Courtship in Pride and Prejudice

1)How does Mr Collins strategically construct and execute his plan to secure a wife? To what extent does he conform to or deviate from the cultural and moral conventions governing courtship in the regency period? Finally, does Austen ultimately reward his conduct or was there an alternative matrimonial option that might have suited him better?

2)From Darcy’s perspective in Pride and Prejudice, how does his attitude toward Elizabeth Bennet evolve from initial indifference to deliberate romantic pursuit? Tracing the narrative chronologically, in what ways does he modify his conduct and courtship strategies in response to Elizabeth’s moral judgment and his own developing self-knowledge?

3)George Wickham directs his attentions towards Georgiana Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Miss King, and Lydia Bennet. To what extent can any of these attachments be considered genuine courtships as opposed to self entertainment? How does Wickham’s conduct toward each woman conform to the social and moral codes of courtship within the novel’s Regency framework?

4)What forms of encouragement and discouragement are socially permissible for women within courtship of the novel? What power do they have within courtship? Which female characters transgress these conventions, and what narrative or moral consequences follow from their departures?

5)What role does family play in courtship in Pride and Prejudice?

6)What other factors support/jeopardise courtship in the novel?