Who Mr Collins is
Mr Collins arrives at Longbourn full of self-importance, flattery and praise for his wealthy patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. As the cousin who will inherit the estate, he brings the Bennet family's worries about money directly into their home.
What Mr Collins wants
Mr Collins wants a wife from among the Bennet daughters and settles on Elizabeth. He presents marriage as a carefully ordered plan, but love is absent from the reasons he gives her. When Elizabeth refuses, he cannot believe that she means what she says.
Mr Collins and the others in the story
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is his patron, and he cannot stop talking about her. His eagerness to please her shows how strongly rank and patronage shape his outlook.
Mrs Bennet supports his proposal to Elizabeth, while Mr Bennet backs his daughter's refusal. Through these different responses, Mr Collins brings the tension between a secure marriage and personal choice into focus.
Questions
Who is Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice?
Mr Collins is a clergyman, a cousin of the Bennets and the expected heir to Longbourn.
Why does Mr Collins propose to Elizabeth?
He chooses Elizabeth as part of his plan to marry a Bennet daughter and compensate the family for the entail.
How is Mr Collins connected to Lady Catherine?
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is his wealthy patron. He praises her constantly and is eager to win her approval.