Lydia Gastrell’s Reviews > Mr Collins Considered: Approaches to Jane Austen > Status Update

A very lengthy comparison off Collins' manner of conversation (often presented as longwinded and boring) to that of other characters. Collins wins. Not only does he say less, but his topics of choice are less trivial, stupid, and self aggrandizing as countless other characters. In the end, he has "a complete absence of pretense...sincere, and, happily, nearly always transparently so." He's an innocent, put simply.

In the chapter relating to wealth, the author does an impressive job showing how Mr. Collins is NOT mercenary, but is in fact one of the few characters in Austen's worlds not trying to better himself financially. His blunt discussion of money in the marriage proposal scene isn't a result of him being greedy, but rather his sure belief that everyone else (including Elizabeth) is.

As far flowery compliments go, Morris shows with many examples that Mr. Collins isn't unique. He is doing the same thing that most of Austen's male characters do. So why such a harsh judgement on him? One reason. Unlike the others, who dance the tacit social understanding that the compliments are false and exaggerated, Mr. Collins openly admits it. He is HONEST about crafting false flattery. Punished for being real.

Mr. Morris uses ALL of Austen's works as points of reference and social understanding here, so if you aren't familiar with Mansfield Park or Emma, a lot of Morris's counter examples might be confusing.

If you can manage to get past Mr. Morris's PAINFULLY tedious writing style, this analysis of Mr. Collins is proving to be invaluable already.

So far, the gist is that Mr. Collins is appraised and found wanting in an entirely unfair manner that is not applied to any of the other characters in Jane Austen's works. He is judged entirely by his 'public attitudes', while other characters are given private moments.