While watching the 1980’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, a friend commented that it sounds like the Bennet’s are into S&M. Lizzy tells Charlotte her father repays “pain with pleasure”, as they watch him out the window head off to visit Mr Bingley, despite telling his wife that he refuses to do such a thing.
It’s a reasonable assumption to make from this adaptation of the novel, but it misses the nuance of the text. Mr Bennet’s “sarcastic humour” leads him to conceal his visit to Mr Bingley, because he “had always intended to visit him”. It is his sarcasm, saying the opposite of what he intends. He enjoys “the astonishment” it produces when he reveals that the visit was paid, but is easily “fatigued with the raptures of his wife.”
Mr Bennet, it is implied, enjoys refusing to provide “any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley” to his family. Additionally, he may have intentionally kept Mr Bingley to himself when the visit was returned, though the visitor “had entertained hopes” of meeting the daughters. As the patriarch, Mr Bennet is doing the opposite of what is expected of him.
One of the first character traits of Mr Bennet we are introduced to is his sarcasm, this is merely an example of it.
He “married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her.” As lovely as it would be to think he intends to give Mrs Bennet pleasure, it is merely that “her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement.” This scene could be a misinterpretation of the novel on the part of the scriptwriter or wishful thinking on the part of Lizzy.
My understanding of S&M (though limited) is that it is always respectful and consensual. This does not describe the relationship between the elder Bennets.
I made a funny little video, pairing the adaptation with music from S&M by Rihanna (stepping away from my Taylor Swift obsession for a brief moment).
Audio: S&M by Rihanna
Audio and Video: Pride and Prejudice 1980
If you’d like to discuss this or other aspects of Austen with me, check out my sessions