Mr Collins, being a clergyman, obviously wanted to set the example of matrimony in his parish; besides, he wanted to choose an active, useful sort of a gentlewoman, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way. These were qualities that Lizzie certainly possessed, but the idiot Mr Collins failed to insert any word about the beauty of Ms Bennet while laying bare his heart in a most animated language that was so strongly stirred by the violence of his affection!
No doubt Ms Bennet rejected him in spite of being very sensible of the honor of his proposals. The suspense remains that Mr Collins merely forgot to pay complements to Lizzie's beauty, owing to some nervousness not unusual in such anxious occasions, or because Lizzie was of too plain looks to deserve them in the first place.
Missing - Evidences of Ms Bennet's Beauty
Later, as the events proceeded, Lizzie was introduced to the supremely-arrogant aunt of Mr Darcy, Lady Catherine de Borough, who was eyeing him as a possible husband for her invalid daughter and who perceived Lizzie as merely an obstinate, headstrong girl.
Strangely, when it was Mr Darcy's turn to propose to Elizabeth, missing were his earlier observations about her eyes and complexion. While declaring how ardently he admired and loved Lizzie, he chose to maintain silence on the appeal of her looks. He was quite eloquent about her inferiority and her dismal family connections in the proposal speech, though. We were not surprised that Lizzie rejected him, but her reasons were different. She was agitated and upset with Mr Darcy for being the principal means of dividing her good sister Jane from the affection of Mr Bingley.
Elizabeth's Attractiveness - Doubts Remain
So, what did Ms Elizabeth Bennet look like? What was the shape of her chin? How was the curve of her lips? What was the color of her hair? Could she be ugly? These are queries that would remain unanswered. However, we do have a particularly detailed description of her features from the eyewitness accounts of Ms Caroline Bingley. Considering that she was a rival suitor to Mr Darcy, the claims must be taken with a barrel of salt. Ms Bingley never could see any beauty in our heroine.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
Elizabeth Bennett is the most celebrated heroine of literature?
2 - Mayank Austen Soofi
Ok, she is 'one' of the most celebrated heroine of literature.
3 - Orchid
Is it important that she be beautiful? The whole point of the story is that Elizabeth's appeal was not in her looks but in her character. Her wit, intelligence, and her ineffable spark as well her decision not to settle for matrimonial offers to find security or a higher social station were her appeal, not her physicality.
It's only in an era when we feel great beauty must be inexorably tied to a woman's a appeal that we can't see this and ask pointless questions about whether or not a "celebrated" heroine was physically outstanding.
4 - Mayank Austen Soofi
Orchid, I completely agree with you. This piece merely happened since I was intrested in spotting clues concerning Lizzie's looks in the novel. It was fun.
5 - KKS
Interesting compilation! Austen's words are integrated to a very amusing effect.
This piece does seem to show (perhaps unintentionally) that Elizabeth's appearance actually is important to the novel. With all the emphasis Austen placed on Elizabeth's playful manners, good sense, and intelligence, mentions of her physical traits are brought up many times. After all, they are part of "first impressions."
Some additional clues:
During Elizabeth's first visit to Lady Catherine, Lady Catherine remarks to Mrs. Collins that Elizabeth was "a very genteel, pretty kind of girl" (Chapter 29).
And about another of Elizabeth's potential suitors:
The narrator tells us that "Mrs. Collins's pretty friend [Elizabeth] had moreover caught his[Colonel Fitzwilliam's] fancy very much" (Chapter 31).
6 - Mayank Austen Soofi
On second thoughts, I think Lizzie's beauty did matter. Remember, Mr Darcy was first charmed by Lizzie's fine eyes. Yes, later her wit, her intelligence, too played their part but as KKS points out, 'first impressions' started it all.
Whether we like it or not, looks do matter. Else why senisble but plain-looking Charlotte had to marry that awful Mr Collins. She knew she was nothing to look at and Mr Collins was the best option for her to enter into respectable matrimony and not die an old maid. Yeah, looks are important. But again, wit is more important. Otherwise Mr Darcy would have rather married the stylish Carolyn Bingley!
Thanks KKS for pointing our more references of Lizzie's looks. I will incorporate them in the text of my post which I will upload in my blog.
7 - Lulu
One of the things I love about Jane Austen's works is the lack of descriptions regarding physical appeal. My mind can imagine Elizabeth Bennet to be a brunette, Lydia Bennet to be a blond, Marianne Dashwood as a redhead, or anything else my mind wishes to impose upon the characters.
If I remember correctly the Bronte sisters were also sparse in details of appearance. I always think of Catherine Earnshaw as blond, but every movie has had her brunette. Of course I could have missed something in there.
Another point that must be considered is that what constituted beauty in the Regency period might not correspond to the prevailing preferences of modern day beauty. This subject came up in my family after watching the 1995 miniseries of P&P and thinking their Elizabeth was much prettier than their Jane.
While I agree with Orchid that it's Lizzy's personality that counts, we must remember than men often don't think of that until later.
As to the lack of "wow you're hot" speech in proposals: Mr. Collins, as a clergyman, should have known better than to be influcenced by looks in the first place, and so might reasonably (if one believed him capable of reason) have deliberately avoided complimenting her specifically on her beauty; he might also have thought that compliments as to one's outward appearance might lead to the sin of pride.
Mr. Darcy...well...he just didn't know how to propose, and I think knowing Lizzy's personality the way he did he would know that she wouldn't wish a man to propose to her only because of her looks. It also might not have been the style of the time to speak of beauty when speaking of marriage. Particularly in the upper classes marriage was generally about status, wealth, and other non-romantic considerations; love was not considered necessary, and therefore it is possible that the subject of looks would have been avoided as a matter of course.
8 - Lulu
One last thought: Elizabeth must have been considered somewhat attractive and pretty, as Jane Austen described Mary Bennet as the only plain one of the five sisters.
9 - Mayank Austen Soofi
Yeah, in the first few viewings of the 1995 BBC series, Lizzie comes out prettier than Jane who is supposed to be the most beautiful of the five sisters. But after watching the series more than 20 times, I'm of the conclusion that even in this celebrated television adaptation, Jane looks more beautiful (especially her long hair) and Lizzie....well she does look beyond her age (played by Jennifer Ehle) but I can not imagine Lizzie without thinking of this actress. Like evrerybody else in this series, she was absolutely brilliant.
10 - moonspinner
Elizabeth is supposed to be next to Jane in "age and beauty". I think the fact that she had a sister like Jane made it harder to notice how pretty and attractive she really was.
Kiera Knightley with her tomboyish good looks really captured the essence of Lizzie Bennet in the 2005 movie.