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Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.
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1
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- University education by itself cannot make one a gentleman.
- Self-conceit is the result of prosperity without commensurate culture, particularly education.
- Fortune is excess of energy in a person because of a social or psychological disequilibrium.
- The curious mixture of Collins’ traits fully reflects the position of Lady Catherine and is an equally curious complement to Charlotte.
- Education cannot compensate for deficiency of nature.
- Submission is not humility.
- Submission under authority creates self-conceit.
- The educational effort of a weak illiterate mind attracts luck of prosperity.
- He who falsely praises another will have a good opinion about himself.
- Mixtures of the opposite qualities are found in fresh efforts of the low
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Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to chuse one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends -- of atonement -- for inheriting their father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.
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4
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- Ownership of a good house inflates the pride of physical security.
- Man, who kneels before a lady seeking her hand, wants her to value his pride.
- Simple man’s humility is self-appreciation.
- Even genuine help or offer of help by a low man hurts.
- He who is capable of help does not offer it.
- One should not seek help; nor should he offer it.
- When a right occasion arises for help and help is around, then one can seek it and the other can offer it.
- One can be evaluated by the help he offers or accepts
- Generosity comes from excess of benevolence. Here it is assumed generosity, ignorant of the situation of the recipient.
- Mr. Collins takes all his decisions on his own without reference to the opinion of the other persons.
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His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter-of-an-hour's tête-à-tête with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. "As to her younger daughters she could not take upon her to say -- she could not positively answer -- but she did not know of any prepossession; her eldest daughter, she must just mention -- she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged."
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6
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- Mrs. Bennet’s assumption about the possible engagement of Jane postponed it.
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Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -- and it was soon done -- done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.
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10
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- The quick arrangements between Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins explain themselves when Elizabeth refuses and Jane is disappointed. Life does not permit us to take it for granted. What is the indication of life here for Collins? Some of the girls evincing interest in him would be that indication. A distant trace of it is seen from Mary only.
- Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet planned the marriage of Elizabeth according to social norms. It was done breaking the social sphere.
- In a rich positive atmosphere the planning of small minds is broken according to the atmosphere
- As Collins takes Elizabeth into his scheme, Wickham enters the picture.
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Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before, was now high in her good graces.
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12
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Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his large book, and go.
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13
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- All the girls go to Meryton in search of the officers is the social truth for Caroline’s picking at Elizabeth at Pemberley.
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In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recal them.
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16
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- New muslin in a shop and the new face of an officer are equal to the younger girls
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But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation -- a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth, happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour; one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat -- a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? -- It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know.
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19
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- Note Collins comes with the girls. They run into Wickham while Darcy and Bingley soon join them. All these four men are to marry. Only Charlotte is not there. There is a significance in the absence of Charlotte as in the presence of these men.
- Wickham’s appearance electrifies the girls. He is from Pemberley though now in the army.
- Upbringing is all.
- The pleasant exterior of Pemberley wins hands down in Meryton.
- Being the son of a steward, Wickham had no occasion to play a role in Pemberley. He assimilates the best of upbringing with the humblest of attitudes. He was far more handsome than Darcy and far more pleasing than Bingley.
- All the four gentlemen who are to marry in the story meet here
- Note the simultaneity of Wickham and Darcy meeting the girls.
- It was only Elizabeth who saw the exchange between Darcy and Wickham.
- Elizabeth falls for the captivating softness of Wickham which is helped by Darcy’s indecision about fixing his look on her.
- Darcy catches sight of Wickham when he chooses NOT to fix his eyes on her.
- The looks of Elizabeth, Darcy, Wickham almost converge at the first moment.
- Bingley is not a part of the scheme. He does not notice Darcy and Wickham saluting each other. Elizabeth is the centre of it. She took full notice of it.
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In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.
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34
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- Lydia was the first to invite Wickham into the house of Phillips. We realise its significance at the end. The basic attraction emerges as attention.
- Mrs. Bennet’s family is very affectionate. Mrs. Phillip’s invitation is ready and solicitous.
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Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips' throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation.
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35
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- Every small incident is a carrier of news.
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Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop-boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other; of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the -- -- shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the window now except a few of the officers, who, in comparison with the stranger, were become "stupid, disagreeable fellows." Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless.
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- Apology is the manners of the absurd.
- Village news spreads through Jone’s shop boy.
- Apology is the courtesy of the aborigines.
- Awkward absurdity is excessive good breeding to the uninformed.
- Vulgar Mrs. Philips finds the apologetic Collins well bred
- Wickham is easily the outstanding man of irresistible charm.
- Mr. Wickham suddenly becomes popular
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As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister.
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Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He protested that, except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but had even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life.
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- In the estimation of Collins, Mrs. Phillips is next only to Lady Catherine.
- Mr. Collins was wise enough to bracket Mrs.Philips and Lady Catherine.
- Stupidity counts one, and hundred, next knows no measure
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