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Sunday, June 20

Jane Austen Throwdown: Happy Father's Day, Mr. Bennet

Gentle Readers: Today is Father's Day. What better way to honor the Bennet pater familias than to recall some of Mr. Bennet's caustic remarks? Vote for your favorite quote, Jane fans! If you have a better one to share from Pride and Prejudice, please leave it in your comment section.


Quote One: Mr. Bennet respects Mrs. Bennet's nerves

"Mr Bennet how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves!

You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.

Quote Two: Lizzie must make a choice after Mr. Collins' proposal

An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do." (Ch. 20)

Quote Three: Wickham and Lydia say goodbye to the Bennets after their post-marriage visit to Longbourn

"Mr Wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's. He smiled looked handsome and said many pretty things.

"He is as fine a fellow," said Mr Bennet as soon as they were out of the house, "as ever I saw. He simpers and smirks, and makes love to us all. I am prodigiously proud of him. I defy even Sir William Lucas himself to produce a more valuable son in law!


8 comments:

Eliza Martin said...

How could anyone not love quote two? It's the way the audience knows that Mr. Bennet is more concerned for his daughter's feelings than forcing her into marriage.

Miss Sneyd said...

I don't know that it's better than those already listed, but this is one of my favorite quotes of Mr. Bennet's: "Much as I abominate writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for any consideration. Nay, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law." (Ch. 57)

Cranberry Morning said...

I cannot believe!! that Quote 2 is far ahead of Quote 1. I think Quote 1 is one of the best ever, maybe because I can 'hear' many men saying that about their wives. The Mr and Mrs Bennet-type combo is unfortunately so common!

merô said...

quote 3 is the funniest ever!

Janel said...

OH such a hard choice! Those are all my favorites.

TONY said...

I went for number 1 in the end because it hits right to the heart of married life, if a little syncally. No marriage is perfect even the perfect ones. Come on now, you must admit. But all three are maginifcent double entendres.
Jane Austen had a sharp wit, evrybody says so and these are great examples, all FOUR. I include Miss Sneyds quote too. Another gem.

Helen said...

hard choice ... fabulous selections!

Jean at The Delightful Repast said...

I've always adored Mr. Bennett, and what he had to say in The Mr. Collins Situation (Quote Two) has always been my favorite!