Mr Bennet, is he a fool ? He disappointed me !

[spacetoon]

Hi

In chapter 41 where Elizabeth is convincing her father not to let Lydia goes to Brighton. He replies and what a replie he does. It's disappionting :


"Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane are known you must be respected and valued; and you will not appear to less advantage for having a couple of—or I may say, three—very silly sisters. We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton. Let her go, then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will keep her out of any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to anybody. At Brighton she will be of less importance even as a common flirt than she has been here. The officers will find women better worth their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse, without authorising us to lock her up for the rest of her life."

I mean what kind of father who would say that about his duaghter? Even if the daughter is a flirt or uncontrollable, isn't his duty as a father to make her as good as Jane and Lizzy ? Why such a reply comes from MR BENNET?

I laughed also about this part
At Brighton she will be of less importance even as a common flirt than she has been here.
A common flirt or non-common flirt. At the end, she is a flirt. He knows that and he is just saying it to lizzy in a cold voice as if he doesn't care if his own daughter is flirt or not ? Anyone can Explain to me why such reply would come out from the mouth or MR BENNET? MR BENNET ?!

[sciencefan]

Well, this is my opinion... having recently read the book twice and seen two film versions, as well:

We love Mr. Bennett. He is clever and witty. He loves Elizabeth dearly, and we know she loves him, too. I am 48 years old, so I have been around the block a bit. In my opinion, Mr. Bennett has the symptoms of a parent who has given up because he feels he has lost control. He's not a very pushy kind of man. He would probably prefer cooperation. Realizing his daughters take after their mother, and seeing how she turned out, he probably has no hope left that they will turn out anything like Lizzie.

Also, I doubt that he would actually have his daughter locked up- he is probably just amusing/comforting himself with the thought. He's really hoping the experience will knock some sense into her head. Unfortunately, it has already been put into her head that she must gain a husband, any husband, at any price, as it turns out.

In any of the portrayls of life at that time, I have never seen the father involved in the upbringing of a child. Have you seen Peter Pan? Remember the "nursery" scene? That father is just so incredibly out of touch with his children. We don't know what it was like because our attitudes are so different today in America. When the children had a governess, even the mother had little to do with the children, and consider that it was customary for children to be sent off to boarding schools, as well.

I don't believe the parents knew what to do if their children turned out badly.

I feel like I've been rambling, but I hope it makes sense to you.

[JBI]

He's bothered by Lydia (I know I would be) therefore he tries to relieve himself of having to spend time with here. Thereby, he sends her away with the colonel where he thinks she will be just as bothersome as at home. He has not expected anything of the such from Lydia, simply because she has no real money. The point of this however, is to try and convince Elizabeth that Lydia should leave. What Mr. Bennet thinks, and what he says are two completely different things. What he thinks is "I can finally get her off my hands for a few days" and what he says is something along the lines of, "Don't worry everything will be alright."

He I would think expects Lydia to get into some sort of mischief, but relies on the fact that Colonel Forster is sensible enough to at least keep some restraint on her. He expects her to make an idiot of herself, and to continue to be a flirt, but he doesn't anticipate anyone actually running off with her(she is quite young, and poor after all).

The real reason for him letting her leave is not that he truly trusts that she will stay out of trouble. It's the simple fact that she is annoying, perhaps as annoying as her mother, and thereby driving him crazy. He acts somewhat selfishly, but can perhaps justify it. Besides, it all works out well in the end. Though she ends up in a bad marriage, at least she's off his hands and onto someone else's.

[spacetoon]

Well, this is my opinion... having recently read the book twice and seen two film versions, as well:

We love Mr. Bennett. He is clever and witty. He loves Elizabeth dearly, and we know she loves him, too. I am 48 years old, so I have been around the block a bit. In my opinion, Mr. Bennett has the symptoms of a parent who has given up because he feels he has lost control. He's not a very pushy kind of man. He would probably prefer cooperation. Realizing his daughters take after their mother, and seeing how she turned out, he probably has no hope left that they will turn out anything like Lizzie.

Also, I doubt that he would actually have his daughter locked up- he is probably just amusing/comforting himself with the thought. He's really hoping the experience will knock some sense into her head. Unfortunately, it has already been put into her head that she must gain a husband, any husband, at any price, as it turns out.

In any of the portrayls of life at that time, I have never seen the father involved in the upbringing of a child. Have you seen Peter Pan? Remember the "nursery" scene? That father is just so incredibly out of touch with his children. We don't know what it was like because our attitudes are so different today in America. When the children had a governess, even the mother had little to do with the children, and consider that it was customary for children to be sent off to boarding schools, as well.

I don't believe the parents knew what to do if their children turned out badly.

I feel like I've been rambling, but I hope it makes sense to you.

