Proposal Analysis

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
September 29, 2009
Mr. Collins’ Proposal Analysis

Mr. Collins’ proposal is ineffective because he fails to use pathos, he focuses on logos when the situation calls for him to focus on pathos, and he belittles the one his speech is addressed to.

Mr. Collins starts his proposal by complimenting Elizabeth and explaining to her the reason why he has asked her hand in marriage. What he forgets to include in his proposal is an explanation of the qualities he has(if any) that make him worthy enough to fill the position of her husband. In failing to do so, he loses a lot of credibility and it becomes difficult to take him seriously. The next mistake Mr. Collins makes is appealing to logos when he should have been appealing to pathos. Rather than making his proposal romantic and exciting, he simply tells Elizabeth:

“My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it is a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honor of calling patroness”(Austen).

While it would technically be acceptable to appeal to logos in this situation, Mr. Collins appeals to the wrong kind of logos. If he was going to use logic, he should have used the logic of why he wants to be with her, rather than the logic of why marrying him would be convenient. The third mistake Mr. Collins makes is belittling Elizabeth. If you want someone to see your point of view, it makes little sense to talk down to them(particularly when the subject is marriage). Each time Elizabeth refused Mr. Collins, he outwardly dismisses her refusals as natural behavior for her gender. This greatly weakens his argument, as no one would be inclined to accept a proposal from someone who was insulting them. What Mr. Collins should have done was keep his thoughts about her refusal to himself and back down. That way, he would appear more respectable and Elizabeth would be more likely to consider his future proposals.
Throughout his proposal, Mr. Collins’ lack of attention to diction and syntax make him appear unprofessional. He chooses words that do not compliment the situation, such as when he promises Elizabeth that he will speak highly of her “economy”. What makes his error in diction even more blaring is that he places the word “economy” between the terms “modesty” and “amiable qualifications”, which were both proper diction on his part. The sentence structure of his list of reasons that he want to marry Elizabeth(see above) seems to be all over the place, causing one to question the preparedness of his proposal. Rather than sounding organized in his speech, he sounds as if he had rehearsed it to a mirror without bothering to listen for errors. Thus, his proposal was doomed to fail from the start.