Flattery in Pride and Prejudice

1380 Words3 Pages

Flattery in Pride and Prejudice

Since its composition in 1797, Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice has

enjoyed two centuries of literary esteem not because of its witty dialogue

or its tantalizing plot, but because of its universal themes that allow

modern readers to identify with early Victorian life. Although the novel

focuses on the etiquette of courtship, related social rituals are also

prevalent throughout the story. William Collins, a rector in Pride and

Prejudice, uses excessive flattery to persuade people to look upon him

favorably. He even lavishly praises himself to enhance his self-esteem.

While the sycophant's peculiar behavior is comical at first glance, its

emphasis in the story portends a greater social meaning that is

illuminated upon evaluation of his flattery with relevance to the plot. In

Pride and Prejudice, Austin suggests through Collins' mannerisms that one

flatters others to enlist their future support and one flatters oneself to

ensure individual prosperity. Pertaining to others, Austin endows Collins

with a motive of personal gain and later removes that objective,

establishing a strong correlation between flattery and selfish advantage.

As the legal heir to the Bennet family's estate once its patriarch dies,

Collins offers unwarranted praise along with his hand in marriage to one

of the daughters. Apart from flattering the family to marry one of its

girls, his profuse compliments also extend to his wealthy benefactress and

also, of course, to himself. However, Collins' compliments toward the

family end after he fails to marry on...

... middle of paper ...

...lattery may have academic

influence, she allows Collins to smother praise on anything that might

prove advantageous to his affluence, from which one may surmise that

flattery contributes to personal prosperity in any form. This truth

becomes readily apparent upon contrasting Collins' behavior in situations

wherein he may or may not have something to gain through flattery. Of

course, this mundane reiteration about flattery must be particularly

monotonous to a reader who has already demonstrated a profound grasp of

literature by deftly maneuvering through and deliberating upon mistakes

previous to this point, so it is for that intelligent and sophisticated

reader that this paper ends abruptly.

Work Cited

Austin, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Norwalk: The Easton Press, 1997.

Open Document