Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice

[Taddbeta]

How do you think that Darcy's proposal compares and contrast with that of Collins in Pride and Prejudice?

[jourdain2]

Which proposal The agonising, drawn-out first one or the real one?

[scorpiojo]

What do you have so far?

[Taddbeta]

Both the first proposals by each characters @jourdain2

[jourdain2]

OK - I'll go and reread to refresh and get back - may be a day or two. Are you looking for similarities in language or attitudes?

[Taddbeta]

A bit of both@jourdain2

[grasscarp]

If you google your question there are a load of sites that give answers.
for example
http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/compare-n-contrast-married-proposals-mr-collins-n-24203

[jourdain2]

Hi! Things here are rather rushed, so this bit is off the top of my head (and from memory) which may give you a start. Darcy's first proposal was in the form of a letter and therefore heavily considered. It insulted Elizabeth's family, but he offered to overlook that at huge personal cost to him. Had she accepted then she would forever have been subservient to him and grateful to him - she would probably have gradually cast off her family. It was very serious, painful and dramatic.

Mr. Collins, on the other hand, has for many years been to me the fount of comic embarrassment. He had not considered that his social position was lower (NB - Darcy considered Elizabeth as lower) than Emma's. He blurted it out, seizing his chance in the carriage and could not offer any social advantages at all in reality. (Here's where I need to go, re-read and check, sorry.)

So, comparison is between socially unequal proposals from two ends and then there is the difference between considered language (written) and spoken - both are unacceptable. Hope this give you a guide.

[Canary42]

I think you've misread the question jourdain2 - i the second case you appear to be talking about Mr Elton's proposal to Emma in Emma .

[Canary42]

*in the second case

[DaisyNonna]

Whendoes your homework have to be in?
Try reading and do it yourself

[Mosaic]

The classic BBC serial did a good job of portraying Darcy as a pompous but darkly attractive nitwit who overestimated his attractiveness in proposal #1, assuming that someone of Elizabeth's class could only fall at his feet in gratitude
and Collins as a pompous, priggish snob with no relieving features aside from his position as a country cleric and future 'entailment', who also overestimated his attractiveness, assuming as did Darcy that someone of Elizabeth's class could only fall at his feet in gratitude.

[Prudie]

Darcy's was clearly borne out of passion, smouldering sexuality and a genuine attraction to Elizabeth. Mr Collins' was wet, uninspired, totally asexual and the proposal was clearly just a business/life-planning decision.

[LyndaB]

Do your own homework!