Eighteenth-century American humorist and lecturer Henry Wheeler Shaw once said, "To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel yourself in that direction of from time to time." This wise and forthright statement highlights the fact that parents play a significant role in a child's education because of the example they set with their actions. In Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, the witty protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, is greatly influenced by the words and actions of her parents, as evidenced by her poor judgment and prejudice towards the wealthy aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy. Jane Austen's portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet's character suggests that her prejudice originates from her parents' defects and their inability to communicate. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay After being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for twenty years, Elizabeth is acutely aware of their failures. Mr. Bennet, the father and only male figure in the Bennet family, is initially portrayed sympathetically due to his imperturbable composure and sense of humor in the face of Mrs. Bennet's hysterical anxiety attacks. As his character is more fully revealed, however, his particular flaw - a propensity to withdraw from family problems rather than confront them - becomes more apparent. Indeed, Mr. Bennet often separates himself from his family, retiring early to his study to read books, drink port, or amuse himself bitterly with the nonsense of his wife or daughters. This tendency towards critical judgments and his blatant favoritism towards Elizabeth are revealed in his statement: They [his children, with the exception of Elizabeth] have no one to recommend them... They are all foolish and ignorant like other girls ; but Lizzy has something more quickness than her sisters. If this is the opinion of the “proud” father, his daughters are most likely happy that he spends most of his time studying. Bennet often displays an equally poor character. His flaws include a short temper and a hasty spirit. The narrator describes Mrs. Bennet as "a woman of little understanding, little information, and an uncertain character." Indeed, Mrs. Bennet is often anxious, upset, and distressed at the slightest provocation (such as a neighbor owning a new bonnet); similarly, a single, wealthy man in the vicinity of Longbourne can excite her temper to the point of dizziness and send her into a frenzy. Furthermore, Mrs. Bennet is prone to harboring a grudge against anyone who contradicts her own ideas. For example, Mrs. Bennet questions Darcy's name when he prefers not to dance with any of the local girls - or with Elizabeth, in particular, who appears to be sitting nearby. This slight slight causes Mrs. Bennet to confess that she hates Darcy for the rest of her days. Elizabeth's quick temper, stubborn opinions, and hasty decision making mirror her mother's character, while her overly critical analyzes of others and inclination to ruminate parallel her father's behavior. Another factor influencing Elizabeth Bennet's quick - and on many occasions rash - judgments is her parents' inability to communicate with each other. The Bennets married because Mrs. Bennet was young and beautiful and Mr. Bennet was charming; these traits, however, were eclipsed as more pronounced differences emerged. The emotional distance between the parents is so widespread that the narrator.