What about some self-examination? Perhaps Mrs. Bennet cannot be improved but he could at least avoid making her worse by trivializing her fears and purposely frustrating her hopes and plans. Mocking her is not really the best example for his daughters who, hopefully, someday will become wives themselves. If Mr. Bennet was a better father he might have more relief from his irritating wife in the comfort of more than two agreeable daughters. Mr. Bennet is stuck with his disagreeable wife but laying back and laughing at her antics is not his only option in improving his domestic situation. (:D)