Mr. and Mrs. BennetAmanda Gabathuler
October 29, 2007
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 7)
Mrs. Bennet
Nerves“You have no compassion on my poor nerves.”
“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.”
(Mrs. and Mr. Bennet. Pride and Prejudice, p. 7)
Visiting and“Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him.”
news (Mrs. Bennet to her husband. Pride and Prejudice, p. 6)
“[…] Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”
(Mrs. Bennet to her husband. Pride and Prejudice, p. 5)
BehaviourRepeatedly, Mrs. Bennet’s inappropriate behaviour embarrasses Elizabeth:
“Indeed, Mama, you are mistaken,” said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother.
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 43)
Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again.
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 44)
In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother’s words, or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper […]
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 97)
Material girlAs she hears of Lydia’s approaching wedding, Mrs. Bennet displays her completely superficial nature:
“But the clothes, the wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him how much he will give her.”
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 289)
A mother’sMrs. Bennet boasts with Jane’s beauty and success in winning
pride the hearts of men. Ironically, Lady Lucas first manages to marry a daughter:
She concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might soon be equally fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no chance of it.
(Mrs. Bennet ensured that Jane will soon marry Mr. Bingley.
Pride and Prejudice, p. 97)
Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was, thought Mrs. Bennet’s sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive happiness away.
(After Charlotte’s and Mr. Collins’ engagement. Pride and Prejudice, p. 125)
Mr. Bennet
The libraryAs the only man among six women, Mr. Bennet is in need of a refuge: his library
[…] he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 10)
With a book he was regardless of time […]
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 14)
Lydia’s intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except May agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself […]
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 70)
PaternityMr. Bennet is hardly involved in the education of his daughters. Mrs. Bennet has to raise them alone:
[…] Mr. Bennet fails to fulfil his duties to his wife, family, and position throughout his lifetime. His responsibilities include caring for them, making certain that they will be provided for after his death, and taking care that his daughters are raised to be proper young ladies with good morals and a proper sense of propriety.
(Student Companion to Jane Austen, p. 66)
“We never had any governess.”
“No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess!—I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.”
(Elizabeth and Lady Catherine. Pride and Prejudice, p. 161)
HusbandMr. Bennet is socially and intellectually superior to his wife and takes every opportunity to show it. This is highly problematic as Mrs. Bennet is the girls’ only authority:
He also derides and ridicules his wife, sometimes to her face, sometimes behind her back, but often in front of their children.
(Student Companion to Jane Austen, P. 61)
Sarcasm“Well, well, “ said he, “do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a good girl for the next ten years, I will take you to a review at the end of them.”
(Mr. Bennet to the crying Kitty. Pride and Prejudice, p. 284)
“If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it.”
“Yes—but as it happens, they are all of them very clever.”
“This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish.”
(Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Pride and Prejudice, p. 30)
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s [marriage] is so disastrous that it almost ruins the lives and prospects of all their children. Incompatibility leads to irresponsibility; Mrs. Bennet is always silly and irresponsible; Mr Bennet seeks refuge from reality in books and witticisms, and even the shock of Lydia’s behaviour does not change him.
(A Jane Austen Companion, p. 99)
Her father captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour, which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence, had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown.
(The reason why Mr. Bennet married his wife. Pride and Prejudice, p. 228)
“My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about.”
(Mr. Bennet to Elizabeth. Pride and Prejudice, p. 356)
Mr. Bennet vs. Mrs. Bennet
ElizabethElizabeth is Mr. Bennet’s favourite daughter, but least loved by her mother. However, after Elizabeth’s engagement to Mr. Darcy, she wins Mrs. Bennet’s affection:
“[…] they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”
(Mr. Bennet to his wife. Pride and Prejudice, p. 7)
She did not fear her father’s opposition, but he was going to be made unhappy, and that it should be through her means, that she, his favourite child, should be distressing him by her choice […].”
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 355)
“Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good humoured as Lydia.”
(Mrs. Bennet about Elizabeth. Pride and Prejudice, p.6)
Elizabeth was the least dear to her children […].
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 101)
“Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And it is really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Jane’s is nothing to it – nothing at all. I am so pleased—so happy. Lizzy! pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Every thing that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me. I shall go distracted.”
(Mrs. Bennet to Elizabeth. Pride and Prejudice, p. 357)
LydiaLydia is Mrs. Bennet’s favourite child. Her father, however, considers her unintelligent:
Lyida was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age.
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 45)
“From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.”
(Mr. Bennet about Kitty and Lydia. Pride and Prejudice, p. 30)
JaneJane’s invitation at Netherfield:
“No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night.”
(Mrs. Bennet to Jane, Pride and Prejudice, p. 31)
“Well, my dear,” said Mr Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, “if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.”
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 32)
Mr. Collins“An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents.—Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.”
(Mr. Bennet to Elizabeth after her refusal to marry Mr. Collins.
Pride and Prejudice, p. 109-110)
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
The gardenerGardiner is a telling name. The Gardiners take care of the Bennet children whenever Mr. and Mrs. Bennet fail in their role as parents:
As Lydia escapes, Mr. Gardiner searches for his niece much more intense than her own father does. After discovering her (with Mr. Darcy’s help), Mr. Gardiner arranges the wedding. Mr. Bennet gives him the power to make all decisions on the matter:
In terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother, though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil the engagements that had been made for him.
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 293)
Finis
Development of characterMr. and Mrs. Bennet’s character does not develop at all. They are still the same persons in the end as they were in the beginning.
The Derbyshire[Mr. Bennet] delighted to go to Pemberley, especially when he was
communityleast expected.
(Pride and Prejudice, p. 364)
So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper, or her affectionate heart.
(The reason why the Bingleys move. Pride and Prejudice, p. 364)
With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms.
Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.”
(Last paragraph of the novel. Pride and Prejudice, p. 367)
Works cited
-Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Oxford: OUP, 2003.
-Pinion, F. B. A Jane Austen Companion: A Critical Survey and Reference Book. London; Basingstroke: Macmillan, 1973.
-Teachman, Debra. Student Companion to Jane Austen. Westport Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2000.
1