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Essay / The Role of Parents in Pride and Prejudice way from time to time. » This wise and frank statement highlights the fact that parents play an important role in the formation of the child because of the example they set through their actions. In Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, the witty protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, is greatly affected by the words and actions of her parents, as demonstrated by her inappropriate judgment of - and prejudice towards - the wealthy aristocrat, Fitzwilliam Darcy. Jane Austen's portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet suggests that her prejudices stem from her parents' faults and inability to communicate. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay After two decades of being Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's daughter, Elizabeth is keenly aware of their failures. Mr. Bennet, the father and only male figure in the Bennet family, is initially portrayed sympathetically due to his imperturbable composure and sense of humor in the face of Mrs. Bennet's hysterical anxiety attacks. However, as his character is more fully revealed, his particular flaw – a propensity to withdraw from family problems rather than confront them – becomes more evident. In fact, Mr. Bennet frequently separates from his family, retiring early to his office to read books, drink port, or bitterly amuse himself with the mischief of his wife or daughters. This tendency towards critical judgments and his blatant favoritism towards Elizabeth is revealed in his statement: They [his children except Elizabeth] have none of them much to recommend them... They are all stupid and ignorant like the other girls; but Lizzy has something faster than her sisters. If that's the "proud" father's opinion, his daughters are probably happy that he spends most of his time in his office. Bennet often displays a similarly poor character. His faults include a short temper and a hasty mind. The narrator describes Mrs. Bennet as “a woman of little understanding, little information, and an uncertain character.” Indeed, Mrs. Bennet is often anxious, upset and distressed at the slightest provocation (like a neighbor with a new bonnet); likewise, a rich, single man in the vicinity of Longbourne may excite her temper to the point of dizziness and send her into a frenzy. Additionally, Mrs. Bennet is prone to holding grudges against anyone who contradicts her own ideas. For example, Mrs. Bennet takes issue with Darcy's name when he prefers not to dance with any of the local girls - or with Elizabeth, in particular, who happens to be sitting nearby. This insult causes Mrs. Bennet to confess her hatred towards Darcy for the rest of her life. Elizabeth's quick temper, stubborn opinions, and hasty decision-making reflect her mother's character, while her overly critical analyzes of others and tendency to ruminate parallel her father's behavior. Another factor influencing Elizabeth Bennet's quick - and often rash - judgments is her parents' inability to communicate with each other. The Bennets married because Mrs. Bennet was young and beautiful and Mr. Bennet was charming; these traits, however, were eclipsed as their more pronounced differences emerged. The emotional distance between the parents is so great that the narrator states that even after "the experience of twenty-three years", Mrs. Bennet is still unaware of her husband's true character. Between Mr. Bennet's subtly cynical nature and the.
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