Mr Collins decides the moment for his proposal has arrived. He receives Mrs Bennet’s approval. Elizabeth is left alone with Collins. He explains that it is his religious duty to marry and furthermore Lady Catherine has advised him to do so. A marriage between them would smooth over his inheriting Longbourn. Generously, he is prepared to ignore her lack of money. Elizabeth refuses him but he is determined to see her behaviour as a form of modesty or flirtatiousness, the usual practice of elegant females.
Mr. Collins’ proposal to Elizabeth is one of the most humorous moments in the novel. Austen has already established the absurdities in Mr. Collins’ speech and manners, but his proposal raises him to new heights of pompous foolishness. Although Elizabeth at first is desperate to get away, note how she is overcome by the humour of the situation when Mr. Collins begins to speak of his feelings running away with him. There are obviously no feelings involved in his offer other than self-pride and condescension. Austen states that as he prepares for the proposal, “he set about it in a very orderly manner, with all the observances which he supposed a regular part of the business.” For Mr. Collins, this is a business transaction, not the culmination of love for Elizabeth. And as Elizabeth has stated before, she wants to marry for love, not convenience.
