Jane Austen Character Throwdown

Mr. William Elliot, heir to the Elliot fortune, has won the dubious distinction of Most Conniving Character #2, winning the title over John Thorpe. We now come to this week's throwdown between two well-known ministers:

I'd Rather Move From His Parish Than Listen to His Sermons

Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice

An obsequious toad-eater, this man chose to read ponderous sermons and lectures to the Bennets during his first visit to Longbourn. One suspects that Lady Catherine de Bourgh played an active part in writing his sermons. After Lydia eloped with Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins demonstrated his lack of common sense, and sent the following letter of condolence to Mr. Bennet: "They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family. And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November, for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence."

Mr. Elton, Emma

If one lived in Highbury, one would not only have to listen to Mr. Elton, but to Mrs. Elton as well. One suspects she would insinuate herself into everyones' lives. A man of the cloth must show humility and demonstrate himself to be above petty thoughts or actions. Mr. Elton is far from being such a man. He was decidedly unable to show grace or forgiveness towards Harriet when Mrs. Weston solicited him to dance with the young girl at a ball: "Mrs. Gilbert does not mean to dance, but there is a young lady disengaged whom I should be very glad to see dancing—Miss Smith." "Miss Smith!—oh!—I had not observed.—You are extremely obliging—and if I were not an old married man.—But my dancing days are over, Mrs. Weston. You will excuse me. Any thing else I should be most happy to do, at your command—but my dancing days are over." Mrs. Weston said no more; and Emma could imagine with what surprise and mortification she must be returning to her seat. This was Mr. Elton! the amiable, obliging, gentle Mr. Elton."

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I'd Move From His Parish Rather Than Listen to His Sermons

Mr. Collins Mr. Elton

Landed Gentry

Men who inherit the responsiblities of the landed gentry, like Edward Austen Knight, depicted above, (or a Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy), are mainly preoccupied in preserving their inheritance for their heirs. This requires continuous oversight on their part, and day-to-day adminstration of servants and farm workers, usually with the help of a land steward or bailiff.

A landholder's duties include improvements on the manor house, estate lands, farms, cottages and other buildings and keeping them in good repair, collecting rents, draining land or damming streams and rivers, and deriving income from livestock or timber, or selling off portions of land if needed (though this was seldom done.)

The Chawton Estate

Note: Jane's third eldest brother, Edward, had been adopted as a boy by rich relations with no children of their own. He took their name of Knight and in time inherited three large landed estates: Chawton and Steventon in Hampshire and Godmersham Park in Kent. Jane and Cassandra often visited Edward and his large family in Kent and enjoyed the social life of the Knights and their wealthy neighbours in beautiful mansions and houses. (From the Alliance of Literary Societies. Please click on bold words above.)