Pride and Prejudice Essay

On the very first visit of Mrs. Gardiner to the Bennets, Austen gives a clear description of her amiable, caring and considerate personality – upon Jane’s failure in the further development of her affection with Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Gardiner does not only feel sorry for her, but also puts her concern into action by expressing “excellent consolation” (111) that accidents can often happen in love affairs. She even suggests Jane to “go back with [them] (Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner)” (111) so as to have a “change of scene” (111) and “a little relief from home” (111). Although Mrs. Gardiner is not the mother of the two sisters, she knows and understands Jane and Elizabeth well – she can predict that “it [would] [be] better [if] [the] [unhappy] [matter] happened to [Elizabeth]” (111), as she knows “[Elizabeth] [can] [laugh] [herself] out of it sooner” (112). In addition, she is not partial to Jane as she also shows concern over Elizabeth – she never thinks ill of Elizabeth because of her refusal of Mr. Collins’ proposal, instead she gives constructive advices to her as not to take the risk to fall in love with Mr. Wickham, as she has a better and more objective judgement of Wickham’s falling in love with women as merely “mercenary” (120), but not for love.

In fact, Austen, by presenting the different ways of treating the marital matters of Jane and Elizabeth in the novel, creates a sharp contrast between Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner. Such contrast is, in my opinion, critical to the development of the novel – with the company of Mrs. Gardiner, Jane and Elizabeth feel comfortable and secured as they know clearly that their aunt, so different from their mother, is sensitive to their feelings, and always ready to give useful and helpful advices to them as well as help them with the solving of some problems. In addition, it is, at the latter part of the novel, through Mrs. Gardiner (and also her husband) that Elizabeth senses the gradual change in Darcy’s behaviour and attitudes, which results in her acceptance of his second proposal. However, Mrs. Bennet, despite her wish to have all of her daughters married, does set up an obstacle to the further development of affection between Jane and Bingley by leaving a negative impression to Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy with her arrogant and unconventional speech and deeds. Moreover, Austen, in the novel, suggests that Mrs. Bennet is responsible for the misconduct of the three little Bennets (Mary’s insisting on the poor performance in the public ball, and Kitty’s and Lydia’s frivolous deed of hanging around with the officers) because of her negligence towards their attitudes and behaviour and the absence of the provision of a proper education.

In conclusion, through the portrayal of the sharp contrast between the two mothers, Austen gives us the idea of the important role of family’s education in nurturing the children and in developing their sense of morality, civility and social convention. Furthermore, by comparing Jane and Elizabeth to their younger sisters, Austen stresses on the influence of a parent’s behaviour and attitudes towards his/her children – Mrs. Bennet, being inconsiderate and ignorant herself, does not only shame the two elder daughters, but also sets a bad example to the younger ones. Finally, even though the novel was written in the early nineteenth century, Austen’s view of the qualities of a good and responsible parent is still appropriate and is generally accepted as a norm in today’s society. It reflects her concern over the everlasting quality of the family value.