Pride & Prejudice: Elizabeth's Relationships
In the late 1700s, England’s upper class society revolved around prestige and status. The richer citizens of England prioritized relationships and wealth, continuously acting in a certain manner in order to maintain their desired status quo. During this period, an individual's relationships could determine their lifestyle and in some cases, their future. Elizabeth Bennet begins the novel uncertain of who or when she would discover her future companion, and changes both positively and negatively after developing relationships with various noblemen, such as Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Collins enters Elizabeth's life in the early stages of the novel with a single motivation: marriage. Characterized with a
…show more content…
The way in which he affiliates himself with Lady Catherine de Bourgh shows just how odd of a personality he has, as he feels required to address to everyone that he serves as her patroness. Initially, he targets Jane Bennet as his prospective wife, however, after Mrs. Bennett notifies him of Jane's impending engagement, they both feel Elizabeth is the next best candidate. After interacting with Mr. Collins during his time at Loughborough, Elizabeth does not think fondly of him. She visibly displays her negative attitude towards him at the Netherfield ball, as she attempts to avoid him at all costs. As their interactions together become more frequent, Mr. Collins requests for her hand in marriage. He then declares the reasons why he believes she should