The idea that Mr. Bennett is somehow producing, in Elizabeth, all the trappings of a son he would have preferred to have despite having 5 daughters, is not supported by the text.  This is why Ms. Fraiman must look to another, Ms. Rich, to draw her point home. Ms. Fraiman seems to be in some internal disagreement with the author she quotes to make her point. The idea that Mr. Bennett is making Lizzy into a son is a weak argument on its face. Other than the idea that Elizabeth tends to have more in common with her father leads only one to believe that Mr. Bennett shares more femininity with Lizzy than Lizzy shares masculinity with her dad. As I mentioned before, this idea rings most true in the very beginning, even Ms. Fraiman points this out in her critique, when Mr. Bennett keeps the secret the fact that he will be visiting the newly arrived Mr. Darcy with the purpose of marrying off his daughters, most importantly Lizzy. Here it is clear that Mr. Bennett wants his girls happy and taken care of, and wishes them to be proper girls and not silly little girls. None of the actions taken by Mr. Bennett in anyway resemble that of a man wanting or preferring a son. He is a reader and fancies himself well educated and mature. These are not traits of young men. Reading is a trait of women during this time.

Questions

1.     Do you think Mr. Bennett is reading into Lizzy’s personality a son he never had?

2.     Is it a problem for Mr. Bennett to engage in favoritism when it comes to his daugters?