I like Pride and Prejudice’s Mr Bennet. He enjoys a bit of humor with a dark pinch of cynicism thrown in.
But this humor can be brutal, almost unpleasantly so. For example, he says this to Elizabeth after Bingley has left for London and, apparently, left behind any sentiments for Jane:
Your sister is crossed in love I find. I congratulate her. Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.
It’s all in the interpretation and Austen scholars may read it differently, but…was that necessary?
Apart from a distinct lack of empathy regarding an emotional subject, he practically accuses Elisabeth of jealously and effectively disparages an entire gender.
Harsh. Even it was just teasing a favorite daughter.
Go to your library Mr Bennet and take a long hard look at yourself.
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