A Modern Day Comparison of Mr. Collins: A Foil Character
Throughout Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, she uses characterization to clearly portray prideful people in the regency era. The novel is best known for its depiction of pride, which is seen in the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth; two prideful people who somehow are able to see above the pride to fight for their love. Audiences rave over the triumph of love in era of advantageous relationships, however when examining the novel it is vital to also consider the prejudices Austen portrays as well. In literature, a study of prejudice can also be called the study of foil characters. Austen uses many foil characters to make the prominent characters more likeable to the audience.
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A prime example of the characterization of a foil character is seen in Mr. Collins who is as a strange man who is utterly oblivious to his own defects. Similarly, throughout the show Gilmore Girls, the directors use the witty romantic comedy as a platform for foil characters.
An example is the odd character Kirk who unintentionally acts in strange ways. Therefore, Austen uses Mr. Collins to portray a foil character for Mr. Darcy in the eyes of Elizabeth; which parallels with the characterization of Kirk in Gilmore Girls who is unaware of his abnormal personality.
Furthermore, seen in the novel is Austen’s depiction of Mr. Collins as strange man who knows nothing more than to be unconventionally odd. Austen wrote, “Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary” (Austen 120). Here she presents the thought that it is more reasonable for Elizabeth to marry a prideful man rather than a weird one. She goes on to describe him as a nuisance for those around him including his love interest, Elizabeth. The novel makes it clear that Elizabeth would not settle for the strange man who could only offer stability. Moreover, author Danielle Lucio from Chapman University, wrote in the Jane Austen Society of North America an article called Punctual to His Time: An
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Examination of Mr. Collins and Time in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice where she describes Mr. Collins and how he played a prominent role in presenting the regency era throughout the novel. She writes, “Much of Mr. Collins’s conduct returns censure and mockery from other characters and readers alike” (Lucio). Here she mentions that Mr. Collins is mocked and ridiculed by not only other characters in the novel, but also by the audience. He is a man who fits the typical regency era man, and therefore makes Mr. Darcy suddenly look like a much better man for not being like the rest. In another article, from the International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, Hui-Chun Chang wrote an article called The Impact of the Feminist Heroine: Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice where he writes about the dynamics of relationships in the novel. He examines the relationship between Mr. Collins and Charlotte and how this was the opposite of the Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as this was an advantageous one. Chang writes, “Charlotte made a practical decision to seek a marriage with a clergyman who could provide her a comfortable life”(Chang 3). Here he describes how Charlotte settled for comfort with the annoying man, which gives the audience an inclined interest in the love story between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. In comparison, Gilmore Girls, a romantic comedy is set in the small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut which features a single mom, Lorelai, who lives with her teenage daughter, Rory, and all of their friends. All of the characters in the show go above and beyond to help Lorelia and Rory as they live alone in the small town. Two other important characters in the show are Luke and Kirk. Luke owns the town's coffee shop, and is well known by everyone for his short-temper, but also his heart of gold. He takes care of Lorelai and Rory by doing the manly tasks that they are unable to do. In comparison, Kirk a strange man who thinks he rules the town. Everyone in the show believes that, much like Mr. Collins, Kirk is a nuisance. However, Kirk has happened to save so much money that he ends up actually purchasing the town, and everyone is annoyed with his sense of superiority, because he is a strange man. Kirk makes the audience appreciate Luke and his short-tempered heart of gold much more than the odd Kirk. This parallels with Mr. Collins and how he has the right to the Bennetts inheritance. Although both characters are seen as annoying they have something of value to offer. Moreover, both of the scenarios are prime example of the characterization of foil characters.