I agree at the point that Mr Bennet is clever and witty, but when it comes to "A man of the house" it's a different subject. From my point of view, here, there is no need for cleverness and wittiness more than being strict a father. He needs to be pushy to control the family or else, his easiness and cleverness wil lead to a chaos in his family and it does. Anyway, that's just my opinion and you might not agree with it, but that is the way I see it. Maybe it's the way I live. The enviroment I live in makes me think that way. well, it doesn't matter.loool

Unfortuantly, I've seen Peter Pan just once and I don't remember the scene you talked about very well. But I will watch it again soon.

Thanks sciencefan, I really like your comments and acually I save them in my computer.


JBI , I will reply later , because I have to leave right now for dinner.

Peace....
Spacetoon.

[sciencefan]

I agree at the point that Mr Bennet is clever and witty, but when it comes to "A man of the house" it's a different subject. From my point of view, here, there is no need for cleverness and wittiness more than being strict a father. He needs to be pushy to control the family or else, his easiness and cleverness wil lead to a chaos in his family and it does. Anyway, that's just my opinion and you might not agree with it, but that is the way I see it. Maybe it's the way I live. The enviroment I live in makes me think that way. well, it doesn't matter.loool

Unfortuantly, I've seen Peter Pan just once and I don't remember the scene you talked about very well. But I will watch it again soon.

Thanks sciencefan, I really like your comments and acually I save them in my computer.


JBI , I will reply later , because I have to leave right now for dinner.

Peace....
Spacetoon.
You are correct.
He is a lazy man who is more interested in his own peace and quiet than in bringing his household under control.
He is the boss.
If he just lets everybody do whatever they want, there will be no discipline.
If I did not make my children brush their teeth or clean their room, they would not.

I did not criticize him because everybody has their faults.
He is also wise and kind and caring.

I have heard it said that it is better for the children's sake if you are too lenient, than if you are too harsh.
(Though I tend to prefer strictness which leads to discipline, over leniency which can lead to chaos.)

[spacetoon]

He's bothered by Lydia (I know I would be) therefore he tries to relieve himself of having to spend time with here. Thereby, he sends her away with the colonel where he thinks she will be just as bothersome as at home. He has not expected anything of the such from Lydia, simply because she has no real money. The point of this however, is to try and convince Elizabeth that Lydia should leave. What Mr. Bennet thinks, and what he says are two completely different things. What he thinks is "I can finally get her off my hands for a few days" and what he says is something along the lines of, "Don't worry everything will be alright."

He I would think expects Lydia to get into some sort of mischief, but relies on the fact that Colonel Forster is sensible enough to at least keep some restraint on her. He expects her to make an idiot of herself, and to continue to be a flirt, but he doesn't anticipate anyone actually running off with her(she is quite young, and poor after all).

The real reason for him letting her leave is not that he truly trusts that she will stay out of trouble. It's the simple fact that she is annoying, perhaps as annoying as her mother, and thereby driving him crazy. He acts somewhat selfishly, but can perhaps justify it. Besides, it all works out well in the end. Though she ends up in a bad marriage, at least she's off his hands and onto someone else's.

If I were in his shoes, I would defenetly prevent Lydia from going whether she likes it or not. He needs to relieve himself which I agree but not on the account of others. I mean when he allows Lydia to go, he, as well, allows Colonel Forster to think of him, I think, not highly but a pathetic father who can't control his own daughters. "I think"


What Mr. Bennet thinks, and what he says are two completely different things. What he thinks is "I can finally get her off my hands for a few days" and what he says is something along the lines of, "Don't worry everything will be alright."
You know, I loved the way you express it. It shows how Mr Bennet is kind-hearted man but at the same time not able to abide himself or shall I say to prove himself that he is a good father. He is jellyfish and his character is so weak comparing to Mrs Bennet. Though, she is unreasonable as him.

I don't think that by letting her go with Colonel Forster will make her out of trouble. What if she causes trouble there? she is going to embarresses Colonel Forster and that will have the Colonel thinks ill of Mr Bennet and his weakness in raising children. Lydia is just sixteen, she is a teenager and the troubles don't stop with teens.

Anyway, Thanks JBI for you reply and all I have just said is just my point of view.

Peace
Spacetoon.

[spacetoon]

I have heard it said that it is better for the children's sake if you are too lenient, than if you are too harsh.

I will go against it...I say it shall be not too lenient nor too harsh.
Lenient, in my opinion, makes the parents too weak to control the children and it will raise them not knowing life very well. they will think the world is lenient as well which is not. In short, they will be different lacking the self-confidence. As for Harsh, it will make them aggressive, pessimistic and they'll grow full of hatred. they will think that world against them;the same as their parent.
In addition, countervailing between the two options will grow them up, not too weak nor too aggressive. But, happieness, love, politness and ambitiousness will serve them good in life.

[Omniglot]

Mr Bennett made me laugh throughout the book.
The way he handled Mrs Bennett was just superb.

[sciencefan]

Mr Bennett made me laugh throughout the book.
The way he handled Mrs Bennett was just superb.
Me, too.

I enjoy sarcastic humor.

[spacetoon]

Lool, Today in our discussion class, we spent an hour on MR Bennet. It was unbelievable.

