MidnightFirebolt

Reddit user TheABrown describes “nice guy” in literary terms and nails it:

A friend of mine who is big into English literature has described a big chunk of them as “The Mr Collinses of the world who are bewildered and angry that not even Charlotte Lucas will have them now that she has more options.”

I mean, the feckless Wickhams of the world will always attract the silly Lydias; and the genuinely decent and honourable Bingleys and Darcys seem to find their Janes and Elizabeths - but the modern Charlottes - well, lots of them, now that it’s socially acceptable, and financially viable, to be single, would much prefer to spend the rest of their lives living in their own little one-bedroom flats, working their sensible, modestly renumerated jobs, and spending their evenings with friends, pizza, wine, and their pet cats if their options for marriage and partnership are Mr Collinses, regardless of whether Mr Collins has a respectable career or a nice house in the suburbs.

The Mr Collinses are (usually) not vicious or nasty or even objectively a terrible life decision (like a Wickham), but most Charlottes don’t want to spend their lives with them if there’s another option.

Mind you his travelling fifty miles to…er…commiserate on Lydia’s disgrace? Is maybe not vicious in the physical sense but at BEST it’s horribly tone deaf and at worse outright gloating.

Also worth pointing out: 

Collins is turned down by Lizzie and disbelieves her. She says several times in the strongest terms that she doesn’t want him but NOPE, she can’t possibly be serious. It takes her leaving the room to get it through his head.

Darcy, by contrast, is turned down and is shocked, but he doesn’t NOT TAKE HER SERIOUSLY. He’s appalled that she would ever think of turning him down, he demands to know why (and by gum does she let him have it) but he takes her at her word. At which point he leaves.

AND THEN TRIES TO DO BETTER.

Mr Collins bumbles off and proposes to the first woman who doesn’t roll her eyes at him. Darcy goes off and attempts to amend his faults, not to win Lizzie over but Because She Is Right and He Was Being An Arse.

“The recollection of what I then said, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me. Your reproof, so well applied, I shall never forget: “had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner.” Those were your words. You know not, you can scarcely conceive, how they have tortured me; – though it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice.”

I love me some Pride and Prejudice. (points at videos)

As I said when the Google Memo hit:  If there’s a story about gender out there, there’s probably an Austen quote for it.

From Persuasion:

“Dear Bridget, I’m sorry about today. I think you were right when you said the fantasy of us was always better than the reality. What you want me to be and what I am just don’t add up. 

I do realise how difficult I make it for you to love me and it was never my intention to leave you so alone. Because in truth there must be something that I’ve never been able to give you. 

Why else did you go back to…. Daniel Cleaver.

It’s alright Bridget.

I always made myself believe that our history should lead us together, I want to life with you more than I ever wanted anything.

But how can I commit to this again, when, in three months’ time, it could all come crashing down, and you’ll leave me?

And now information has come to light that has led me to believe that my further involvement in this situation is impossible.