Kirk and Mr. Collins have many things in common, as they both do the job of making other characters look better. Therefore, the common question arises in many audiences. Is it fair to use the characterization of foil characters, even if that means demeaning the foil characters? Both Austen and the directors of Gilmore Girls, would argue that yes the use of foil of characters adds depth to the work. Without Mr. Collins, Elizabeth would not be ahead of her time in waiting for true love. Similarly, without Kirk there would be no way for Luke stand out in the show. These characters also bring comic relief to the work that would not be present without them. However, they are also purposefully being criticized and ridiculed. Furthermore, throughout the work The Realist Novel, Dennis Walder examines the prejudices in using foil characters in different works including Austen's Pride and Prejudice. He writes, “In the main, Mr. Collins epitomizes a grotesque form of servile pride and its resulting prejudices” (Walder 52). Here he mentions how foil characters provide the prejudice that most works lack. He interestingly mentions that prejudice is an outcome of this is pride. This goes to strengthen the arguments of Austen and the directors of Gilmore Girls and their opinion that foil characters are beneficial to a work. For the audiences sake, it is fair to use foil characters, and in
retrospect their just characters that bring depth to the work therefore, it should be something the audience enjoys rather than questions. Works Cited Hui-Chun, CHANG. "The Impact of the Feminist Heroine: Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice." International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, Vol 3, Iss 3, Pp 76-82 (2014), no. 3, 2014, p. 76. EBSCOhost, doi:10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.3n.3p.76. Lucio, Danielle. Punctual to His Time: An Examination of Mr. Collins and Time in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. JASNA , 2013, www.jasna.org/essaycontest/2013/graduate-2.html. Walder, Dennis. Approaching Literature: The Realist Novel. Routledge, 2005.
In “Saving Sourdi” by May-Lee Chai, the author uses foil characters in the relationship of two sisters, Nea and Sourdi. Their contrasting personalities are at the center of the plot. In fictional stories, “The main purpose of a character foil is to highlights the opposite traits of the main character”(Development of Characters). The foil character is Sourdi, her personality traits are opposite of the main character, Nea. The contrast allows Nea, the protagonist, to stand out more distinctly. The author shows the reader that Nea is headstrong, impulsive, and immature. In contrast, Sourdi is more laid back and mature. Examples of the foil are evident throughout the passage. In the scene where Nea stabs a man in the arm for tormenting her sister, her Ma states to Nea,“You not thinking. That your problem. You always not thinking!” (Meyer pg. 83) Nea wanted to protect her sister, but Nea does not think of the consequences for stabbing the man. In contrast, Sourdi always thinks of consequences. Sourdi's response to Nea, “They could take you away. The police, they
Atticus Finch and Aunt Alexander is an example of a character foil in the book.
Be it in films, television series’ or works of literature, it is true when one says, “[the] Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations” ( Bradbury 139). We always bear in mind the characters that bring us the essence within the storyline; the ones that we most often remember are the heroes and their villains. Character “foils” allow us to differentiate between the good and the evil present within the storyline. The classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, consists of several opposing characters, who inform us of the good, and the bad of Maycomb County. This includes Boo and Nathan Radley; Walter Cunningham Jr. and Burris Ewell; and Miss Maudie Atkinson and Miss Stephanie Crawford.
If you have the Harry Potter series, or almost any other story you have been introduced to this literary device that instantly makes your story attention-grabbing, and page-turning. This writing tool is known as a character foil. A character foil is a character that displays contrary, or opposite character traits. An example of a character foil is Draco Malfoy, and Harry Potter. Their rival relationship and other conflicts are the perfect example to showcase foils at work. To continue, in the iconic “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare, there are two known character foils in the first Act: Benvolio and Tybalt, and the Nurse and Lady Capulet.
A foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another character. Writers often use foils to emphasize differences and traits of characters. Such an author would be William Shakespeare, author to many plays, including “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”. William Shakespeare uses foiling to emphasize one of the main character’s traits and differences. This “ foiling” relationship is between the main character Romeo and Paris.
