I agree with you

Posted by Constanza on November 20, 1997 at 08:42:21:

In response to Mr. Bennet, written by Sandy on November 19, 1997 at 20:35:11

If a father today would talk to his daughter like that it would be thought of as cruel. If Jane Austen had shown us that Mary was hurt, I probably would have thought him cruel. Jane Austen was, I think, very accomplished at producing empathy in her readers, but I think Jane Austen did not think Mr. Bennet cruel.

I completely agree with you. Mary is not hurt but bewildered. And neither his daughters or his wife ever complain of his being cruel or anything like that, except when he ACTS against their wishes, i.e. by not visiting Bingley or later on **spoiler?** when he refuses to accept Lydia back.

REPLIES:

• Mr. Bennet - not all that bad Carolyn B 18:31:38 11/20/97 (1)
  • Flip side Ann 22:22:08 11/20/97 (0)
• Mr. Bennet Sandy 10:32:33 11/20/97 (0)

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