Bennet Honors English 2.
The dictionary defines irony as a method of humorous or sarcastic expression in which the intended meaning of the words used is the direct opposite of their usual sense. In displaying irony in her work, Jane Austen uses Mr. Bennet, the apathetic father of the Bennet sisters, and the unhappily married husband of Mrs. Bennet, as a satiric and ironic character. Through irony, Mr. Bennet provides comic relief from the regular order of things in the Bennet household, mainly at the expense of his wife. Within the book Pride and Prejudice, there are three prime examples of Jane Austen's use of irony with Mr. Bennet, and these examples are his marriage to Mrs. Bennet, his indulgence of Lydia and the results thereof, and his failure to provide a secure financial future for his daughters.
In his younger years, Mr. Bennet proposed to and married Mrs. Bennet. However, as Jane Austen puts it, "Her father captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humor, which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her." (Pg. 159) In short, his marriage to a foolish and neurotic woman would cause him to become both disrespectful and sarcastic to her, as well as greatly disinterested in the daily activities that would take place in the household. An excerpt of a conversation between Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet will help prove this point. It is as follows, "Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves." "You mistake me my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least." (Pg. 2) The disparity between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet is ironic, since the novel is about couple's overcoming problems in their relationships, yet the very first example of a marriage is one of an incommunicable and incompatible couple.
The novel is full of verbal irony, especially coming from Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet. ... Mr. Bennet cruelly mocks his wife silliness and is shown to be sarcastic, and cynical with comments as " you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. ... Main example of situational irony is the fact that Elizabeth, who starts out hating Mr. ...
Bennet seriously asserts that she would never accept any entailed property, though Mr. ... Often Mr. ... (pg.189) Mr. ... (pg. 230) Elizabeth's irony is lighthearted when Jane asks when she began to love Mr. ... Bennet cannot be happy with his wife because he does not respect her: "Mr. ...
Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Society today puts a significant value on marriage and making sure that love is the reason for that marriage. Jane Austen describes marriage as more for convenience rather than compatibility. Marriages are considered based on economic and social backgrounds...
The novel is quite different when compared to other romantic novels written at the time as Austen has added some comedy, mostly in the form of irony. ... The first marriage in the book is the unsatisfactory relationship between Mr and Mrs Bennet. ... Mrs Bennet is obsessed with the marrying off of her daughters, while Mr Bennett is always in his library, reading. ... Before the marriage of Mr and Mrs Bennet, Mr Bennet had been, "captivated by youth and beauty", but once these initial attractions had faded, Mrs Bennet's "weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marr...
The author uses literary devices such as foreshadowing, conflict, and irony to show the contrasts of different marriages in order to highlight their differences. ... Bennet. ... Bennet marries Mrs. ... Bennet was seduced by Mr. Bennet's good looks and youth and the turnout of this situation is that Mr. ...
Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, centers around a woman who struggles to come to grips with how her own pride prejudiced her. When Charles Bingley, a rich single man, moves to the neighborhood, residents are thrilled. Especially thrilled is Mrs. Bennet, who hopes to marry one of her fi...
In this sentence, Jane Austen is using irony to suggest the need for a young woman to find a man in possession of a good fortune. ... Mrs Bennet was very involved in seeking husbands for her daughters and when Elizabeth turned down Mr Collins proposal, Mrs Bennet was very upset and angry that she had refused an opportunity to marry and was concerned that she may never have the chance again. ... Mr Collins, thinking that by marrying one of the Miss Bennets he would be able to make amends for taking their property, he visits Longbourn with the express purpose of finding a wife. ... Final...
Bennet's modest estate in Longbourn, but occasionally moves from the estate to the nearby Netherfield estate belonging to Mr. Bingley, to the provincial town of Meryton within walking distance from the Bennet estate where the younger Bennet girls frequent to visit the stationed militia, and finally to the distant grand estate of Pemberely belonging to Mr. ... Mr. ... Mr. ... Irony: Elizabeth, when Darcy first proposes harshly turns him down and vows that she would never marry him, but at the end does so eagerly and willingly. ...
