Jane Austen discussion
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Austen's 10 Most Devastating Character Assessments and Thoughts on Rereading Austen
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Before I read the articles - and I certainly will! - I'm going to give one of my own impressions.When I was young, I could sympathize with Lizzie regarding how she felt about her mother. But as I get older, I have more and more sympathy for Mrs. Bennet. Yes, she was vulgar. But she also knew that the entail meant that her daughters needed to marry well or they would all suffer. In many ways she was the most practical of the bunch (except for Mrs. Collins).
Victoria_Grossack wrote: "Before I read the articles - and I certainly will! - I'm going to give one of my own impressions.When I was young, I could sympathize with Lizzie regarding how she felt about her mother. But as ..."
I see what you mean, but I can't completely agree with you, because Mrs. Bennet doesn't help her daughters married. If she actually assisted them in getting husbands, that would be one thing, but instead she impedes them. She is one of the main reasons that Jane and Elizabeth almost don't marry well!
I agree. I totally understand Mrs. Bennet's motivation - her execution is rather flawed
Megan wrote: "I agree. I totally understand Mrs. Bennet's motivation - her execution is rather flawed "Yes, but as I have gone through life I have realized that there are some people who you can't make intelligent, and others who you can't make not vulgar. They are not capable, and is it fair to judge them for what they cannot possibly do or be?
It's why I'm so fond of the tolerant Mr. Knightley, who, when he needs to speak when the voluble Miss Bates is talking, talks louder himself. I agree with the author's assessment that Emma is the most perfect of Austen's books.
I wrote in another discussion that I think Mrs. Bennett has gotten a raw deal. I have sympathy for her as a mother, and also, as is here pointed out, for bearing the burden of getting all her girls married off. That she doesn't go about it very well is just her personality. I don't like how Darcy is so offended by her vulgarity. I mean, come on! Let's remember the times they lived in, too. Would it really reflect so badly on Elizabeth these days that her mother talks loud and sometimes a little rudely?
She does get criticised harshly as a character and her behaviour was sometimes understandable. But, she really needs to tone her voice down at times, in company! I would be extremely embarrassed by her if I was Lizzy. Darcy being repulsed... Well I think it is fair enough, in some degree. Not completely at all. But I mean Lizzy was repulsed herself by some of Mrs Bennet's behaviour and back then manners and behaviour were extremely important!
Marcy wrote: "Would it really reflect so badly on Elizabeth these days that her mother talks loud and sometimes a little rudely?"These days, the 21st century, I couldn't say whether her mother's vulgarity would reflect on Elizabeth at all. I'm sure it would turn some people off at first.
In Austen's era, I think it would reflect on Lizzie pretty badly, as mothers were the ones responsible for the children's manners and behavior in society. Let's say Elizabeth acted improperly at a party; Mrs. Bennet would be blamed as, "she should have trained her daughter better." So, if someone who doesn't know Lizzie sees Mrs. Bennet acting vulgar, they would assume that Lizzie would be just as bad.
I don't agree that her behaviour is 'just her personality.' I think that the most powerful theme in Austen books is the ability to improve oneself through humility and self-reflection. Mrs Bennett is criticised, not for her frivolous personality, but for her entirely self-centered outlook on life. Her love for her children translates into lazy over-indulgence of their worst behaviours combined with harsh insults and impatience. Her personality could be bouyant and charming but it is actually quite toxic because it is so brainlessly self-indulgent. So, I sympathise with her because her husband totally abandons her emotionally and morally, but I dislike her because of her wilful selfishness and spite.
This could be a good excuse for me to reread P&P--paying closer attention to the much maligned Mrs. B.
Aileen wrote: "I don't agree that her behaviour is 'just her personality.' I think that the most powerful theme in Austen books is the ability to improve oneself through humility and self-reflection. Mrs Bennett ..."I think you're right on with your analysis of Mrs. Bennet here, Aileen!
Austen's 10 Most Devastating Character Assessments:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/th...
There is also an article by the same author about her re-reading of Austen and what she has learned from doing that:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/th...