Question

What is Mr. Bennet's attitude toward Catherine and Lydia's behavior?

Answer 1

Answer:

The best option seems to be 1. They should continue to socialize with their relatives and with the officers stationed in Meryton.

Explanation:

Mr. Bennet is a character is the novel "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. He is the father of five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine (Kitty), and Lydia. His two youngest daughters, Kitty and Lydia, constantly present a foolish behavior. Even though very young, they have already been introduced to society. They attend balls and often walk to the town nearby to socialize with their relatives and friends. Their sole purpose is to find husbands - if handsome ones, even better.

We would expect Mr. Bennet to be against their behavior since, at that time, propriety and decency were most valued. It was very easy for a girl to lose her good reputation in the early 19th century. Yet, we would be mistaken. Mr. Bennet has quite an indolent character, always choosing the path of least resistance. He does not try to prevent his daughters from acting foolish, from socializing with relatives and the officers stationed in Meryton. His permissiveness is what later allows Lydia to make a huge mistake that almost ruins her sisters. Lydia is invited by an officer's wife to accompany them to Bath. Elizabeth quickly goes to her father and asks him to forbid Lydia's trip. He, however, hopes that Lydia will realize her own insignificance upon going to Bath with the others. He dismisses Elizabeth's concerns only to be surprised by Lydia's eloping with Mr. Wickham. At that time, if a girl eloped, she was regarded as sinful, and tainted the reputation of her sisters, preventing them from finding husbands.