Examples Of Mr. Bennet Patriarchy

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oppressive ideology, she is essentially yielding to it. When Mr. Bennet first announces that he has received a letter from Mr. Collins, his cousin and the heir of the Longbourn estate, Mrs. Bennet immediately declares, “‘Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it’” (59). Upon the very first mention of Mr. Collins’ name, Mrs. Bennet defines him as an “odious man.” This is not due to his character or behavior, but instead based solely on the fact that he is to inherit her home, and in her eyes, unrightfully so. Mrs. Bennet also mentions that she would have tried to keep the estate in her own family a long time ago if she had the power to do so, portraying her acknowledgement of the patriarchy and its oppressiveness. …show more content…

Collins, so Mrs. Bennet is unable to change anything, thus exemplifying the subordinate position of women in handling their own fate in a patriarchal society. Later on, when news of Charlotte Lucas’ engagement to Mr. Collins breaks in the Bennet household, thus making her the heiress to Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet bitterly proclaims, “‘I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for anything about the entail. How anyone could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one’s own daughters, I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! Why should he have it more than anybody else?’” (125-126). By questioning why estates should not be entailed to daughters, Mrs. Bennet implies how daughters are just as valuable, responsible, and worthy of such possessions as sons

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