Mr. and Mrs. Bennet

         Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have a very successful relationship in the novel Pride and Prejudice. They are portrayed as part of a rather average family, consisting of a mother, father, and five daughters. The Bennets relationship is casual and playful which is reflected by a similar playful and casual tone. In the beginning of the book Mrs. Bennet is desperately trying to convince Mr. Bennet to introduce the family to Mr. Bingley. Although Mr. Bennet had already acquainted himself with Mr. Bingley, he playfully refused to get a fuss out of Mrs. Bennet. He says, “You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves…it is more than I engage for, I assure you.” Mrs. Bennet immediately reacts with, “You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.” Even though Mr. Bennet enjoys toying with his wife and daughters he cares dearly for them and did whatever he could to ensure their happiness. He knew that after playing with his family they would be even happier to hear the news about Mr. Bingley, “the astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished-that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest.” Austen’s use of a causal and playful tone and diction allows the Bennet’s relationship to be portrayed as such.

           The Bennet’s relationship is very strong. They love each other and do everything they can to provide for each other and their family. Austen used situational irony to throw a curve ball at the Bennet’s relationship. There relationship went through stress as Mrs. Bennet began having children because their estate was entailed to a male heir. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet assumed that of the children they had at least one would be a boy, however ironically they had only girls. This put an obvious stress on their relationship because they had to now worry about marrying off their daughters to ensure a roof over their heads once Mr. Bennet passed. Mr. Bennet always wished that he would be better able to take care of his family. “Mr. Bennet had very often wished…that instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his children, and his wife, if she survived him.” His dedication to his family shows how strong the Bennet’s relationship is.

 

-Moriah Alten Flagg