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| Sunday, 15 January 2006 |
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A/L English Literature Made Easy - Novel : Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen Characters (contd) Bingley The character of Bingley is introduced at the beginning of the story, as the person who invites the most amount of attention of the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet is anxious to know about Bingley as he is a single man with a good fortune, a rich man with charming appearance, good manners and possessed with the ability to make friends with all the distinguished people at the Ball.
Jane Bennet, the pretty and charming daughter of the Bennet family was attracted to Bingley, who possessed all the qualities of the eligible young man in Jane's dreams. He seemed to agree with Jane in coming to conclusions about everything and specially about people without much hesitation. "He is just what a young man ought to be" is Jane's description of Bingley to Elizabeth. In spite of his large fortune, pleasant manners, handsome and charming personality, Bingley has his weaknesses. He is in the habit of approving everything and everyone indiscriminately and could be influenced without any difficulty. He was about to break the relationship with Jane on his friend Darcy's advice. Bingley's character does not possess much prominence in the development of the story. Bingley's marriage to Jane helps to bring Darcy closer to Elizabeth. The contrasting characteristics in Bingley's and Darcy's characters foreshadow the attitudes of the different categories of the people in the high society. Lydia Lydia is the youngest girl in the Bennet family. She has a strong will and her confidence in herself helped her to face situations without much fuss though she took delight in gossip. She seemed to judge people by their superficial behaviour pattern and doesn't care about the qualities of people (Ch 39). She spends lavishly. She, buys a hat even though she didn't like it and Elizabeth's comments most determined flirt that made herself and her family ridiculous (Ch 41) reflects her mentality. Without the least consideration about her family prestige and her own reputation she elopes with Wickham. Her intention of giving everyone a surprise by signing her name as Lydia Wickham, brought her much pleasure. In Lydia's character Jane Austen has symbolised the woman moved by the charm of appearance Lydia being very superficial letting herself to flirtation attraction and attention. Lydia is the contrasting character in the story - different from all the other female characters - She is neither intelligent nor sensitive and stands far apart from her sister, Elizabeth who is wise and thoughtful. Lydia lacks seriousness and Jane Austen indirectly tells her readers that Lydia's and Kitty's minds were more vacant than their sisters and were fond of hanging around. Lydia's love seems to be superficial. She falls in love with anybody who has a striking appearance. Elizabeth calls her the most determined flirt (Ch 41) Lydia's is a pathetic character self-centred and ignorant of love and life. Lydia symbolizes the weak qualities of the silly girl in the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet Mrs Bennet is Jane Austen's match-making mother (Ch LXI) Mrs. Bennet's ardent desire, her only hope and anxiety is to give her daughters in marriage to rich, handsome, young men. Her anger is roused when Elizabeth rejects Collins offer but she seemed to be pleased with Lydia's marriage to Wickham although she has brought disgrace to the family by eloping with Wickham.
Humour is aroused by her conversation. Her garrulous character produces humour and a woman's gullibility is clearly embodied in her character. She seems to be a "frustrated woman". Her husband's response to her requests regarding a close and early contact with Bingley emphasises the silly attitudes maintained by Mrs. Bennet. As every mother's anxiety is a successful marriage for a daughter, and a handsome, rich man as a life's partner. So is Mrs. Bennet's, though short-sighted in her judgement of eligible young men, she appreciates Lydia eloping with Wickham, for the only reason that he is a rich man. Sometimes she is brought to ridicule by her husband, destroying the respect of her own children. Jane Austen seems to emphasise her character as a disappointed woman in marriage. Mrs. Bennet's inimitable behaviour pattern brings her to the level of the typical mother with a big family of daughters. She as a devoted mother is over anxious about the marriages of her daughters. Jane Austen has created the caricature of the garrulous character in Mrs. Bennet. Her endless talk sometimes lacking sense produces a kind of humour. Mr. Bennet Mr. Bennet is quite a contrast from his wife in thoughts and views. Being the father of the heroine in the story Elizabeth is his favourite daughter. Mr. Bennet's character is introduced in Chapter One itself, provoking wit and humour. Mr. Bennet's response to his wife's request - an early visit to Bingley in order to establish a close and friendly contact, with the ulterior motive of getting Bingley as a suitor for one of her daughters. Mr. Bennet's attitude to family matters is not at all weighty. I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go or send them by themselves... (Ch I) There's a sense of disappointment with his wife in the twenty-three-year old marriage. The weakness in his character brings ridicule to his wife which paves the way for the destruction of the children's respect for their mother. Mr. Bennet's quality comes out with his love for his favourite daughter, Elizabeth, on whom his pride, regard and respect thrives...but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters. There's subtle humour brought out occasionally....You mistake me my dear, I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my best friends. Mr. Bennet's character is a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve and caprice that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character (Ch 1). Lacking understanding of his wife's motives and conceptions. His responsibility as a father wanes, thrusting the whole burden of their marriageable daughters on one single person - his wife, whose ardent desire is to get her daughters married to young, handsome, rich men. Mr. Bennet's comments on the "prospective marriage of his favourite daughter, Elizabeth to Darcy" reflects the positive side of his character. Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd Specialist Teacher Eng lit, St. Anne's College,
Kurunegala. |
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