No_I_Can't

Kathy Fagundes Ms. Rebecca Slate English 1A, 6058 20 June 2013 The Better Parent One’s personality does not define their parenting abilities. Great parents are not all alike. However, all great parents’ priority must be their child. A great parent does anything and everything for their child. In Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, the differences in Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are extensive, however farther in the book it becomes apparent that their differences are not only in their personalities but also in their parenting. Although Mr. Bennet was not obnoxious, he was not a good father, and while Mrs. Bennet embarrassed the family, she was the better parent. Mr. Bennet is a calm man as Austen notes, “In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquility” (Austen 48). His wife often complains, “Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse our own children in such a way' You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves” (2). Although he is sarcastic and he entertains himself with teasing her, he was pretty well respected, and was not known for ever causing drama or anything like that. In addition, he was happiest by himself not with his wife and daughters. Not only was he not very interested in his daughters, he did not think very highly of them at all; he thought, “They have none of them much to recommend them” (2). Since he was not interested in his daughters and their affairs, he was not involved in their lives. Her father’s behavior became such a great a concern to Elizabeth, seeing how her younger sisters were turning out, that she brought it to his attention, “If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of checking [Lydia‘s] exuberant spirits, and of teaching her that the present pursuits are not the business of her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment” (156). Mr. Bennet, although sane and intelligent, was obviously neglecting his daughters. When he left town for a family emergency the family eagerly waited for a letter from him, however, “His family knew him to be on all common occasions, a most negligent and dilatory correspondent”(196). On the other hand, Mrs. Bennet, “was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper” (3) states Austen; this was known by everyone. She was known to have a big mouth and say ridiculous things. Miss. Bingley even used Mrs. Bennet’s character to try and scare Mr. Darcy away from Elizabeth by telling him, “I hope… you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue” (35). Furthermore, her husband did not take her serious. Mrs. Bennet annoyed her husband, he usually stayed away from her, and when they interacted he usually just made fun of her. Sadly, as Austen explains, Mr. Bennet, “captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humor… had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her” (159). However, regardless of how crazy Mrs. Bennet seemed, she was very much involved in her daughters’ lives, Austen notes, “The business of her life was to get her daughters married” (3). Her intensity annoyed her husband , but that was just how important her daughters’ futures were to her. To Mrs. Bennet making sure that her daughters were set was all that mattered, as she said to her husband, “If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at the Netherfield… and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing more to wish for” (5). In conclusion, Mr. Bennet does not care enough to make sure his daughters are on track, let alone make sure they are set for their future. Mrs. Bennet does everything in her power to make sure they get married and hopefully be happy, regardless of how neurotic it makes her look; that is what makes her the better parent. It is a parent’s job to make sure their child is happy and okay; Mrs. Bennet does just that. A person who is not very interested in their child is not a good parent, regardless of their personality or popularity. It does not much matter if a parent is loud and annoying or reserved as long as they do what they can for their child. Work Cited Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Dover. 1995. Print. Fagundes