Did Mrs Bennet bring about the happy ending?

Food for thought. Mrs. Bennet is so hysterical annoying most of the time I hardly want to give her credit for anything. Mr. Bennet probably would have gone anyway. I nearly died laughing when Darcy walked away from her at the assembly. So she started Elizabeth's hatred of him. Yes, she knew what she was about with the horse ride. If Jane hadn't been sick Lizzie would never have had to stay there and interact with Darcy. Her visit to Netherfield embarrassed Lizzie so much that she could not wait to get away. So Jane & Lizzie might have left sooner than they would have. If she had not encouraged Mr. Collins to marry Lizzie he might not have asked her and then after being so soundly rejected he might not have been susceptive to Charlotte. Her going to Brighton probably would have made it easier for Lizzie and Darcy to get together at Pemberley. Yes, she knew what she was about with Bingley and Jane. In short, I guess Lizzie and Darcy probably do owe their happiness to Mrs. Bennet. Yikes, should I start liking her now? Serena how could you do this to me???

Sorry, was exerimenting with that font size thing. Didn't think it would be that big.

have you tried our Arts and Crafts room at Austentest? Great stuff there

Thanks Johanne, I didn't know about Austentest. Sorry about the shouting.

No a problem, Vivian, but I do think Mrs Bennet has helped along tremendously.. inspite of being 'vulgar and uncouth'.. cannot believe I'm typing this too

I read in a preface to the book (don't remember by whom) that Mrs. Bennet was a better parent than Mr. Bennet. She was justified in her worry for her daughters' future, although she exxagerated (we'll be thrown do die in the hedgerows). We saw what happened to the Dashwood women in S&S. The father didn't put away money for their future, and didn't discipline the young daughters so their behavior was outrageous.He also degraded the mother in front of the daughters, which is not nice to do. In other adaptations of P&P (besides 2), Mrs. Bennet is not portrayed as such a hysterical woman, although its very clear from the novel that she is silly.

Yes, she was silly in her attempts to marry her daughters out, Anat. But it did pay off for her, 2 daughters well married.. and the romance for us to enjoy as viewers and readers.. I begin to like her more and more..

Are there any other takers on Mrs Bennet and her efforts towards the happy ending...??

I think both her parents helped Lizzie resolve that a marriage without respect is worse than spinsterhood, as she herself told Jane. Mr. Collins never stood a chance, thank goodness! She could never have accepted Darcy without respecting him for the person he was.

Yes, that is so true Linda. Lizzy was indeed aware of the disparity of respect and understanding between her parents. And wanted to find true love herself. But Mrs Bennet acting on her own ability, was simply trying to do the best she could in her own way, to 'promote' the lives of her daughters. She was trying to settle them well for hers and their own sake.. however, her methods and ways could sometimes be disputable. But I believe in her heart she did what she thought was best for them. In that sense, I thought she contributed to the happy ending... am I mistaken?

I do agree. Sometimes it's hard to see the good intent under all that awfulness, but she was certainly doing what she thought best for all her girls.