Explore the different attitudes to marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"
Mr and Mrs Bennet's marriage is prime example of what marriage was in the late eighteenth century. It wasn't about love but about security, status and wealth, as in Mrs Bennet's case just security. Mr and Mrs Bennet are not a loving couple. Mr bennet knows that all Mrs Bennet is interested in is marrying off her daughters so he used this to his advantage. For instance Mrs Bennet was determined that one of her daughters should marry Bingley, " if I can see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield...I shall have nothing more to wish for," so Mr Bennet took the opportunity and when asked by her to visit Bingley he said "I see no occasion for that," when he was going to go anyway.
He plays with Mrs Bennet's faults and mocks her when he gets the chance. Even after twenty three years she still can't work out her husband, "three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character," so Mr Bennet can tease her till his hearts content and she still won't know if he is joking or being serious. Mr and Mrs Bennet are a great contrast. Mr Bennet is "a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve and caprice," and Mrs Bennet was "a woman of mean understanding, little information and uncertain temper."
Mr and Mrs Bennet's marriage is prime example of what marriage was in the late eighteenth century. It wasn't about love but about security, status and wealth, as in Mrs Bennet's case just security. Mr and Mrs Bennet are not a loving couple. Mr bennet knows that all Mrs Bennet is interested in is marrying off her daughters so he used this to his advantage. For instance Mrs Bennet was determined that one of her daughters should marry Bingley, " if I can see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield...I shall have nothing more to wish for," so Mr Bennet took the opportunity and when asked by her to visit Bingley he said "I see no occasion for that," when he was going to go anyway.
He plays with Mrs Bennet's faults and mocks her when he gets the chance. Even after twenty three years she still can't work out her husband, "three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character," so Mr Bennet can tease her till his hearts content and she still won't know if he is joking or being serious. Mr and Mrs Bennet are a great contrast. Mr Bennet is "a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve and caprice," and Mrs Bennet was "a woman of mean understanding, little information and uncertain temper."
