Pride and Prejudice

Donde el señor Bennet hace enojar a su señora referente al trato hacia una de sus hijas y al deseo de no visitar al nuevo vecino millonario. La señora Bennet sigue sin entender a su marido, aún después de más de 20 años de casados. Del clásico de Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice

… "They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."

"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."

"Ah! you do not know what I suffer."

"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."

"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come since you will not visit them."

"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all."

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it Lizzy."

"We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother resentfully, "since we are not to visit."

"But you forget, mama," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him."

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her."

"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you."

Mrs. Bennet deigned (condescended) not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times them ill."

"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully (impatiently).

"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?"

"To-morrow fortnight (two weeks)."

"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so, it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself."

"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."

"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teazing?"… (Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, ch. 1 & 2.)

La idea

El señor Bennet posee cinco hijas. Habiéndose casado con una mujer sin fortuna es imperativo que una de las hijas se case con un hombre de dinero para ayudar a mantener a la familia. La novela, Pride and Prejudice, gira alrededor de la necesidad de casarse por amor y no simplemente por dinero, a pesar de las presiones sociales de conseguir un “buen prospecto”.

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Anne Louise Germaine de Staël-Holstein (1766 –1817), conocida como Madame de Staël, fue una mujer de letras de origen suizo cuya vida estuvo vinculada con los eventos de la revolución francesa y la era napoleónica. Fue una de las principales oponentes de Napoleón. Participó activamente en la política y en la vida intelectual de su época. Sus trabajos, críticos y de ficción, dejaron su huella en la historia del romanticismo europeo.

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