Pride And Prejudice

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reserved and distant, the one time he shows emotion it is directed towards her. The act takes place towards the end of the novel, after Darcy announces to him his intention of marriage. The reader first notices that he is not his usual self when Lizzy walks into the library. He is not cool and composed as in other times he is present, but instead is "walking around the room, looking grave and anxious." (Austen, 334) As he starts to speak it becomes clear just how much Darcy's announcement affected Mr. Bennet. "My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life" (Austen, 335) he exclaims, not only admitting the mistake of his marriage but also showing enough love to admit that he doesn't want the same fate to befall Elizabeth. This is very important, as a man who is as cynical as Mr. Bennet would not usually own up to any folly this directly and easily, and although he makes several blunders in the course of the plot this is one of only two ...

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to two mistakes in the course of the novel. The first one he avows to is his marriage. The second, of course, is his failure in fatherly duties to which he confesses in Chapter VI of Volume III. This instance is different from the other, simply because he really does not loose his composure as he discusses the subject with Elizabeth. The way he chastises Kitty is vintage Mr. Bennet, full of sarcasm and hyperbole to the extent that makes his youngest daughter cry. It is obvious to the reader that he is not really going to prohibit all balls or not allow her to leave the house, and yet at the same time there is a feeling that he really has learned his lesson. He realizes that there is ...

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