Pride and Prejudice
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Why did Mr. Bennet think Charlotte foolish after her engagement?
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Sandy
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Jan 13, 2013 05:12AM
He said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter!
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He knew she wasn't marrying out of genuine love and affection and he thought that this was a foolish thing for a woman that he believed to be so sensible. She wanted a respectable place in society and she was afraid of becoming a spinster, so she settled by marrying a man that she didn't really love. In that regard, she became just like Mrs. Bennett and his foolish daughters.
Catch-22: he thinks his wife silly to have married him? Or, he denies the customs of that time, making him look silly, too: for Charlotte Lucas wasn't good looking and 27. She did a sensible thing indeed, by marrying -and made sure she organized her house in such a way she wasn't bothered too much by her husband.
Sigh, wasn't that the only fair choice of Charlotte? If you were Charlotte, would you accept Mr Collins?In "more foolish than his daughter!" which daughter did he mean? Elizabeth, because she rejected Mr Collins while Charlotte accepted? But wasn't Elizabeth intelligent? Mary? If it were Kitty and Lydia, why it wasn't "daughterS"?
I thought the issue was that Mrs. Bennett thought Mr. Collins was an appropriate husband, while the more sensible Elizabeth and her father realized he was a silly, pompous, conceited fool. And, yes, both Elizabeth and her father discounted how limited Charlotte's options were. There's definitely an argument to be made that Elizabeth and her father often act superior when there's no reason to do so.
Mr. Bennet makes a habit of calling his children "foolish" and "silly." In Chapter 1, he says of his daughters, "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls."Because Charlotte has agreed to marry the ridiculous Mr. Collins whom Mr. Bennet believes she could never respect (the same mistake he has made in his marriage), she is more foolish than his own daughter, who has shown herself at least sensible enough not to marry Mr. Collins.
Mr Bennett has always seemed to me an appalling hypocrite. He marries a woman whose values he despises, withdraws from any part in his daughters' education, then despises them when they share his wife's values!It is part of the same attitude that allows him to speak patronisingly of Charlotte's choice, without bothering to consider that her options are very limited, or trouble himself with the question as to what course of action COULD she have taken, that would met with his approval.
I always thought Mr. Bennett must have truly married for love and wanted it for his girls, as well. The fact that he even cares for his girls' choices shows what a different type of father he is compared to other men of the day. Men couldn't withdraw from their daughters' educations; they didn't have a thing to do with it. That's the woman's realm, not the man's.
As for his feeling Charlotte's choice is silly, well, if he DID marry for love, wouldn't marrying without it seem silly?
Jeni wrote: "I always thought Mr. Bennett must have truly married for love and wanted it for his girls, ..."Interesting. Given that he so obviously despises Mrs. Bennett, I assumed thar he had married without love, regretted it - but was too decent not to "do his duty by her" - and did not want the same for his duaghters.
Well, I really just assume that it was love based on the way men and women interacted at the time.Men ran the finances and left the child-rearing and household to the women. They didn't interfere except to pick a husband for their daughters that was advantageous for the whole family's good name.
When a wife is out of order or embarrassing to the family, they are reprimanded by the husband. Mr. Bennett never does this, which leads me to believe he really loves her and indulges her in that love.
If he despised her, he would reprimand her and bring in his mother--or hers--to take over the household, bringing much disgrace to her.
Just my two cents. :)
Interesting conversation. I went back to P&P for some of the descriptions of the interactions and relationship of the Bennet parents. Chapter 42 is telling.Had Elizabeth’s opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing opinion of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, 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. Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown. But Mr. Bennet was not of a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often console the unfortunate for their folly of their vice.
I was thinking of that same description. He had been infatuated with Mrs. Bennett and I suppose you could say he loved her initially. He didn't realize until after their marriage how daft, shameless, and disgracful she truly was. Of course by that point he had no one to blame but himself. I think that is why he so quickly judges Charlotte for her choice in husband because he knows what it means to be married to someone you can't respect.
Good point, Diane! :) I had forgotten that part-obviously. Dangit! Now I'll have to completely reassess my view on Mr. Bennett. And I liked him so much! *cry*Regardless of my poor memory, my other comments about expectations, education, and man's role in the household stand.
Alexandra wrote: "Mr Bennett has always seemed to me an appalling hypocrite. He marries a woman whose values he despises, withdraws from any part in his daughters' education, then despises them when they share his w..."I always figured that Mrs. Bennet had to be a serious hottie when she was young, or he'd never have lost his head for her like that.
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