P & P ch.7-9

Stephen Simmons
AP English 11/Mr. George
11/17/09
P&P

"Mr. Bennet had very often wished, before this period of his life, that, instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum, for the better provision of his children"(233).

As we previously observed earlier in the text, Mr. Bennet has much more respect for his daughters than Mrs. Bennet, especially Elizabeth. In this quote he confesses that he should have raised more money for his daughters, for what he is to leave for them is not much. What Mr. Bennet doesn't understand is that most of the time in society some type of freedom or lifestyle can not coincide with money or wealth. Someone who had too much money can do whatever they want but may not be happy, like Darcy. Someone who has too little money may be able to experience freedom and a certain lifestyle but only to a certain extent. Furthermore, in society back then and even in ours today, wealth does not coexist with freedom or free will, and if it does, happiness does not.

"And then when you go away, you may leave one or two husbands for them before the winter is over"(241).

For starters, the idea of the youngest daughter marrying before the eldest is completely absurd and tacky in society back then. Secondly, this event has worsened the Bennet name, and deeply upset almost everyone, except for Mrs. Bennet. Lastly, this quotation not only resembles the selfless and unintelligent nature of Lydia, but also the fact that she is just like her mother, who is always thinking about marrying off of her daughters and nothing else in life. Furthermore, this is one of the first times we begin to see not jealousy between the sisters, but an igniting dispute or feelings of negativity between one another.