An aspect of the novel that seems important to examine in Pride and Prejudice is the dynamic of the relationships between members of the Bennet family. It seems that the difference in character among the Bennet sisters seems to be due to who they are closer to whether their father or mother. From early on in the novel, it is presented that Mr. Bennet seemed to favor his second daughter, Elizabeth, more than the rest. Elizabeth and her father due to his favor seem to be closer in understanding as Mrs. Bennet and her other sisters seem to be in understanding. I think it can be argued that family dynamic and the connection to one parent or the other can create differing character traits.
Although her sisters are all women and not too separated by age difference, they seem to have a different character as women and how to be a proper woman than Elizabeth. Since Elizabeth spends so much time listening to her father and has grown in understanding being his favorite, she has appeared to develop character traits of her own that reflect Mr. Bennet’s. Unlike her sisters, Elizabeth is more independent and strong willed when it comes to accepting the ideals of womanhood and marriage that are placed on her from the society. Elizabeth places more importance on family and love than the idea of position and marital status just for the sake of prestige. These character traits expressed through Elizabeth seem to me as a product of being close with her father. As a father Mr. Bennet is expected to place importance on his daughters finding proper matches yet as a man he values independence and respect which is often expressed when he stands up for Elizabeth not wanting to choose just any man to marry.
On the opposing side to Elizabeth’s relationship with her father is her sisters’ relationships with their mother. While Mr. Bennet influences Elizabeth’s character through his cynical ideas of society, Mrs. Bennet influences her other daughters into believing that marriage and societal status are the most important things. The sisters being closer to their mother take guidance from her as to how they should act and what they should be. For example, the oldest sister Jane is closer with her mother and thus her character portrays the ideals of a woman in the society as being innocent, beautiful, and polite as that is what is believed will win her a husband. Due to the sisters being closer to their mother than Elizabeth, each of them were more adapted to societal dynamics of womanhood and much more submissive than she was in being closer with their father.
Ultimately, the character of a person is influenced greatly by who they are more closely affiliated with or raised by as seen in Pride and Prejudice. If a daughter is closer with their father as Elizabeth was, often they grow up to be more rough or independent as a father does not have the same understanding of what it is to be a woman. On the other side, if a daughter is closer to their mother they also can learn to be independent but they will also be raised in understanding what it means to be a woman and how they will be looked at by being a woman as a mother would have experienced those things herself. The family dynamic in Pride and Prejudice depicts the way that a person’s character can be affected due to who raised or cared more for them.
Good points here! I wonder how you might explain the difference between Jane and the other, younger, Bennet sisters. Lydia, for instance, doesn’t seem as sensible as Jane; she is perhaps just as silly as her mother.