The Church of England :: essays research papers

The Church of England, a Protestant Episcopal church which is the official established church of great Britain, is a branch off Catholicism without allegiance to the pope. The Expectations of a member of the clergy within this church are a set of both written and unwritten laws. Protestant ministers, where they are allowed to marry and have children, do in a basic respect follow the same moral and ethical obligations as a catholic priest. They are to live their lives for the love of God, and Christ. However in the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin there is a fellow, whom is a minister in the church of England. Yet does not display even the basics of the moral and ethical code followed by the members of the clergy. He is in fact a pompous, self-ritchious, overly social hierarchy conscious man, who makes it a hobby of sucking up to money. This fellow, who goes by the name of Mr. Collins, is portrayed, understandably as a very objectionable individual. I believe that Jane Austin made a purpose of making every behavior and line of dialogue given by him into a reason for us to like him less and less. He starts out as a simple minded man who just happens to be a braggart. However, as the novel goes on his personality becomes more and more objectionable, and when he throws in such statements as "your sister would have rather died than disgrace her family" (in speaking of Lydia's elopement) we begin to down right detest him. The manner in which he approaches people gives us a very good idea of the type of character that Jane Austin is trying to portray. Take his proposal to Lizzy as an example. His uncouth approach to the whole matter gave us the most insight as anything had previously. He went about it in an almost condescending manner, not taking her interests to heart, and not bothering to think such menial things as love. He proposed as one might make a business proposition, giving all the financial benefits of the arrangement. When she rejected hi m, he at first showed his stupidity by not believing her rejection. Then showed his lack of tact by taking on a child like "well do you think you could do any better" attitude. In his dealings with Mrs. Debourgh, he was incredibly subservient and excessively apologetic, because of her rank in society.