Pride and Prejudice note for the morning

 Condescension. When I hear that word, I think of three things:

1. Someone talking down to another, as if the other is incapable of understanding a concept unless expressed in language of an elementary school student. This is also called "man-splaining," when coming from a man to a woman, which I am very familiar with. 

2. Pride and Prejudice and the intentionally unctuous and annoying Mr. Collins. The word or its variants is used fifteen times in Pride and Prejudice, thirteen of them referring to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, or really, Mr. Collins' estimation of her. Two passages, one from his visit to the Bennett family and the other from Lizzy's visit to see him and Charlotte. 

"During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants
were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his
guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to
shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady
Catherine de Bourgh’s attention to his wishes, and consideration for his
comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen
better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him
to more than usual solemnity of manner; and with a most important aspect
he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a
person of rank--such affability and condescension, as he had himself
experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to
approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of
preaching before her."

"Mr. Collins’s triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete.
The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering
visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his
wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of
doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of Lady
Catherine’s condescension as he knew not how to admire enough."

The humor is his weaselly-ness. But the bite is that Mr. Collins, a vicar, is far more concerned that Lady Catherine condescends than that God does. We do not get any sense from him that the mercies of God in coming to humanity as a man is a thing to be reckoned with, only that an aristocrat has him and his wife to tea. 

3. The third meaning is from Philippians 2:5-8.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

4. Our own attitude toward others considered socially "beneath us," (such language!)

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.(KJV). 

The NKJV is a little more egalitarian: 

 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 

I like the sense of the last phrase. "Just in case you think you are all that, don't be so sure of your own opinions and 'conceits.'"

I bring all this up because of course, I love Austen and P&P (it's time for a re-read) but I think there is something deeper going on, a critique of the church and her society's Christianity, than just poking fun at a foolish man. They had lost their first love.