Pride and Prejudice Chapter Questions

Pride and Prejudice Chapter Questions

1.     What is the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet? How does Austen convey the tone Mr. Bennet uses with his wife?

Mr. Bennet is seen to tolerate his wife. This is shown though the language choice in which Austen uses to describe the tones each party uses when interacting on another. Mrs. Bennet is seen to “impatiently” wait for an answer out of Mr. Bennet when she “cries” out her claims and ideas. Mr. Bennet is seen to take not much interest in the girls marriage (which Mrs. Bennet is highly concerned about), this is shown by his ignorance to her. It is also directly told that Mr. Bennet “had always intended to visit him, through to the last always assuring his wife that her should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it.”. Through the descriptions of the Bennet’s silent thoughts and tones towards each other, Austen conveys that their relationship with one another is one of tolerance.

2.     Whey is Mrs Bennet so interested in the young man’s arrival?

      In the era, women had no rights to land or power, especially on their own. The only way they had the claim to any inheritance or social status was through the male connection they had. The Bennet family was not wealthy and was in need (though not desperate) of this wealth to live in a more relaxing lifestyle. This would come from any one of their daughters marrying a young man of high standard. Mr. Bingly was known to be such a man, and Mrs. Bennet’s interest in this man comes from her wish of her daughters to marry well.