8/13/2019 Pride and Prejudice Literature
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE BENNET FAMILYCHAPTER 1PRIDE AND
PREJUDICE - JANE AUSTENNavoditte Das AS
In the exposition of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", we are
introduced directly to two main characters of the novel, members of
the Bennet family. These 2characters are none other than Mr. and
Mrs. Bennet, parents of 5 daughters, whom Mrs.Bennet is
determined to marry-off as soon as possible. We are introduced not
only to the characters, but also the structure of society in the
18th centurywhere youth, looks, and fortune defined one's place in
social hierarchy.
The opening line, an often quoted one; "It is a truth
universally acknowledged,that a single man in possession of a good
fortune must be in want of a wife" isof great significance. It
succinctly summarizes the state of English Society inthe 18th
century, its foundations lying in wealth and marriage. There is
sarcasm used in the words "It is a truth universally
acknowledged", making fun of how society often blindly accepts
norms without scrutinizing their validity first. The line serves as
a brief introduction to the location, and time of the novel
aswell.
Now, Austen moves on two providing the reader with a glimpse of
the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, in a rather interesting way.
Rather than directly describ
ing their attitudes or physical features, Austen allows the
reader to draw their own conclusions, based on the
conversation between them. For example, from thelines "Mr Bennet
replied he had not" and "Mr Bennet made no answer" it is evident
that he has little interest in the frivolous affairs of his soon to
be neighbor, Mr. Bingley. A stark contrast to his character is his,
wife, Mrs. Bennet who"cried impatiently" when her husband showed
little interest, and who found a passive attitude "invitation
enough" to begin talking about Mr. Bingley and his relevance to
their family. This gives us 2 very clear pictures of Mr and Mrs
Bennet. Mr Bennet comes off, to me, as a tired, old man, leading a
relaxing life in the countryside, choosing not to worry with
frivolous matters like status or marriage. Mrs Bennet on the other
hand, is almost an antithesis to Mr Bennet, showing an
obsessive interest in the affairs of marriage, eager to find
eligible suitors for each one of her 5 daughters. It is interesting
to note that she begins to
describe Mr. Bingley first and foremost by stating that he is "a
young man of large fortune from the north of England" further
elucidating the immense importance society placed on superfluous
characteristics like age, fortune and reputation.
The reader is now indirectly informed of the 5 Bennet sisters,
all of whom are approaching or have approached a marriageable age,
and Mrs Bennet is more than eager to marry one of them off to their
soon to be neighbor, Mr. Bingley. Their quarrel continues, with Mr.
Bennet arguing "How so? how can it affect them?" and Mrs Bennet
retorting "How can you be so tiresome" illustrating their
difference in mentality and opinion. Once again, the line "But it
is very likely he may fall in love with one of them, and
therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes" shows how,
in that era, social obligations always trumped moral obligations.
Mr
s. Bennet is not portrayed as a very humble woman, and even
though Mr Bennet makes fun of her current appearance; "In such
cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of", she is
oblivious to this attack, and continues to ramble on about
marriage. The name of one of one of their daughters, a prominent
character in the novel, Elizabeth Bennet, is now taken by Mr.
Bennet who refers to her as "little Lizzy" saying that she has
"something more of a quickness than her sisters" whom he describes
as "silly and ignorant" much to Mrs Bennet's upset, and
the pain on her "poor nerves" which evokes no sympathy from
the reader, instead itevokes humor, via the melodramatic nature of
Mrs Bennet. Mr Bennet employs sarcasm yet again, in another one of
his attacks on Mrs Bennet's antics; "I have high
