Charlotte Lucas
On the road to spinster-hood...
Who is she?
27
Daughter of Lord and Lady
Lucas
Marries Mr Collins – lives at
Hunsford Parsonage henceforth
will gain from the death of Mr.
Bennet.
Robotic in her logic
Super-practical in her actions
Lizzie Bennet's best
friend
Perhaps an older version of
Mary?!
But...
Knowledgeable
Advisory
A “sensible, intelligent, young woman, about 27” (C5. pg 17)
– almost from the start we are made to feel sorry for her as she is
neither described as particularly pretty or particularly rich – she is
much more disadvantaged than the Bennet sisters.
Charlotte & Marriage
• “If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the
object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will
then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the
dark […] In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more
affection than she feels” (6) (advice to Jane)
• This is ironically true in Charlotte’s case, especially when considering the
foreshadowing of this statement
• And her awareness of that Mr Collins proposal is the last chance of
marriage she will ever have – she cannot afford to marry for love, nor can
she afford not to marry at all.
Charlotte & Marriage (continued)
• "happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance…It is better to
know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are
to pass your life" (C6. pg 21) – and this is exactly what Charlotte does.
• Charlotte’s famous quote allows us to consider other relationships within P&P...
•
Consider the marriage of Mr and Mrs Bennet, he married her for her beauty and
didn’t realise her defects until it was too late...
• Consider Elizabeth and Darcy – they are both fully aware of each others faults and
love one another despite them– this resembles a much more modern relationship
between two people (except for Lizzie Pembeley and the £10k/year are an added
bonus)
• Consider Lydia and Wickham, their relationship is nothing more than a fling, and
will probably be driven mad by Lydia’s demanding and immature approach to
marriage, though he’s not much better...
• Finally, consider Jane and Bingley, this is the true “love at first sight” love, which
although is lovely, compared to Darcy’s and Lizzie’s relationship seems much less
tangible – most likely because the reader goes through a journey of Lizzie’s and
Darcy’s relationship
Charlotte & Mr Collins
Something to think about...
• There is no proposal scene narrated to the reader – how did Charlotte get a
marriage proposal out of Mr Collins?
• Does Charlotte recognize that Mr. Collins’ business in town is wife-hunting,
and so deliberately flirts in the way that she suggests Jane should do with
Bingley?
• She “accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of
an establishment” - this statement is the epitome of most marriages
within the Georgian society.
• But does Charlotte’s decision make her empowered, showing that she takes
control of her own life? Or does it just reinforce how women’s choices were
so restricted – showing that women were solely dependent on their
husbands/fathers/brothers?
Charlotte’s Purpose
• As a 27-year-old single woman, Charlotte is on the road to spinster-hood –
her marrying Mr Collins, she knows, is possibly her last chance at being the
mistress of her own household and leaving her parents. She highlights the
vulnerabilty of women, and the danger of poverty and the lack of a woman’s
choice in who she can marry – not for love, but for financial security.
• BUT, she also seems to teach a lesson to Elizabeth - to empathise.
• “When you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be
satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know; I
never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr.
Collins's character, connection, and situation in life, I am
convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as
most people can boast on entering the marriage state. (C22. pg
108)” - and this seems to be true...
Charlotte’s Purpose (continued)
• Charlotte sets things up in her house so she sees Mr Collins as little
as possible – she chooses to have her sitting room at the back of the
house:"for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much
less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally
lively" (50)
• Whenever Mr. Collins says something embarrassing, Elizabeth
notices that Charlotte "wisely did not hear" (28).
• Charlotte helps Elizabeth realize that not everyone can live the life
that they want to - one without needing to marry for money and not
love. Elizabeth realises even more the importance of marrying for
love, but also recognising that not other people can enjoy such
luxuries due to circumstance – this allows Elizabeth to become more
compassionate and possibly admire her friend more.
Charlotte’s Direct Speech
• It is arguable that Charlotte’s style of speech is similar to that of
Mary’s (though possibly less preachy – could Mary be Charlotte Lucas 2.0? Food
for thought.)
• Like Mary, Charlotte’s main input into Pride and Prejudice is to
input advice, but on the topic of marriage – it seems that whilst she
has had time to muse on the ideals of marriage for a Georgian
woman, she hasn’t had the best luck in pursuing such a marriage.
• Like Mary again, she pragmatic – a realist who will accept the times
for what they are – unfair and unjust, with the best deal in life she
can possible get is Mr. Collins.