Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen - 965 Words

Since its publication in the early nineteenth century, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, has become a critically acclaimed novel that is most noted for including a variety of characters, each with differing personalities and roles throughout the story. One character in particular, Mrs. Bennet, plays an important role that is often overlooked. Her behavior and lack of propriety reflects negatively on her character and her overbearing nature can call into question the capability of her parenting skills. Mrs. Bennet lacks the qualities of an attentive and loving mother and therefore endangers the happiness of her two eldest daughters throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Mrs. Bennet is presented as â€Å"a woman of mean†¦show more content†¦From further reading, Mrs. Bennet can be deemed as â€Å"the wife, mother, and potential mother-in-law from Hell† (Gans np). The first specific instance Mrs. Bennet shows her selfish and inconsiderate nature is when she forces Jane to ride horseback to the Bingley’s estate, fully aware that it is going to rain. She does this in hopes that after traveling unprotected from the weather, Jane will be expected to stay the night at Bingley’s estate. What she does not foresee however, is that Jane would fall ill because of her exposure to the storm. Even after hearing of Jane’s misfortune, Mrs. Bennet can be said to be joyous that her plan worked and even happier that Jane had become sick. She expresses no concern for her sick daughter and even advises Elizabeth against visiting Jane to make sure that she is okay. After several days pass, Mrs. Bennet travels to the estate, her only motivation being to â€Å"sell Jane† to Mr. Bingley. She arrives and embarrasses her daughters with a lengthy shameless speech and endless rambling. When it is time to leave, she refuses to let the girls use the carriage that she traveled in, stranding the girls at the estate. She does this beca use she believes that she can coerce a premature proposal out of Mr. Bingley. Another example that proves Mrs. Bennet is unfit to be a mother is when she reacts poorly to Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins. From