Monday, May 21, 2018

What was Mrs. Bennet's plan and Mr. Bennet's reaction to it in Pride and Prejudice?

One of the plot lines in Pride and Prejudice is Mrs. Bennet’s plan to marry off her daughters, preferably to rich men. Throughout the novel, Mr. Bennet responds to Mrs. Bennet’s marriage machinations with mocking and disdain, sarcasm, or resigned acceptance.
Within the first chapter, Mrs. Bennet expresses her delight at Mr. Bingley’s move to the neighborhood because he is rich and single. She declares it a “fine thing for our girls,” because she intends for him to marry one of them. Upon hearing this, Mr. Bennet mocks Mrs. Bennet’s desire for him to set her plan in motion by visiting Mr. Bingley. He insists that he won’t, suggests that she do so instead (contrary to the societal mores of the time), and claims that he will send a note with her suggesting that Mr. Bingley choose their daughter Lizzy to marry.
Despite his posturing, Mr. Bennet does indeed visit Mr. Bingley in order to establish the family acquaintance. In chapter two, he reveals this to his wife such a roundabout, convoluted manner that she soon becomes frustrated with the conversation. It is at the height of her frustration that he reveals his visit:

“While Mary is adjusting her ideas,” he continued, “let us return to Mr. Bingley.”
“I am sick of Mr. Bingley,” cried his wife.
“I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had known as much this morning I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.” (chapter 2)

Once the rest of the Bennet family meets Mr. Bingley, Jane, the eldest daughter, takes a liking to him. When she is invited to dine with him, Mrs. Bennet suggests that she go on horseback, so that she can stay the night if it rains. Jane does, in fact, get caught in a downpour, which results in her taking ill. She sends a note to her family, informing them that she will need to stay at Mr. Bingley’s home until she recovers. Mrs. Bennet is pleased by this development--the more time Jane can spend with Mr. Bingley, the better. After all, it's only a cold. Mr. Bennet responds with his usual mocking manner:
“Well, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, “if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.” (chapter 7)
Throughout the novel, Mrs. Bennet engages in ploy after ploy to marry off her daughters while Mr. Bennet suffers through them all. Although three of the five daughters are married by the close of the book, this happens in spite of Mrs. Bennet rather than because of her.


I assume that you mean Mrs. Bennet's plan when it comes to getting Mr. Collins to marry one of her daughters. Mr. Collins has already hinted that he is interested in smoothing over past family conflict by proposing to one of the girls, whose home he will inherit when Mr. Bennet dies. However, when it becomes clear that Mr. Collins wishes to propose to Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet is prepared to do everything in her power to see the match go ahead. When Elizabeth definitively refuses Mr. Collins's proposal of marriage, Mrs. Bennet threatens Elizabeth, saying that she will never speak to her daughter again if the young woman persists in her refusal. Mrs. Bennet then tries to rally her husband to her side so that Elizabeth will feel the full brunt of parental disapproval. However, much to Mrs. Bennet's chagrin, Mr. Bennet tells Elizabeth that she has a difficult choice to make: if she refuses to marry Mr. Collins, her mother will never speak to her again, but if she chooses to marry Mr. Collins, her father will never speak to her again. In this comedic way, Mr. Bennet registers his absolute dislike of the man as well as his support of his daughter's good sense, thwarting his wife's plan to get at least one daughter married.

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