The Character Analysis of Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice

Abstract Pride and Prejudice is much cherished by various readers since its publication. It remains an enduring fascination for many scholars whose passionate and exhaustive investigation has already shed much light on the interpretation of the novel. This paper is to further suffice the study of the novel by the meticulous character analysis of Mr. Bennet, the father of the Longbourn family.71624

This paper is endeavored to argue about Mr. Bennet’s lack of sense of family responsibility and its effect on his family as well as his weaknesses in personality and his lack of being esteemed. For the first point, his lack of sense of family responsibility as in his imprudence in managing his legacy for his family, his partiality to Elizabeth and his negligence of his other three daughters, and his indifference to his wife is reprehensive as it may lead to his wife’s anxiety and his daughters’ weaknesses in personality. It is also worthy of our attention that he instinctively loves his daughters and tolerate his wife. For the second point, this paper will penetrate into his weaknesses in personality and his lack of being esteemed as manifested in him as an escapist from reality, a cynic, and a man seldom to be respected. I will first present some definitions of escapism and then go to analyze his escapist in mentality and behavior. For Mr. Bennet as a cynic, I will demonstrate my interpretation in two perspectives, namely, his sarcastic language and his rejection to society. For Mr. Bennet as a man seldom to be esteemed, it will be revealed that he is sometimes not esteemed as the father and as the leader of the family. 

Focusing on Mr. Bennet, we will have an integral understanding of this character as to further contemplate the patriarch in the patriarchal system.  

Keywords: lack of family responsibility; negative effects; escapist; cynic; lack of being esteemed

《傲慢与偏见》贝内特先生形象分析

摘  要《傲慢与偏见》自问世以来深受读者喜爱，其持久的魅力吸引了众多学者热枕不倦地解读这部小说。这篇论文旨在仔细分析朗伯恩的大家长—贝内特先生以加深对这部小说的理解。

本文从贝内特先生缺少家庭责任感及其消极影响和他性格上的弱点及缺少尊重这两方面入手分析其人物形象。对其家庭责任感缺失这点，本文将从贝内特先生作为家长没能事先妥善安排好财产，偏爱伊丽莎白而忽略对玛丽、莉迪亚和凯蒂的管教，以及他对妻子的冷淡来解读。他家庭责任感的缺失加剧了妻子的不安和孩子们的性格弱点。另外有一点也不容忽视，即，他发自内心地爱着他的女儿和容忍他的妻子。对其性格上的弱点，本文将从他是个逃避现实者，疾世愤俗者及其不被尊重这三方面展开讨论。第一点笔者将给出逃避现实zhuyi的定义并从心理状态和行为表现这两方面讨论。第二点笔者将从他讽刺挖苦别人和他拒绝社交这两方面讨论。第三点笔者将围绕他作为父亲和作为这个家的家长不被尊重这点讨论。

通过聚焦到贝内特先生，我们将对他个人有更完善的认识，从他个人性格特点中也能折射出对家长制社会的思考和其中的父亲形象。

毕业论文关键词：家庭责任感缺失；消极影响；逃避现实者；愤世嫉俗者；缺少尊重

Contents

Acknowledgements 2

Abstract 3

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Brief Introduction of Jane Austin and Pride and Prejudice 1

1.2 Previous Researches both at Home and Abroad 2

1.3 Significance of This Study