Character Analysis
Mr. Bennet
Mr. Bennet is one of the least mobile characters in the book. In a novel in which people are active visiting neighbors or going on trips, Mr. Bennet is rarely seen outside of his library. His physical retreat from the world signifies his emotional retreat from his family. Although he is an intelligent man, he is lazy and apathetic and chooses to spend his time ridiculing the weaknesses of others rather than addressing his own problems. His irresponsibility has placed his family in the potentially devastating position of being homeless and destitute when he dies. He recognizes this fact, but does nothing to remedy the situation, transforming him from a character who is simply amusing into someone whom readers cannot help but feel some degree of contempt for.