Topic Two: Bad Dad: One page essay with evidence not just describing how Austen turns us against Mr. Bennet but her purpose in doing it. Why does Austen at first align us with Mr. Bennet, but over the course of the novel shows weaknesses of his parenting style? In the end, what is Austen helping us to see about parenting in the Mirror of Satire?

Although readers relate to and support Mr. Bennet at first, Austen later shows him as an irresponsible parent in order to reveal the importance of strong parenting. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Bennet is introduced as the practical one in the family along with Jane and Elizabeth. Throughout the novel, especially at the beginning, he serves to point out the flaws of characters such as Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins by gently mocking and ridiculing them. This characteristic of his allows the readers, who also undoubtedly feel the same way about such characters, to relate to Mr. Bennet. However, as the story progresses, Mr. Bennet appears to the reader as unable to take things seriously.  When Lydia wants to go to Brighton, for example, he does not stop to think of the possible consequences. Even though Elizabeth, his favorite daughter who he trusts most, pleads with him not to let Lydia go and provides good reasons, he does not even consider her request. He is more concerned with his own happiness than the welfare of his daughter: “We shall have no peace…if Lydia does not go to Brighton,” (156). From this, Austen reveals that Mr. Bennet does not necessarily want what is best for his daughters, but instead gives them whatever they want. This tendency is seen earlier in the novel when Mr. Bennet does not force Elizabeth into marrying Mr. Collins. The difference is that, in the case of Elizabeth, the reader applauded his passiveness, but in the case of Lydia, the reader views his consent as irresponsible. Austen turns the reader against Mr. Bennet in order to point out that parents need to be firm with their children and think of them first.