One of Nine Lives

+ rant: P&P the book

Has anyone here read Pride and Prejudice?

I could never get through it. I'd start it, give it a few chapters, then set it down. I didn't like the atmosphere of the culture, couldn't get past such strong characters, and didn't understand a heck of the words they said.

But now I'm older and trying to read it on Wattpad. The good thing about that is people go through and comment annotations. Saved. My. Life.

Now I'm in chapter 19 and I had to continuously put it down. I'm red with feels. Do you know what happens in chapter 19? Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth.

*content ahead contains spoilers*

Now to give a bit of brief background (almost like Thug Notes up in here but not quite so ghetto), Mr. Collins is a cousin of the family. In this family, there are five daughters but no male heirs to carry on the family name. As a result, the estate would go to a male heir in the family whenever the father were to pass away. That's a big reason why the mother, Mrs. Bennett, wants to marry off her daughters quickly.

Mr. Collins is the male heir the estate would go to. You thought Darcus pride reeked but I garauntee you Mr. Collins has him beat. Everything he speaks points back to himself. Though he tries to speak graciously, in the end no one likes him because he's a glorified butt.

I might speak too strongly seeing as I am red with feels. Sorry.

So he goes to visit the family with secret motives to select one of the daughters as a bride in order to mend the rift in the family, establish peace, and secure the estate. For reasons I forget, he settles on Elizabeth who is already in the heat of a great love square dance.

Miss Bingley-> Mr. Darcy-> Elizabeth-> Mr. Wickham

(Wickham and Darcy do NOT get along)

Anyway, so Mr. Collins basically corners Elizabeth with his "proposal" and by proposal I mean "this is what I've decided is best and I've thought it all through and it's genius so let's hurry up and agree upon this."

Elizabeth is so straight to the point. She graciously declines.

Abridged dialogue:

C: Haha! Your refusal does not discourage me. Most women who want to say yes usually decline once or twice, possibly even three times. I'll be back. (Run from this man.)

E: I am serious and shall not change my mind. You would not make me happy and I would not make you happy. I will not marry you.

C: All females do this. It would be most advantageous if you did not refuse my next proposal because you get title and wealth and I doubt anyone else could offer you such luxury.

E: I will not marry you. Though I am female, I am not without a sound mind. I have a right to make my own decisions.

C: Well, I'm going over your head. Your parents will surely agree.

Run. From. Him. This kind of guy should be avoided at all cost, girls. Elizabeth is trying to do that but in her day they had certain ways of doing things. Today you have a say over who you partner with.

This kind of person does not care about you- though he paints a pretty picture to make it sound like it- this kind of person only cares about his own agenda.

In previous chapters, he compliments her exceedingly. So many people do this now-a-days especially in high school. Don't become a victim. Stand up for yourself.

Madea taught me to always have a hot pan of grits ready for these kinds of situations. Please reach out for help in situations where a guy is forceful and do not entertain them. Don't let it go too far. You don't have to stay in that relationship. You can escape that.