Pride and Prejudice Class 9 English 4.3.3 Solution

Note on the author

Jane Austen (1775–1817) was a famous
English author renowned for her masterpiece
“Pride and Prejudice.” Her stories beautifully
capture how people behaved and interacted
in the 19th century. With her clever humour
and careful observations, Austen’s books are
still loved today. She is considered a classic
writer who understood society deeply and
wrote stories that are truly special. “Pride and
Prejudice” by Jane Austen is a classic novel that
explores society, manners, and relationships with
wit and charm.

Text A

Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little
assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under
the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the
universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful
acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him
originally great humility of manner; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the
self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of
early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady
Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he
felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very
good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector made
him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.
[excerpt from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen]

 

Let’s check our understanding of the text by answering the questions!

a. How was Mr. Collins’ childhood?
b. How did Mr. Collins’ father influence him?
c. What lucky event introduced Mr. Collins to Lady Catherine de Bourgh?
d. What does “a mix of pride and humbleness, self-importance and obedience”
tell us about Mr. Collins?
e. What ideas about society might the author be expressing through Mr. Collins?

 

Answer:

a. Mr. Collins' childhood was influenced by his illiterate and miserly father, resulting in him lacking sensibility and proper education.

b. Mr. Collins' father subjected him to a life of humility, which initially affected his manner but was later counteracted by his weak self-conceit and early prosperity.

c. Mr. Collins was introduced to Lady Catherine de Bourgh through a fortunate chance when the living of Hunsford became vacant.

d. The description of Mr. Collins as "a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility" suggests that he possesses contradictory traits, displaying both arrogance and subservience.

e. Through Mr. Collins, the author may be expressing critiques of social hierarchy, the influence of patronage, and the complexities of class dynamics in society.