Charlotte Lucas Pride and Prejudice
...know what came over me. For as I didn’t even know the man, although I do remember that I have had an acquaintance with him before as he had an connection with the Bennet family. However within a short while, I was going to be spending the rest of my life with this man. The reason for marrying Mr Collins was mainly for social status and security. My mother Mrs Lucas always made me aware that security is to be prized over happiness. Socially known that’s all I wanted, and to be known as the first Lucas daughter to be married and before any of the Bennet daughters. Marrying Mr Collins wasn’t for love, oh but I do wish I had considered that, just like my dear friends Elizabeth and Jane. As I was seven and twenty I had a few years on the Bennet Daughters so I was told by my mother that I was to accept the proposal of the next suitor that came along and asked for my hand in marriage, other whys I would be made a maid for the rest of my life. With all of this heart ache and trying to understand what I was to do going through my head as well as the worry of telling Elizabeth. I was so afraid of telling my dearest friend, as I knew she wouldn’t accept this because I did not marry for the same reasons as she would. To marry for love wasn’t important to me, it was more about the money and being able to live a very stable life with Mr Collins and I knew he would be able to support me indeed. Secondly, I was very worried about what Mr and Mrs Bennet would think of me and the fact Mr Collins was to inherit their estate after the passing of Mr Bennet. Would they not respect me anymore because I was to marry Mr Collins? For all that they have done for me and to be so kind how was I to tell them that the man I was engaged to is the one who is going to be taking over their Longbourn estate. Now a year gone by and as I have been living with Mr Collins for so long, I am happy but still I think often of how life would have been if I lived it like Elizabeth. I may have been much happier. However all I could think of was my reputation in society and of what other people thought of me as well as my family. I could have never dreamed to walk to Netherfield like Elizabeth, and arrive at the Bingley residence with mud all over my skirt, but Elizabeth didn’t care about all the criticism she would received from Mrs Bingley and her daughters she was much more concerned about her ill sister Jane. Whereas all I was worried about growing up was being the most respected girl and have everyone talking about how accomplished I was. The last year trying to fit into the class structure of society might I say was very difficult. I was so worried about what Miss Bingley would think of me now that I was engaged to Mr Collins, I was scared that she would dislike me as I wasn’t socially accepted in society as she was. I always wanted to be known and accepted by everyone as the most accomplished and socially accepted married woman and everyone to be aware of that. The way I was to do this was to marry the first respected man that came along that was able to offer me a stable lifestyle. Mr Collins could offer this to me as he was connected by blood to Lady Catheri...