Fordyce's Sermons

"Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gasped as he opened the novel" (Chapt. 14, page 51)

Mr. Collins who previously has admitted that he dislikes reading chose Sermons for Young Women (better known as James Fordyce's Sermons ) to read to the Bennett daughters. The author, Dr. James Fordyce was an eighteenth century clergymen and a great orator. His two volumes of sermons preached that women should enthrall men by charm rather than by their minds. Lydia gasps at the fact that Mr. Collins would choose to read a party of ladies a book considered immoral. The ideas presented by this book were just starting to be considered outdated during Jane Austin's time. Austin chose for Mr. Collins to read this book to show his foolishness and to emphasize the theme of attracting men with the mind in Pride and Prejudice.

~"James Fordyce - Preacher - wrote Sermons to Young Women - at." James Boswell - a guide. 01 Apr. 2009 .