Pride and Prejudice has a title that adequately fits its content. As the story progresses, it is clear that each of the characters are concerned with status, marriage, and courting. Many focus on appearances, forming quick judgments and basing their feelings off of them. Mrs. Bennet only cares about affluence when it comes to finding husbands for her daughters. She is very superficial in this way--she would rather her daughters be financially stable and high in class than emotionally or romantically content. Much of the conflict in finding partners is the struggle to keep a family's pride and title. Bingley's sisters are very judgmental with Elizabeth, mostly because she receives more attention from Mr. Darcy. The entire storyline is focused on first impressions and maintenance of class, following social expectations and fulfilling gender duties.
Upon reading Mr. Collins' proposal to Elizabeth, I better understand the tone of it. Throughout his stay, Mr. Collins has shown his overwhelming sense of self-importance and arrogance. He takes the time to perform speeches, and is always unaware of how his surrounding audience get easily annoyed by his words. Since he is inheriting the Bennet property, he seems to show a sense of entitlement to choosing whichever Bennet daughter he finds suitable. In his actual proposal, he never once appeals to Elizabeth personally. He speaks of being a clergyman, wanting to add to his happiness, advice from Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and inheriting Longbourn. He never uses typical courting appeals and he never mentions her happiness. The entire second half of his proposal is solely to do with financial issues and his inheriting the house after Mr. Bennet's death. He believes that by appealing to this dilemma, he will persuade her hand inn marriage. Little does he realize how arrogant and long-winded he sounds.
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