Compare And Contrast Husband And Dr

Being a father and a husband can be hard, just ask Darth Vader from the popular Star Wars movie series. The keys to being a good father entail caring about, having patience with, and loving and trusting each member of their family, which are not his strengths. Similar to Darth Vader, both Mr. Bennet and Torvald Helmer, in the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and the play A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen, don’t exhibit these characteristics. Mr. Bennet, however, would have the edge over Torvald of being a better father and husband because of many different reasons and examples.

Mr. Bennet and Torvald are not perfect. They make mistakes and do things that are contrary to what good fathers should do. One of Torvald’s biggest downfalls as a

Bennet had some flaws too, but he learned from his mistakes. He was sarcastic and teased his wife, but never once laid a hand on her for any reason. Mr. Bennet didn’t love his wife either though and his daughter Elizabeth saw it. She said that, “her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement” (Austen 159). He liked to tease and make fun of Mrs. Bennet and their daughters. One example is when an eligible young man moved in near the Bennets. His wife and daughters had been pleading him to invite the neighbor over for dinner so he could possibly become interested in one of the daughters. Mr. Bennet refused to extend the invitation but later went behind their backs to invite him over and didn’t tell his family until just hours before he arrived. He found great amusement in this and explained how, “The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest” (Austen 4). This is just one example of his emotional cruelty. Although Mr. Bennet may be emotionally abusive at times, he does attempt to talk and consult with his wife, unlike Torvald with his wife Nora. The Bennets don’t always agree but they do take the first step and hear each other’s opinions. On one occasion, their daughter Elizabeth had just been asked by Mr. Collins to marry him. Elizabeth didn’t want to marry him and tried to tell him no, but Mrs. Bennet strongly felt that she should. Mrs. Bennet went to go get her husband and said, “Mr. Bennet, you are

Bennet may have had her trust, neither Torvald nor Mr. Bennet are very interested in their kids. Mr. Bennet spends most of his time in his library reading. The reader is told that, “with a book he was regardless of time” (Austen 7). He wasn’t too concerned with what was going on with his family, however, he loved when his kids were around. After Elizabeth came back from a long trip he continually said to her, “I am glad you are come back, Lizzy” (Austen 150). He cares more about his kids than Torvald. Torvald neglected his kids and forget about them almost entirely. Mr. Bennet realized that his life and marriage wasn’t what he had wished for and acknowledged “the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage” (Austen 160). He didn’t want his kids to make the same mistakes he did and felt bad for them. When his daughter Elizabeth was deciding whether to marry Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet made sure she thought through her decision. He told her to choose someone she respects and trusts and truly loves. Once she explained what he was like and how she does love and respect him, Mr. Bennet said, “If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy” (Austen 254). He respected her decision and felt that she would be happy with Mr. Darcy. He knew she wasn’t making the same mistake he