it is interesting to look at the parents we do see so far.

Mr. Woodhouse
Mrs. Bates
Mr. Weston
Harriett's unknown parents

the first two are not in the best of health and are being supported in body and spirit by their children. Mr. Weston & Harriett's unknown parents have given up their role in their children's life for various reasons. Highbury seems to me to be a society where parents are not so much of an active influence on the working of the story as opposed to say P&P. I will be looking at the parental influence in the story.

We will later see John and Isabella, but I get ahead of myself...