Pride and Prejudice discussion

Pride and Prejudice

What was Mr. Bennet's profession? Did he have a dwindling fortune on his hands? The man did nothing other then read books!

I believe his occupation was that of 'gentleman', back in the days when it was considered vulgar to work for a living...

Anne wrote: "I believe his occupation was that of 'gentleman', back in the days when it was considered vulgar to work for a living..."

A man of leisure.. that's what I figured.

He lived on the income from his (entailed) estates. There was a farm attached to the Bennets' house; we're told that the horses which draw the carriage are sometimes used on the farm. (Which is another indication of how inferior the Bennets are to the Bingleys, Darcys, etc, that the ladies' carriage is drawn by farm horses. Miss Bingley would sneer at that.)

We don't know whether Mr Bennet was much involved in the day to day management of his estates, or whether he employed a bailiff to do it for him.

At the part where Elizabeth defends herself against Lady Catherine she says something like '"Darcy is a gentleman. I'm a gentleman's daughter. So far, we are equals.'" So yes, Mr. Bennett's profession is "gentleman." But they are relatively poor, because he mismanaged his money and estate and will have nothing to live off of when the estate is entailed to Mr. Collins.

Mr. Bennet was in the class of the Landed Gentry. His land/property, either from farm and/or rental income, produced 2000 pounds a year which was good enough to live a comfortable lifestyle. His estate was to entailed to heirs male and so he didn't think he would have to save any of those funds to provide for his wife and daughters because he assumed they would have a son who would provide for them with the same annual income the estate would continue to produce. Instead we know that Mr. Collins will inherit that property and income upon Mr. Bennet's death because he's the nearest male relation. It wasn't a dwindling fortune, it was just passing to Mr. Collins upon his death.