No I Can't
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- Category: Politics: Philosophy
- Date Submitted: 11/07/2013 04:40 PM
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Kathy Fagundes
Ms. Rebecca Slate
English 1A, 6058
20 June 2013
The Better Parent
One’s personality does not define their parenting abilities. Great parents are not all alike. However, all great parents’ priority must be their child. A great parent does anything and everything for their child. In Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, the differences in Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are extensive, however farther in the book it becomes apparent that their differences are not only in their personalities but also in their parenting. Although Mr. Bennet was not obnoxious, he was not a good father, and while Mrs. Bennet embarrassed the family, she was the better parent.
Mr. Bennet is a calm man as Austen notes, “In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquility” (Austen 48). His wife often complains, “Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse our own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves” (2). Although he is sarcastic and he entertains himself with teasing her, he was pretty well respected, and was not known for ever causing drama or anything like that.
In addition, he was happiest by himself not with his wife and daughters. Not only was he not very interested in his daughters, he did not think very highly of them at all; he thought, “They have none of them much to recommend them” (2). Since he was not interested in his daughters and their affairs, he was not involved in their lives. Her father’s behavior became such a great a concern to Elizabeth, seeing how her younger sisters were turning out, that she brought it to his attention, “If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of checking [Lydia‘s] exuberant spirits, and of teaching her that the present pursuits are not the business of her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment” (156). Mr. Bennet, although sane and intelligent, was obviously neglecting his daughters. When he left town for a family emergency the family eagerly waited for a...
Ms. Rebecca Slate
English 1A, 6058
20 June 2013
The Better Parent
One’s personality does not define their parenting abilities. Great parents are not all alike. However, all great parents’ priority must be their child. A great parent does anything and everything for their child. In Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, the differences in Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are extensive, however farther in the book it becomes apparent that their differences are not only in their personalities but also in their parenting. Although Mr. Bennet was not obnoxious, he was not a good father, and while Mrs. Bennet embarrassed the family, she was the better parent.
Mr. Bennet is a calm man as Austen notes, “In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquility” (Austen 48). His wife often complains, “Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse our own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves” (2). Although he is sarcastic and he entertains himself with teasing her, he was pretty well respected, and was not known for ever causing drama or anything like that.
In addition, he was happiest by himself not with his wife and daughters. Not only was he not very interested in his daughters, he did not think very highly of them at all; he thought, “They have none of them much to recommend them” (2). Since he was not interested in his daughters and their affairs, he was not involved in their lives. Her father’s behavior became such a great a concern to Elizabeth, seeing how her younger sisters were turning out, that she brought it to his attention, “If you, my dear father, will not take the trouble of checking [Lydia‘s] exuberant spirits, and of teaching her that the present pursuits are not the business of her life, she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment” (156). Mr. Bennet, although sane and intelligent, was obviously neglecting his daughters. When he left town for a family emergency the family eagerly waited for a...