Lydia Brings Whickam Home

Quite the scandal, Lydia runs off with Mr. Whickam, and they are not even married! Her parents were obviously not expecting this. Their reaction thereof was sort of - concerned, frightened, dissapointed?

But after, when Lydia returns with Mr. Whickam - a patched up marriage and not the least bit embarassed - her parents seem not the least bit upset. Okay, let me rephrase that, Mrs. Bennett seems not the least bit upset, while Mr. Bennett hides his frustration inside.

"Her mother stepped forwards, embraced her, nad welcomed her with rapture; gave her hand with an affectionate smile to Wickham [...]" I guffawed (great word, right?) at this, his her mother insane???? "[...] wished them both joy, with an alacrity which showed no doubt to their happiness" (p. 234).

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!? Just minutes ago, her mother was complaining of her "nerves" and sitting in her room moaning and crying about the situation.

Her father's reaction is a bit better, but not what I would expect from a father who's daughter was just married after a bit of a scandalous situation. "Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned, was not quite so cordial. His countenance rather gained in austerity; and he scarcely opened his lips" (p.234).

If I came home like Lydia did, my dad would be waiting with a gun, a spanking spoon, and my mother with a jar full of Holy Water - make that a bucket. My dad, even though from New York, and not Texas or some other Southern State, would have blasted Mr. Whickam to pieces, and then beaten me severly upside the...rear end. My mother would have sat down and prayed the rosary a gazillion times for everyone's souls.

So, why do Mr. and Mrs. Bennett not seem (or show) a bit of concern? I have no idea. At least Elizabeth and Jane's reactions are somewhat normal for the situation, "Elizabeth was disgusted and even Miss Bennet (Jane) was shocked" (p. 234).

Does Jane Austen have Mrs. Bennet react in this way to purely show her bipolar temperment? That was a bit of an exxageration, but Mrs. Bennet really does frustrate me sometimes. How can she be so absurd? Her daughter's husband just caused so much stress, and then she welcomes them back like they were the perfect couple ever.

Argh! And Whickam enfuriates me to no end. "Whickam was not at all more distressed than herself [the little pedifile, seriously, how old is he, twentyish? And he runs off with a 16 year old! Blach!] but his manners were always so pleasing [humph, yeah right! The little suck up!] that had his character and his marriage been exactly as they ought, his smiles and his easy address, while he claimed their relationship, would have delighted them all" (p. 235).

Well, at least the last bit of "would have" was stuck in there, or else I would have just been absolutely disgusted that his "manners" had made them all forget his actions.

How absurd that their family can actually stand to have the couple back at the house, at most, only Lydia should have visited without the companionment of Mr. Whickam.

And while I am being furious at Lydia, I'll include this quote she states from page 246, "...you know marrie dwomen have never much time for writing. My sisters may write to me. They will have nothing else to do." Doesn't that just want you to blush for her? Or, the opposite, douse her with water, to see if she will come to her senses? Her "charming" (p. 236) husband whom her "sisters must all envy" (p. 236) was PAID to marry her by his most hated ex-brother-like-friend!

How dumb can someone get? It does not seem to be anyone's nature to clearly shut out everything that goes on arround them, and envolves them, but apparently that is what Lydia is doing! Argh! It just frustrates me to no end. Why doesn't anyone sit her down and discuss her situation with her? Well, maybe that wouldn't be the best idea... maybe it is better that she blindly enters into a marriage where her husband was paid to marry her, and only married her for the money.

But still... argh!