[sciencefan]

Lool, Today in our discussion class, we spent an hour on MR Bennet. It was unbelievable.
I would have enjoyed being part of that discussion!

[mazz]

There is some truth in everything said above. It is said that Mr Bennet is an indolent man, I think he operates on the premise that he has made his bed he may as well lie in it. Sciencefan sums him up best. The only thing he can do well is use his wit and observation, in which Lizzie takes after him. What else can he do in a household with such an overbearing woman as his wife, but escape to his library with a glass of port and a good book. I wonder what he reads?

[mazz]

You are correct.
He is a lazy man who is more interested in his own peace and quiet than in bringing his household under control.
He is the boss.
If he just lets everybody do whatever they want, there will be no discipline.
If I did not make my children brush their teeth or clean their room, they would not.

I did not criticize him because everybody has their faults.
He is also wise and kind and caring.

I have heard it said that it is better for the children's sake if you are too lenient, than if you are too harsh.
(Though I tend to prefer strictness which leads to discipline, over leniency which can lead to chaos.)
I was thinking about all that has been said about Mr Bennet, the problem lies in the role of the "gentleman". In such a society it was more important who you were descended from and how much money you had. A "gentleman" did not work,it was unseemly to work because others did that for you. Don't you think that attitude would effect the way people operated? Why didn't Mr Bennet try to improve his lot in life, to make more money from his holdings. In a way he seems to have given up, but it wasn't considered proper to set about making money, you inherited it. Look at the way Bingley's sisters laugh and scorn at Lizzie's Uncle because he made his money in trade. Lizzie stands proud because she is a "gentleman's daughter", but Lady C says distastefully "but who are your relatives?" So in this light you can understand Mr Bennet's approach to life perhaps, I don't think he realises he has given up. Mr Darcy looks even more harshly judged then, because he is quite active in the running of his holdings, which shows true character don't you think?

[Blackjack Davy]

Well, this is my opinion... having recently read the book twice and seen two film versions, as well:

We love Mr. Bennett. He is clever and witty. He loves Elizabeth dearly, and we know she loves him, too. I am 48 years old, so I have been around the block a bit. In my opinion, Mr. Bennett has the symptoms of a parent who has given up because he feels he has lost control. He's not a very pushy kind of man. He would probably prefer cooperation. Realizing his daughters take after their mother, and seeing how she turned out, he probably has no hope left that they will turn out anything like Lizzie.

Also, I doubt that he would actually have his daughter locked up- he is probably just amusing/comforting himself with the thought. He's really hoping the experience will knock some sense into her head. Unfortunately, it has already been put into her head that she must gain a husband, any husband, at any price, as it turns out.

In any of the portrayls of life at that time, I have never seen the father involved in the upbringing of a child. Have you seen Peter Pan? Remember the "nursery" scene? That father is just so incredibly out of touch with his children. We don't know what it was like because our attitudes are so different today in America. When the children had a governess, even the mother had little to do with the children, and consider that it was customary for children to be sent off to boarding schools, as well.

I don't believe the parents knew what to do if their children turned out badly.

I feel like I've been rambling, but I hope it makes sense to you.

Well the point is that Mr Bennet married a foolish and brainless woman because he was blinded by her good looks (a theme also explored in Sense and Sensibility) to her real faults of character and theres a direct correlation between Mr Bennets carefullness as a parent with each of the Bennet girl's outlook and behaviour - Jane, as the eldest, is the best brought up of the girls. Shes sensible, restrained, well mannered and "good". Elizabeth is slightly cynical and headstrong but mostly ok. Mary is a facade - she espouses goodness but it seems empty. Kitty and especially Lydia are basically feral. So, as Mr Bennet's increasing disillusion with his marriage (and failure to produce a male heir) reflect increasingly badly on his children. And the point is that for all his clever, dry ironic humour he's essentially a failure as a parent and as a person and by the end of the book is much diminised especially in Elizabeth's (and the readers) eyes.

[sciencefan]

...theres a direct correlation between Mr Bennets carefullness as a parent with each of the Bennet girl's outlook and behaviour - Jane, as the eldest, is the best brought up of the girls. Shes sensible, restrained, well mannered and "good". Elizabeth is slightly cynical and headstrong but mostly ok. Mary is a facade - she espouses goodness but it seems empty. Kitty and especially Lydia are basically feral. ...
Excellent observations!

[francis wang]

I think he is not a fool but quite a witty person. I feel that he may have got tired of Mrs Bennet for many years already.

He also wants his daughters to marry well, otherwise he won't be the first few to visit Mr Bingley.

But he may not be so responsible a farther, as I drawn this conclusion from his talk with Lizzy quoted above and his action after Lydia' eloped with Wickham.

I am not happy with him for his comment that Jane is as silly as other girls.

[dirac1984]

he is not a good father.

[tinustijger]

He means everything well I think..

He is very tired of mrs Bennet, he almoast wishes he'd never married her!