Are Mr and Mrs Bennet good parents?

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Are Mr and Mrs Bennet good parents?

In the 21st century, the definition of a 'good parent' remains clouded and vague. It is basically down to the judgement of the parent raising their children in a way that they view appropriate. The same goes for the 18th century and every other century before and beyond.

Parenting styles can be influenced by society's expectations and ideas of what 'good parenting' is. This goes for Mr and Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Their relative roles can be contrasted as a mother who is blinded by appearance, regarding wealth and status highly and a father who looks beyond appearances to dig deeper into a person's character.

Mr and Mrs Bennet live at Longbourn, Hertfordshire and have five daughters and no sons. They are a middle class family; therefore Mr and Mrs Bennet are desperate to see their daughters well married to safeguard their future.

In the search of a husband for their daughters, Mr Bennet values a loving union whereas Mrs Bennet values social status. The opening chapter sets the scene of the novel, highlighting the tension between these two very different characters. It begins with Mr