Pride and Prejudice

To what extend do you agree that Kitty and Lydia were vacant in their minds. Give one example to support your answer.

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Kitty and Lydia thought of nothing beyond themselves, and their own desires. They did not "think" about consequences to their actions...... in fact, they didn't even contemplate their actions prior to plunging in head first into compromising conditions.

Gradesaver says;

"Chapter 7 gives the reader a closer look at the youngest sisters in the Bennet family, Catherine and Lydia. Because of their "vacant" minds, the two sisters love to go to the nearby town of Meryton, where the presence of a militia regiment provides a great deal of amusement. While they were there they visited aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. Mr. Bennet criticizes the silliness of Lydia and Catherine, but is characteristically detached from the situation and makes no attempt to stop them from going to Meryton or even to warn them about the possible dangers of their obsession with the militia officers. Mrs. Bennet does not even criticize the girls, and considers it completely acceptable for the girls to act so frivolously "Œyou must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother.'" Ironically, what Mrs. Bennet's attitude proves is that girls lack of sense is precisely the result of her own foolishness and of Mr. Bennet's indifference. Austen views the family as the fundamental unit of society, within which children educated in virtue. The failure of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet to take their parental duties seriously will result in family disgrace. Their nonchalance with regard to Lydia and Catherine's involvement with the military regiment forebodes future trouble."

Source(s)

http://www.gradesaver.com/pride-and-prejudice/study-guide/section2/

Kitty and Lydia thought of nothing beyond themselves, and their own desires. They did not "think" about consequences to their actions...... in fact, they didn't even contemplate their actions prior to plunging in head first into compromising conditions.

Gradesaver says;

"Chapter 7 gives the reader a closer look at the youngest sisters in the Bennet family, Catherine and Lydia. Because of their "vacant" minds, the two sisters love to go to the nearby town of Meryton, where the presence of a militia regiment provides a great deal of amusement. While they were there they visited aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. Mr. Bennet criticizes the silliness of Lydia and Catherine, but is characteristically detached from the situation and makes no attempt to stop them from going to Meryton or even to warn them about the possible dangers of their obsession with the militia officers. Mrs. Bennet does not even criticize the girls, and considers it completely acceptable for the girls to act so frivolously "Œyou must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother.'" Ironically, what Mrs. Bennet's attitude proves is that girls lack of sense is precisely the result of her own foolishness and of Mr. Bennet's indifference. Austen views the family as the fundamental unit of society, within which children educated in virtue. The failure of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet to take their parental duties seriously will result in family disgrace. Their nonchalance with regard to Lydia and Catherine's involvement with the military regiment forebodes future trouble."

Source(s)

http://www.gradesaver.com/pride-and-prejudice/study-guide/section2/