Role of Family

Question 1

What was the role of family in Regency period?

Answer 1

• Society’s expectations affected family priorities
• Children had a governess often
• You had pride in your family. Elizabeth, Darcy, Lady C
• Family members concerned about marriage (Mrs Bennet)
• Actions of your family members affected your own reputation

Question 2

How does Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins behaviour affect their family?

Answer 2

• Mrs Bennet at ball ‘we own him no such particular civility’ about Mr Darcy, in earshot
• Mr Collins at ball ‘spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room’
• Both show a lack of manners + awareness for social etiquette.
• Reflects badly on Elizabeth and Jane, worsens reputation
  ‘Elizabeth was in agonies’
  Ironic-
• Mrs Bennet wants to get her daughters married (‘business of her life’) but she worsens their chances.
• Darcy warns Bingley against an ‘imprudent marriage’ (-Colonel Fitzwilliam) with Jane

Question 3

How does Lydia’s behaviour affect their family?

Answer 3

• Lydia’s elopement harms whole family’s reputation, disgraceful.
• Elizabeth says ‘everything must sink under such a proof of family weakness … deepest disgrace’
  ‘family’ -the entire family is * judged by her disgrace
  Superlative ‘deepest’ shows severity