# Mr. Collins — Pride and Prejudice character guide > Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** XV Mr. Collins, XX Mr. Collins **First appearance:** 0012-xiii ## Snapshot A self-important clergyman armed with flattery and a good living, he arrives at Longbourn to inspect his future inheritance and select a wife from among its daughters. ## Who they are As the entail's heir, Mr. Collins holds the power to turn the Bennet women out of their home, and he arrives eager to make amends by marrying one of them. His obsequious reverence for Lady Catherine and his bottomless self-regard make him comic, but his proposal to Elizabeth—and his instant pivot to Charlotte Lucas—exposes how marriage could be a transaction rather than a union. He matters because his suit forces Elizabeth to define what she will and will not accept. ## Relationships ### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet) _social_ Elizabeth politely rejects Mr. Collins's absurd marriage proposal, finding him pompous and obsequious. ### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet) _social_ Mr. Collins is a sycophantic relative who seeks Mrs. Bennet's approval while planning to inherit Longbourn. ### [Lady Catherine de Bourgh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/lady_catherine_de_bourgh) _professional_ Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's obsequious, fawning clergyman, constantly praising her patronage. ### [Lady Catherine de Bourgh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/lady_catherine_de_bourgh) _professional_ Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's obsequious, fawning clergyman, constantly praising her patronage. ### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet) _social_ Mr. Collins is a sycophantic relative who seeks Mrs. Bennet's approval while planning to inherit Longbourn. ### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet) _social_ Elizabeth politely rejects Mr. Collins's absurd marriage proposal, finding him pompous and obsequious. ### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet) _social_ Elizabeth politely rejects Mr. Collins's absurd marriage proposal, finding him pompous and obsequious. ### [Lady Catherine de Bourgh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/lady_catherine_de_bourgh) _professional_ Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's obsequious, fawning clergyman, constantly praising her patronage. ### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet) _social_ Mr. Collins is a sycophantic relative who seeks Mrs. Bennet's approval while planning to inherit Longbourn. ## In the story ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xiii) The pompous and formal cousin who visits Longbourn, apologizing for the entailment and praising the family. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xiv) Praises Lady Catherine de Bourgh at length, displays flattery and solemnity, and later attempts to read Fordyce's Sermons before being interrupted. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xv) Visits Longbourn with the intention of marrying a Bennet daughter; shifts his choice from Jane to Elizabeth after Mrs. Bennet's hint. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xvi) Joins the party after whist, boasts of his connection to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and provides information that links the de Bourgh and Darcy families. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xvii) Accepts the invitation to the ball without scruple; solicits Elizabeth for the first two dances, hinting at matrimonial intentions. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xviii) Insists on introducing himself to Mr. Darcy as a relative of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, despite Elizabeth's objections. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xix) Makes a formal, condescending proposal to Elizabeth, citing duty, Lady Catherine's advice, and the Bennet family's financial situation. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xx) Proposes to Elizabeth, is refused, and later rationalizes the rejection, withdrawing his suit. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxi) Remains at Longbourn in a state of angry pride after Elizabeth's rejection, transferring his attentions to Miss Lucas. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxii) Mr. Collins quickly transfers his affections to Charlotte after Elizabeth's refusal, proposing successfully and eagerly planning their marriage. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxviii) Proudly shows off his home and garden, repeatedly praises Lady Catherine, and invites Elizabeth and Maria to dine at Rosings. ### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxix) Triumphant over the invitation, he eagerly instructs the party on proper behavior and praises Lady Catherine excessively throughout the visit. ### [Elizabeth's Visit to Hunsford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxx) Devoted to Lady Catherine; spends mornings driving Sir William and later working in his book room. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxxvii) Reports the gentlemen's departure and hastens to console Lady Catherine. ### [Chapter XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxxviii) Delivers parting civilities and boasts of his connection to Rosings and his marriage. ### [Chapter LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lvii) Writes a letter to Mr. Bennet, congratulating on Jane's wedding and warning against Elizabeth's rumored engagement to Darcy. ### [Chapter LX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lx) Arrives at Lucas Lodge with Charlotte to escape Lady Catherine's anger, and obsequiously compliments Darcy. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mr_collins - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters