At first I had a heart felt, of course, he is...he tells Elizabeth to follow her heart and not to care about what other people think concerning Mr. Darcy. Immediately after I thought this I remember three extremely important points 1] he doesn't do this for his other daughters and is as concerned with marrying them off into nice homes as his wife is 2] he really doesn't solve any of his daughters problems, seriously he's more of a 'close the barn door after they horses get out' kind of guy and 3] he passively let's his wife make horrible decisions; that's because he doesn't understand what it means to raise daughters and it would seem that he doesn't really want to take the time.
he doesn't do this for his other daughters and is as concerned with marrying them off into nice homes as his wife
- he seems to think that his other daughters are too insipid
- he seems to have lost all hope with ever having a true relationship with them
- he seems to have pick Elizabeth as the favorite because she is the opposite of her mother...as in she has brains and real beauty
he really doesn't solve any of his daughters problems, seriously he's more of a 'close the barn door after they horses get out' kind of guy
- he doesn't seem to take his family and his responsibilities to them seriously
- he runs away from problems...literally he retreats from them by walking about the countryside or by holing up in his library
- one word: Lydia
- oh, and other word: Kitty
- he knows Mary is too smart, but doesn't help her
- he knows that Jane is fairing well on her own
he passively let's his wife make horrible decisions; that's because he doesn't understand what it means to raise daughters and it would seem that he doesn't really want to take the time
- he would rather be amused by the outcomes than to help
- he doesn't seem to take his role as father seriously
- he'd rather entertain and be entertaining
- he doesn't love his wife and does nothing about that
- when he sees the traits his wife possesses in his daughters he doesn't try to instill in his daughters 'respect, esteem or confidence'
Conclusion: if you are Elizabeth Bennet you might think your father is top-notch, even if he is flawed, to everyone else Mr. Bennet may be the first ever fictional 'absentee father'. Is this the kind of father role model Jane Austen wanted us to see, or is his a tale of caution?
Anyway, sorry this is all sorts of bullet-pointed...I'm sure it will make someone a great start to an essay anyway!
What do you think about Mr. Bennet?
