Mr Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
In this classic, Mrs Bennet is desperate to find the perfect husband for her five daughters. And so, when two wealthy gentlemen arrive in town it becomes her mission to matchmake. Unlike his wife, Mr Bennet is for his period, quite a liberal. Although it’s important that his daughters marry well so they can be provided for in life, he values their happiness more than the rank they can achieve through marriage. “An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.”
