. Mrs Bennett wants her daughters to marry because it’s thea only way for them to solidfy that they will have food on their plates and a roof over their head. Mr. Collins is Mr. Bennetts brother and is set to inherit his estate when he dies. He comes to visit in the middle of the book and his main intentions are to ask on of the daughters to marry him and to observe what he will in time own. Mrs. Bennett says in response to all this “Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousnd a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” (57, Austen) The single man she speaks of his Mr. Collins, the Bennett kids uncle. Austen describes Mr. Collins as a self retious kind of man who thinks he is above the Benntt’s just because he is set to inherrit their estate. This gives him a villeness quality. Austen is commenting on the blindness of Mrs. Bennett to the qualitys of Marraige. She only shes Mr. Collins as money but Elizabeth sees him as a bad person to spend the rest of her life with and theirfore turns down his marraige purposal. Which causes trouble between her and her mother. This is the best example of the contrast in what the two women see as the meaning of Marriage.