Mr. Collins's toadying, rationally softened

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Mr. Collins's toadying, rationally softened Written by Connie (5/3/2010 3:53 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Twice recently Charlotte has been accused of..., penned by Adrian

I looked up "toady" and found "obsequious sycophant." You're right that this can hardly describe Charlotte. On the other hand, at least in Lizzy's POV, Charlotte was visitng Rosings almost daily, on account of the other livings Lady C might have to bestow. My idea is that, just as she wrote in her letter Mr. Collins's view of Rosings, rationally softened, Charlotte went along with his bowing and scraping to Lady C, but in a less obsequious manner. She does call Lady Catherine a very respectable, sensible woman indeed (Ch. 28), which can hardly be what she really believes. She seems once again to be showing more than she feels, in order to meet her own objectives.

I think the Collinses were of one mind in advancing their own interests through their relationship with Lady C. I think the introduction incident you mentioned was to spare herself embarassment in front of Lizzy. But all of this is open to interpretation.

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Charlotte, Spinsterhood and Society (Long) BarbaraB (4/27/2010 3:51 a.m.)

21 st century points of view Benedicte (4/29/2010 5:27 p.m.)
- An ideal that JA wanted to promote Line (4/30/2010 9:20 a.m.)
  - Absolutely agree. JA was not Marianne Dashwood. Connie (4/30/2010 3:46 p.m.)
emergence of *marriage* Lini (4/27/2010 1:14 p.m.)
- Very good points! nfm AnnetteJ (4/27/2010 2:46 p.m.)
If Charlotte had married a sensible man... Connie (4/27/2010 10:45 a.m.)
- Although few in Austen's books ever seem to long for AnnetteJ (4/27/2010 11:11 a.m.)
  - Charlotte will be a great mom! Heather Leigh (4/27/2010 4:13 p.m.)
    - Charlotte and Children Bridget D (5/1/2010 7:08 a.m.)
      - mothers in Austen Heather Leigh (5/3/2010 6:49 p.m.)
Very good analysis. As I posted below, in Emma we have AnnetteJ (4/27/2010 8:18 a.m.)
- Ideals vs Comfort Aaron (4/27/2010 1:55 p.m.)
  - without feeling [] blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd Stephanie (4/27/2010 4:19 p.m.)
    - But again... Line (4/27/2010 9:26 p.m.)
      - Don't they pave roads and buy schools computers? :) nfm Stephanie (4/27/2010 11:47 p.m.)
        
        True! :-) (nfm) Line (4/28/2010 9:07 a.m.)
      - That reminds of what Lizzy says   Connie (4/27/2010 10:42 p.m.)
        
        Dangerous Liaison   Robbin (4/28/2010 10:49 p.m.)
        
        LOL: I Say Eeeek too but...   BarbaraB (4/30/2010 2:47 p.m.)
        
        An early reference   Aaron (4/29/2010 1:36 a.m.)
        
        And yet, we are unmoved ...   gianni (4/29/2010 9:40 p.m.)
        
        Life as a Nun   Aaron (4/30/2010 3:21 a.m.)
        
        I can (and do) doubt that Mr Collins loves   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 6:21 a.m.)
        
        Agree that...   BarbaraB (4/30/2010 4:59 p.m.)
        
        mr and Mrs Collins   Bridget D (5/1/2010 7:15 a.m.)
        
        He's not physically repulsive   Graciela (5/1/2010 10:42 a.m.)
        
        Mr Collins   Bridget D (5/2/2010 1:20 a.m.)
        
        I agree   Line (5/1/2010 10:59 a.m.)
        
        Charlotte is Wrongheaded   Robbin (4/29/2010 12:32 p.m.)
        
        Yes, that is Charlotte's view   Connie (4/29/2010 12:07 p.m.)
        
        And if she learns that his flaws are worse than   kathleen (elder) (4/29/2010 6:02 a.m.)
        
        Can Someone Tell Me   Aaron (4/29/2010 1:04 p.m.)
        
        Chapter 22   kathleen (elder) (4/29/2010 1:28 p.m.)
        
        Dear katheeln(elder) and those who also...(long)   Silvia A (4/29/2010 5:27 p.m.)
        
        Deceit & Improving Mr. Collins   Robbin (5/1/2010 11:27 p.m.)
        
        About "not deceiving or hurting anyone".....   Silvia A (5/2/2010 10:40 a.m.)
        
        Sense, lies & Insensibility   Robbin (5/2/2010 5:31 p.m.)
        
        And, if "not deceiving or hurting anyone" ...   gianni (5/2/2010 1:28 p.m.)
        
        Deceit: Charlotte vs Darcy   Connie (5/3/2010 10:51 a.m.)
        
        Twice recently Charlotte has been accused of...   Adrian (5/3/2010 12:32 p.m.)
        
        Mr. Collins's toadying, rationally softened   Connie (5/3/2010 3:53 p.m.)
        
        Exactly   Line (5/3/2010 4:58 p.m.)
        
        charlotte   Bridget D (5/3/2010 1:11 p.m.)
        
        Self-interest is not toadying   Adrian (5/3/2010 8:22 p.m.)
        
        toadying   Bridget D (5/4/2010 7:14 a.m.)
        
        Deceiving Mr Collins   Bridget D (5/3/2010 2:49 a.m.)
        
        "Lies" that Darcy did not use in his proposal! nfm   Stephanie (5/2/2010 6:45 p.m.)
        
        And Darcy was so successful? (nfm)   Adrian (5/2/2010 6:58 p.m.)
        
        she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive   Stephanie (5/3/2010 3:44 p.m.)
        
        Are you then justifying what Charlotte did...   Adrian (5/3/2010 8:32 p.m.)
        
        Thank you Silvia.   Reeba (4/30/2010 9:32 a.m.)
        
        Are you sure that Elizabeth was the only   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 9:58 a.m.)
        
        Nothing is sure,   Reeba (4/30/2010 1:40 p.m.)
        
        I agree that there may be some other   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 1:58 p.m.)
        
        But all those...   Reeba (4/30/2010 2:39 p.m.)
        
        PS   Reeba (4/30/2010 2:42 p.m.)
        
        Exactly!   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 6:55 p.m.)
        
        Mrs Bennet produced Lizzy ;-) nfm   Reeba (4/30/2010 7:14 p.m.)
        
        And Mary & Kitty & Lydia nfm   kathleen (elder) (4/30/2010 9:02 p.m.)
        
        Your post is very well written :-)   kathleen (elder) (4/29/2010 9:19 p.m.)
    - the lottery vs Mr. Collins Aaron (4/27/2010 4:34 p.m.)
      - So glad that in the 21st century we have choices not available AnnetteJ (4/28/2010 8:05 a.m.)

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