Pride and Prejudice - Diary Entries for Mr. Bennet - set in part 2

Author's Note: I wrote this for a creative writing assignment in grade 11 English. Each student was assigned a particular character follow throughout the course of the novel Pride and Prejudice. The first assignment involved a seminar about the character, their views on status, marriage, money, etc., whether the character was a caricature, how they exhibited pride and prejudice, etc. The second assignment involved writing three diary entries, scattered throughout the novel, written in the style and from the point of view of the assigned character. The character I was assigned was Mr. Bennet and, even though I don't seriously believe he would be the type of person to keep any sort of journal, I needed to write these in order to get the marks. Btw, I don't make any claim to the novel or the characters and I'm not making any money off of this, so don't sue me….please….I'm serious…I have too little money as it is. Feel free to leave your comments and criticism.

In my rush to gain London as soon as possible, I have neglected to bring a book with me and

am forced to endure the intolerably long journey there by writing. No matter what Lydia has done in

the past, this is by far the most outrageous thing she has ever done. Of all the foolish things that

could be produced by the advice of her mother, this event is the most inconvenient that could ever

be contrived. In my hurry to find Wickham and the girl he has had the misfortune to become

engaged to, I have no time yet for anger at anyone but Lydia and my thoughts are not yet tinged by

regret of any kind. Though I knew full well that her head was full of nonsense, I had hoped that it was

so devoid of sense that she would not know the meaning of marriage and commitment. Obviously,

that was not the case, for I neglected to take into account that the idea of marital felicity is the

highest degree of nonsense and that it is only the commitment and the reality of marriage that falls

within the realm of reason and sense. Lydia has no idea how to act by design, that much is certain,

but in a way I wish that did, as that, at least, would show a tiny scrap of intelligence.

I am not fond of London and I am less fond of going there not of my own will. Perhaps, if I had

wanted to avoid a situation like this, I should have advised Lydia in particular that she should wish to

be crossed in love. After all, since she so desperately desires to be better than her sisters, she

should have followed Jane's example and sought to experience that for herself, instead of rushing

headlong into marriage. In London, I do not even know where to begin looking for my foolish

daughter as she has hardly enough sense to go anywhere a reasonable person would. I think I have

wasted enough paper now and must turn my thoughts to what I shall do upon arriving at London.