She enjoys gossiping with other women in similar positions. An example of this is when Mrs Bennet learns of Netherfield Park having been let because “Mrs Long has just been here and, she told me all about it,” she says. Almost immediately after hearing of this she is in a hurry to tell her husband and asks him if he has heard that Netherfield Park has been rented and “he replied that had not.” Mrs Bennet is terribly excited about the possibility of finding a wealthy husband for one of her daughters whereas Mr Bennet is seemingly nonchalant.  

Mr Bennet presents a false pretence of unconcern; it is his way of amusing himself, tormenting his wife psychologically. He pretends not to care about whether his daughters find rich husbands or not, it will be crucial to their survival when Mr Bennet dies. This is because their family estate and the income that accompanies it has been entailed so that only male heirs are eligible to inherit it. Therefore it is obvious that the marriage of his daughters must be paramount to Mr Bennet.

The stupidity of Mrs Bennet is most apparent when Mr Bennet suggests that it may not be advisable for her to visit Bingley. He says that she is “as handsome as any of them” and that Bingley might fall for her instead of any of the daughters. He is of course teasing her because by this time Mrs Bennet must be at least forty five or fifty now and while she may have been attractive in her youth cannot now compete with Jane’s beauty. Mrs Bennet is completely oblivious to Mr Bennet’s mocking of her and believes that he is genuinely worried that Bingley might fall for her.

Amongst Mrs Bennet’s many flaws there is hypocrisy, she is angered by Mr Bennet’s preference for “Lizzy” the second eldest of their five daughters. However, she herself has two favourites whom she loves more than the other three. Mrs Bennet forgets this when it suits her, in this case to enhance her argument against Mr Bennet.

Although, Mr Bennet is far superior to Mrs Bennet as an intellectual and is naturally a more quiet and withdrawn character, he comes across as a self-righteous and arrogant man. He is convinced that he is doing the correct thing at all times even if it means mocking his own daughters or wife for his own humor. He has not been thorough and has shown a disturbing lack of care in raising his children and this lack of attention later becomes clear in the novel with Lydia’s actions.