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“The Last of the Spirits”, illustration for Charls Dickens’ Christmas Carol by John Lech
The word “nice” is a rotten term. Originally it meant “foolish,” being an English word composed of two Latin terms: “ne” (“not”) and “scire” (“to know”). Over time it developed in meaning to its current form meaning something like “kind” or “good” but without any of the substance of kindness or goodness (see the entry for “Nice” at the Online Etymology Dictionary).
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p/c Elaine Howlin via upsplash
When it comes to awkward moments, tense moments, moments of severe relational tension, Jane Austen rules with all the mastery of a high-born chatelaine. Though I’ve written about the awkward in other places before, this weekend’s readings for my literature class (from Pride and Prejudice) demand some further consideration.
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Mr. Collins is the name of the pompous clergyman in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. He is a sanctimonious fool. Everything he does is equal measures hilarity and painfulness. And I commend a careful study of him to all clergymen everywhere. Be sober-minded, brothers, lest you fall into the emptiness of the form of life Mr. Collins lives.
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