words show him to be a man of great ability placed in a losing position” (Hirsch 77). “Austen has a purpose behind this set up, which goes hand in hand with this character's importance as discussed earlier. The purpose is such that in order for Elizabeth to possess the personality that she has in the novel, there had to be an influence on her that's counteractive to the society in which she is raised” (Jenkins 286). Her father’s influence “had to come from someone who is sufficiently close to her to make a difference, and at the same time old enough to have experience to draw on. The person also had to be positive and strong and at the same time flawed enough as to not be domineering” (Jenkins 288). All these requirements are fulfilled in Mr. Bennet. “He's an intelligent man, disillusioned with the world he lives in and his marriage and driven into retreat by the sheer absurdity of the same” (Schroer 90). Though Mr. Bennet is a character that possesses faults by design of the author, he is also likable by that same design. “While he is often very mean to his wife in his direct making fun of her, the reader feels no pity for Mrs. Bennet because she is so fickle and shallow. Instead of feeling sorry, the reader almost feels glad that her constant stream of meaningless and some times embarrassing phrases is checked by her husband's witty remarks and one-liners” (Trevor 354). A similar situation is created with Mr. Collins, whom Mr. Bennet is unashamedly amused by during his first call to Longbourn despite the seriousness that the visit carries. Mr. Bennet is glad that "his cousin was as absurd as he hoped" (Austen 60), and “the audience delights with him through that whole scene as he cleverly sets up Collins to make a complete fool out of himself” (Watt 299). It is a cruel endeavor, and yet still the reader stay's on Mr. Bennet's side readily partaking in ...
