Parenting: Impressions

"Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour 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...[she] had never so strongly as now the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage..." (176-177).

Here we see just to what extent Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's volatile marriage has effected each other, and their daughters. It is explicitly said that Elizabeth has been affected by the uneasy relationship between her mother and father, and these couple chapters demonstrate the extent to which it has impacted Lydia as well. Mr. Bennet married a woman soley because of her looks and the insignificant conversations they had shared, and quickly came to regret his decision. Lydia mirrors her father's choice when she chooses to run off with Mr. Wickham, holding naive dreams for the possibilities of their relationship. This was the same relationship modeled for her growing up and she knows no better, however this is a decision she will surely regret in time, just as her father does. Elizabeth seems to be the only clear- headed one in the family and she sees the mistakes made in her parents lives, as well as the mistake clearly being repeated in the life of her beloved sister. But ultimately she is not in any position to make a decision for her sister and with two parents in full support of Lydia leaving with Mr. Wickham, she has no ground to stand upon. Mrs. Bennet is excited at simply marrying her daughters, no matter who the man is (so long as he has money), and it is apparent that Mr. Bennet has little faith in his daughters anymore and is looking for a quick fix to ensure the livelihood of his children.