The importance of Mrs Bennet in the novel

Mrs Bennet, although simple minded, is a complex character. Her character provides humour and in insight as to gossip and information spreads through society. She is central to the comedy within the novel and subject to almost constant mockery. Throughout the novel her efforts to find husbands for her daughters have shown her up to be a nagging wife, an ineffective parent, perfectly oblivious to social etiquette and a woman of poor judgement. Despite all of this the narrator looks at her behaviour forgivingly and the reader often feels pity towards Mrs Bennet for her ignorance and foolishness. It is that very ignorance and foolishness that keeps the plot together. Mrs Bennet is a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news. By the standards of society Mrs Bennet fails in many ways. She is inconsiderate, lacks manners and is partly responsible for the superficiality and foolishness of her three younger daughters. She has very little understanding of how to behave in social situations and often embarrasses her family. She sees marriage as nothing but a means of social and economic advancement and lacks what would have been seen as feminine charm. She does not have the accomplishments that were sought after in women and it can be said is a failure. Humour is presented in the contrast between Mr and Mrs Bennets personalities. Mr Bennet is a wise and witty man whilst Mrs Bennet is forever occupied with marrying off her daughters no matter the costs. In the first chapter we see the relationship between the two contrasting characters and, already, we see the comedy in their interactions. Mr Bennet takes great pleasure in making a fool out of Mrs Bennet. Very often Mr Bennet mocks Mrs Bennet but she is oblivious to this. When complaining about her nerves Mr Bennet tells her that he is very aware of her nerves as they are my *Mr Bennets+ old friends. I *Mr Bennet+ have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least. Mrs Bennet fails to see his mocking her and continues to complain and whine. He also plays with her in regard to the arrival of Mr Bingley pretending to be completely disinterested. He then, without her knowledge, introduces the Bennets to the Bingleys which he had strongly protested to before and surprised everyone with it. The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while. Mrs Bennet often behaves in a more foolish and immature manner than her daughters. Mr Bennet finds her absolutely insufferable and often finds himself fatigued with the raptures of his wife. From very early on we learn that it was Mrs Bennets weak understanding and illiberal mind, [which] had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. This presentation of Mr Bennets intolerance for his wife set the theme for the readers attitude towards Mrs Bennet. Mrs Bennet also takes great pleasure in engaging in gossip (her lifes solace was visiting and news) and leading it. Whatever the general consensus be on an individual or event, Mrs Bennet will make sure to take it on completely and then amplify it. For example, once the town disapproved of Mr Darcy, Mrs Bennet makes this comment: I am sure we owe him no particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear. She is incapable of forming an opinion of her own and takes on those of society. Mrs Bennet is so focused on marrying her daughters off in order to improve their position socially and economically, that she forgets that like her marriage- love and compatibility are essential for

a successful marriage. She ignores Elizabeths wishes when she turned down Mr Collins proposal telling her that if you take it into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will never get a husband at all -- and I am sure I do not know who is to maintain you when your father is dead. -- I shall not be able to keep you -- and so I warn you. You know, that I should never speak to you again, I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful children. From the beginning of the novel we are made aware that Elizabeth certainly isnt her mothers favourite child but this complete disregard for Elizabeths feelings shows Mrs Bennets incapability of understanding people and their feelings. There is no depth to her understanding. Mrs Bennet has also failed as a mother and does not seem to know how to discipline her children. Following the public shame and embarrassment of the Lydia and Wickham scandal -in which Lydia could have jeopardised all the other sisters chances of marriage- Mrs Bennet thinks only of the wedding arrangements and Lydias clothing. The narrator even comments on how Mrs Bennet was more alive to the disgrace which the want of new clothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptials, than to any sense of shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they took place. The situation Lydia got herself in was the fault of bad parenting on the Bennets part; they allowed her to come out into society at a very young age and allowed her to engage in frivolity without consequence. Gossip, the issue of bad parenting and predominantly- humour are presented through the satirical representation of Mrs Bennet. Despite her detestable traits and habits, the reader pities her and learns to see her actions as loveable because in the end- her intentions are honest and she is merely a product of her environment.