Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Tolerance in Pride and Prejudice

We discussed a couple of classes ago, after reading Mr. Collins's beastly note to the Bennetts, that in the most bungling and insensitive way possible, Collins is only relating society's harsh opinion of Lydia's elopment, "The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this" (192) for the benefit of the reader and to reinforce, yet again, the acrid boorishness comprising the entirety of Mr. Collins's character. I've wondered throughout, and I'm still struggling with what else Jane Austen may be trying to say with Mr. Collins' commentary here. Certainly Lydia's behavior in our modern context is not the unfathomable shame that it would have been in the 18th century, but neither Austen seem to let her off the hook entirely by showing her aware of her actions and penitent. Her conduct only makes the Bennet's seem like better people for their tolerance. What value does social tolerance play in the comedy of manners and love story of Elizabeth Bennet? Could a moral to a novel as complicated as Pride and Prejudice be as simple as "Judge not, lest ye be judged?" Even if that person is as thoughtless, awful, and trying to the conscience as are Collins, Lady Catherine, or Lydia?

1 comment:

  1. This is a smart, provocative post. Tolerance of differences (at least in the micro-markers of class) does seem like an important idea. Darcy learns, for instance, that he can tolerate the Bennets, etc.

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