Message #38 in the topic “Quiz - Which Pride and Prejudice Character Are You?” started me wondering how many people would, in Charlotte Lucas’s place, have accepted Mr. Collins’s proposal, and how many would have refused it.

Yes or no, anybody?

I think so, if I were in her situation. Charlotte presents the situation very sensibly: a woman of a certain age and situation, being unable to support herself through work or inheritance, had only marriage to keep her from being a burden on her parents. Even though I am a romantic, I think if I grew up the way Charlotte did I'd be a realist, too.

In the end, Jane gives Charlotte peace of mind, with a nice home to call her own, a husband who stays out of the way most of the time, and dinner at a wealthy estate a few times a week. Of course, she must put up with a couple of obnoxious characters in her life for it, but it seems that the benefits make life very satisfactory for Charlotte.

I think if you're a calm, introverted sort of person, Charlotte's life would be very appealing.

#2 -- My thoughts exactly.

Hmmm, yes, all of you are probably right. I find him rather creepy, so my first reaction is "no," but she certainly makes it work for her without seeming to compromise her integrity. So on second thought, maybe yes.

Nope. Not me. I'm calm and introspective, but Charlotte's life doesn't appeal to me one bit.

Happiness for Charlotte is having her own cottage and chickens. Happiness for me is staying as far away from idiots as possible. Marrying Mr Collins is a very reasonable decision for Charlotte to make as it brings her closer to what she wants, but for me, it could only bring misery.

It is quite difficult to know.

I can imagine what might be being a single woman in a world were marriage was the only thing for a woman but I cannot fully grab it with my 21st century mind. Marriage is full of little details and, well other things, that can become difficult to endure. I suppose much of it is related to education and upbringing.

In the circumstance of a woman of a certain age and also being introspective and calm Ann Elliot refused to marry someone she didn't love, though maybe with some external assistance. Anyway, I think I would have remained single as Jane Austen herself. And also, Mr. Collins is disgusting.

Edited to correct typo

Message edited by its author, May 29, 2009, 8:38am.

Interesting question! I think it also has something to do with strength of character: I think you really needed to be 'firmly rooted' (if you can say so in English) to choose not to marry and consequently burden your family with keeping you - as it was then. I can more easily see Jane Austen do that then Charlotte, who is as said above, a more introverted and calme person. I think she can make her peace with the situation and find happiness in tranquillity, but many others wouldn't be able to accept being married to Mr Collins and prefer to face the family...

Yes, Charlotte's life does have a certain amount of appeal. . . . However, having thought about this for a bit from time to time, I have decided that I could not have married Mr. Collins, even in that time and place.

I base this conclusion partly on the fact that about 35 years ago, I declined a proposal from a rather wealthy young man who I knew, had I married him, I would have ruled, and I refused to live with someone who I could not consider an equal.

Just too opinionated, I guess. :-)

Like everyone else it seems, I can see why Charlotte's decision can be seen as practical, but I do not think it is one that I would ever be able to make. I would much rather live a life of uncertain financial circumstances than spend my time hiding from a man I found intolerable yet was forced to share my life with.

I think we are used to looking our romantic situation from a 21st century stand point. All of us would like to think that we are waiting for our prince charming, however in Jane's day it wasn't practical to forego marry for such an ideal. Marriage was more or less looked at as business deal, not love. In Charlotte's case she was simply securing her future. True, I would love to say if I were in her shoes there is no way I could enter marriage to such an appalling dismal man, but all romantic endeavors aside I can sympathize with her decision. The fact that she seems content with the match provides me with a better feeling on the matter.

It is one thing to marry a man you are not wildly in love with for practical reasons. It is quite another thing to marry a man you cannot like or even respect. . . therefore I hope I would have rejected Mr. Collins, were I Charlotte, but I guess I don't really know.

No. However, this may be nothing more than a failure of imagination on my part - really putting myself in the period. Difficult, as leb62 points out, not to bring contemporary assumptions and perceptions to bear on the question... If she were neutral to Collins that would be one thing, but he is pretty odious and absurd.

I think for me it hinges on whether Mr Collins' faults are all to do with his character or include some to do with his - shall we say - "person". If he is merely ("merely"!) a social-climbing, sycophantic, smug and tactless idiot, then I think I'd do the deal to get my security and trust to being able to control him, as Charlotte clearly does. If he was also smelly, sweaty and otherwise disgusting, then no.

Say what you will about Mr. Collins, I think he must have been reasonably clean. He was a clergyman, after all, not a laborer, and he danced attendance on Lady (blank--my mind's rotting), who would not have tolerated filth in her drawing room.

Very true. I just have this little caveat at the back of my mind!

He could have had stinky breath though. He seems like someone who'd have halitosis. Apparently Clark Gable had bad breath and Vivian Leigh hated kissing him. If it can happen to Rhett Butler, it can happen to Mr. Collins.

>16 lol, Nickelini. But I don't think Charlotte wasted too much time kissing him.

I'm sure you're right!