A foil is when a characters differences contrast with another in order to show the main characters traits clearly. By using certain parts of their personalities, the reader sees the other characters opposing qualities. When an author uses foil in a novel the main character is thoroughly developed because the reader can gain more information about the characters own reactions. Mary Shelley’s use of foil characters in Frankenstein Or, The Modern Prometheus enhances the story greatly. Shelley’s way of comparing Victor, the Creature, Robert Walton and Clerval is what leads to the readers greater understanding of who Victor is. The most obvious foil throughout the novel is the Creature and Victor, child and father figure. Shelley uses their similarities
Austen disapproves of Mr. Collins and that is why she attacks and satirizes him. Mr. Collins is a "suck-up." His living with Lady Catherine has caused him to demoralize himself. He thinks and talks highly of people higher than himself, such as, Lady Catherine DeBourgh. An example of this is when they were invited to dine with Lady Catherine DeBourgh and Mr. Collins then tells Elizabeth,
1. Plays have foils to help the audience understand important characters in the play. Foils are minor characters that have similarities and differences with a more important character in the play. Sometimes the minor character is just there for the character to talk to; this is the basis for being a foil. In the play "Hamlet," [Titles] by William Shakespeare, the character Ophelia is a foil to Hamlet.
Random House Webster's dictionary defines a foil as "a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast." This essay will focus on the use of the foil to contrast another character. The characters of Nora and Mrs. Linde provide an excellent example of this literary device. Mrs. Linde's aged, experienced personality is the perfect foil for Nora's childish nature. Mrs. Linde's hard life is used to contrast the frivolity and sheltered aspects of Nora's life. Nora's optimism and belief in things improbable is an opposite to the rationality and down-to-earth mentality of Mrs. Linde. Finally, the rekindling of the flame between Mrs. Linde and Krogstad is a direct contrast to the burning down of Nora and Torvald's "doll's house."
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Jane uses the novel to show the common day romance of the time period. In the novel, Elizabeth Bennet, a sophisticated, lively girl manages to change Mr. Darcy, a cocky, stubborn man into a person who is head over heels in love. Although it takes her some time, Elizabeth is able to change the way Mr. Darcy feels about love in general and causes him to act differently then he has ever done before. Mr. Darcy’s self- discovery in response to Elizabeth Bennet’s blunt honestly allows him to re-evaluate his approach to love.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has emphases on how characters are perceived by the world they live in. Mr. Darcy is an unpopular and misunderstood character who is the symbol of pride throughout the novel. Mr. Wickham is a charismatic soldier who is perceptive of those around him and capitalizes on his knowledge. Throughout the novel similarities and differences between characters are highlighted. Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy grew up together, yet Mr. Darcy is known for having a disagreeable countenance and a large sense of pride and Mr. Wickham is more charming, charismatic, and socially well-versed. In the fourth chapter of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth says “It does not necessarily
Every good book series has a character that is such a polar opposite of the main character that they make the main character seem better than they are. These characters are known as literary foils. In the Harry Potter series, that role is assumed the sole purpose of Draco Malfoy’s character, but when both characters are, further analyzed one can see that might not be true. The many differences between the characterization of Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series can portray Draco only as Harry’s literary foil; however, when the overall story arch of the Harry Potter series is considered Draco can also double Harry through the expectations and outside pressures put upon them.
In Hound of the Baskervilles written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Watson have a special type of relationship. In the beginning the reader is shown that Dr.Watson is a foil to Sherlock Holmes. The meaning of “Foil”s a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. In the book the reader see’s 3 things that are always memorable. Watson is seen as smart but Holmes will always be seen as a genius,Watson is very open while Holmes is very Watson is the one that trusts more.
Literary Analysis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The novel Pride and Prejudice, is a romantic comedy, by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is a story about an unlikely pair who go through many obstacles before finally coming together. Pride is the opinion of oneself, and prejudice is how one person feels others perceive them. The novel, Pride and Prejudice, uses plot, the characters of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and the status of women and social standing, to portray the theme of the novel - pride and prejudice.
This well written novel shows that having pride and being prejudiced is not always a bad thing. Works Cited Austen, Jane. A. “Pride and Prejudice.” Cyclopedia of Literary Characters, Revised Third Edition 1996:n. pag.