Weekly Response Seven

“So much suggests that for Austen there is nothing divine about royalty, and not much that is special about peers. In fact characters with titles – or ‘handles to their names,’ as the Victorians used to say – are seldom admirable in the novels…A title, it seems, is sometimes almost a guarantee of fatuousness in Austen’s fiction.”

-         Juliet McMaster Class Page 116

“Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for any thing more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.''

            - Pride and Prejudice page 186 (Mr. Collins to Elizabeth)

Question: What characteristics about Lady Catherine de Bourgh make her seem to be so foolish? Is it because readers do not find her likeable that she appears to be foolish or because she is foolish that she is not liked?

Our original impression about Lady Catherine comes from Mr. Collins, who praises her consistently but then says, “Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen any thing but affability in her” (101). Throughout the novel, Mr. Collins never stops complimenting Lady Catherine and bringing her up in conversation as often as possible. At times he seems to tend to prefer to talk about her rather than himself or any other subject matter.

Lady Catherine’s description and actions strike readers as pretentious and very aware and proud of her class. It seems to come out in every sentence she speaks; she knows she is a higher class than those around her, and she wants to make sure no one forgets it. For example, Mr. Collins telling Elizabeth that “Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved,” tells readers quite blatantly that Lady Catherine prefers to look socially superior to all around her, showing her vain personality.

Readers dislike Lady Catherine the most during her argument with Elizabeth regarding the suspicions of an engagement between Elizabeth and Darcy. Lady Catherine says, “Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you" (354-355). Her word choice here exemplifies her overall shock at the matter at hand, as if it is completely and utterly incomprehensible for these two to be engaged. This makes her extremely unlikeable, and compliments the foolishness shown throughout the novel as well.