Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up… (15)

I think this nastier side to Mr. Collins’ character illustrates a how Charlotte’s opinion “it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life” (6) is a foolishly dangerous one. Surely she could not have wanted her husband to harbor such horrid sentiments or to be the farther of her children and who knows what other less admirable opinions will surface as the years pass. Mr. Collins’ may not be illiterate but I think there is a very good chance his ideas of child-rearing mirrors that of his father’s subjection which is going to make Charlotte’s job as a mother more difficult. Not only will she have to counter his vanity, pride and stupidity but also what is a very cold-hearted unforgiving philosophy. His insensible advice “to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence” shows a terrible propensity for the harshest punishment since a fifteen, sixteen year old girl like Lydia with no abilities beyond flirting could hardly prevent falling further in society (such as coming upon the town) if Wickham were to abandon her and the entire family as well. This and his belief in the inferiority of female sense and understanding (Fordyce’s Sermons) makes me tremble more for a girl child than a boy but I do think neither sex will have a good father in Mr. Collins. (:D)