Like an ocean tide slowly but steadily eroding a sand castle, hypocrisy almost always undermines societal values. In the excerpt from Pride and Prejudice, Austen uses Mrs. Bennett to vividly illustrate hypocrisy’s slow and frustrating impact on those around her. Austen creates a satirical tone using foil characters and Lizzie’s perspective to further characterize Mrs. Bennet. By combining these literary devices, Austen successfully evokes a mood of exasperation in the reader by portraying the empty values and senselessness of Mrs. Bennet. Austen uses a satirical tone to further reveal Mrs. Bennet’s character. Mrs. Bennet displays a strong dislike for Darcy for no apparent reason. Her dislike is shown through her actions and opinions,
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When Mrs. Bennet intentionally pushes Lizzie towards Darcy to get him away from Bingley and Jane, the contrast between Mrs. Bennet and Lizzie is evident. Mrs. Bennet encourages Lizzy to “walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley’s way. . . I am quite sorry, Lizzie, that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is all for Jane’s sake you know; and there is no occasion for talking to him, except just now and then. So do not put yourself to inconvenience” (Austen, 252). On the other hand, the suggestion is agreeable to Lizzie who enjoys Darcy’s company and wants to be with him. Mrs. Bennet uses Lizzie as an instrument to accomplish her goal of arranging for Bingley and Jane to be together. In contrast to Lizzy’s mother’s negative request, Lizzy evokes a positive feeling toward the suggestion. Additionally, Mrs. Bennet bases her opinion of a person on superficial attributes as revealed when Lizzy doubts if all of Darcy’s wealth is sufficient to change her original unfavorable opinion towards Darcy. As shown by Lizzy’s thought, “Sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man” (Austen, 253). The foils are evident by the contrasting reactions of Lizzy and her mother. Austen’s use of the strong, …show more content…
Bennet’s character conveys a differing point of view which reinforces the reader’s interpretation of Mrs. Bennet’s senselessness. When Darcy arrives at the Bennet household, Lizzy is delighted to hear her mother suggest a walk with Darcy that will keep him from “being in Bingley’s way.” From Elizabeth’s perspective, it is a “convenient proposal,” yet she is troubled by her mother’s characterization of Mr. Darcy as “disagreeable,” “tiresome,” and “disturbing.” On the walk, Darcy and Elizabeth agree that he should ask for Mr. Bennet’s consent for Lizzy to marry. However, Lizzy concludes that it would be best for her to approach her mother with the proposal because she is unsure of what her mother’s reaction will be, whether she would be “violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it” (Austen, 253). No matter if her mother is against Darcy and Elizabeth being together or approving of it, Elizabeth is certain that “her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense, and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her disapprobation.” Austen’s use of strong diction such as “violently delighted” and “vehemence” reiterates Lizzy’s opinion of her mother’s strong-minded character. Furthermore, either reaction will demonstrate Mrs. Bennet’s lack of
When Mrs. Bennet intentionally pushes Lizzie towards Darcy to get him away from Bingley and Jane, the contrast between Mrs. Bennet and Lizzie is evident. Mrs. Bennet encourages Lizzy to “walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley’s way. . . I am quite sorry, Lizzie, that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is all for Jane’s sake you know; and there is no occasion for talking to him, except just now and then. So do not put yourself to inconvenience” (Austen, 252). On the other hand, the suggestion is agreeable to Lizzie who enjoys Darcy’s company and wants to be with him. Mrs. Bennet uses Lizzie as an instrument to accomplish her goal of arranging for Bingley and Jane to be together. In contrast to Lizzy’s mother’s negative request, Lizzy evokes a positive feeling toward the suggestion. Additionally, Mrs. Bennet bases her opinion of a person on superficial attributes as revealed when Lizzy doubts if all of Darcy’s wealth is sufficient to change her original unfavorable opinion towards Darcy. As shown by Lizzy’s thought, “Sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man” (Austen, 253). The foils are evident by the contrasting reactions of Lizzy and her mother. Austen’s use of the strong, …show more content…
Bennet’s character conveys a differing point of view which reinforces the reader’s interpretation of Mrs. Bennet’s senselessness. When Darcy arrives at the Bennet household, Lizzy is delighted to hear her mother suggest a walk with Darcy that will keep him from “being in Bingley’s way.” From Elizabeth’s perspective, it is a “convenient proposal,” yet she is troubled by her mother’s characterization of Mr. Darcy as “disagreeable,” “tiresome,” and “disturbing.” On the walk, Darcy and Elizabeth agree that he should ask for Mr. Bennet’s consent for Lizzy to marry. However, Lizzy concludes that it would be best for her to approach her mother with the proposal because she is unsure of what her mother’s reaction will be, whether she would be “violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it” (Austen, 253). No matter if her mother is against Darcy and Elizabeth being together or approving of it, Elizabeth is certain that “her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense, and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her disapprobation.” Austen’s use of strong diction such as “violently delighted” and “vehemence” reiterates Lizzy’s opinion of her mother’s strong-minded character. Furthermore, either reaction will demonstrate Mrs. Bennet’s lack of