Mrs bennet Quote by Jane Austen
““An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only six with him from London—his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five altogether—Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Mrs. Bennet anxiously plans a dinner, but Bingley's sudden travel and fluctuating party size cause social uncertainty and disappointment.
In simple terms: Mrs. Bennet's plans are disrupted by Bingley's unpredictable schedule.
Key Takeaway
Adapt plans when social events change.
Themes
society
expectation
uncertainty
courtship
Mood
anxious
light‑hearted
Type
narrative
social commentary
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- courtship negotiations
- family expectations
Key Concepts
social dynamics
communication
status anxiety
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one manage expectations in social planning?
- What strategies reduce anxiety over uncertain invitations?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on others' schedules can lead to frustration.
![“Everybody is taken in at some period or another. [...] In marriage especially. [...] There is not one in a hundred of either sex, who is not taken in when they marry. Look where I will, I see that it is so; and I feel that it must be so, when I consider that it is, of all transactions, the one in…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37a/jane-austen-39_marriage_everybody-is-taken-in-at-some-period-or_7175.jpg)
