The Core Blog

Collins' pathetic refusal to accept Elizabeth's rejection of his marriage proposal is squirmingly enjoyable.

"I not now to learn ... that it is unusual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even third time," he says on page 88, early in the series of repetitive rejections.

In top idiot form, Collins then goes on to insult Elizabeth, saying that, because of her life situation, she'd be lucky to have him. The whole encounter is a smart, depressing and amusing commentary on how people value marriage.

It culminates when Mrs. Bennet says she will refuse to see Elizabeth again if she rejects the proposal, and that great wit Mr. Bennet says he will refuse to see her if she accepts the proposal. What a fun series of pages, the highlight of the book so far.