Minding the Business of Others in Pride and Prejudice In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen prominently features interference in many forms. In fact, meddling is the dominant action that drives the plot. The episodes of meddling starkly portray many of the social and economic realities in Austen's world, realities quite different from our own. However, in describing motivations ranging from selfishness to altruism, Austen also uses interference as a litmus test of her characters' intelligence and integrity – qualities valued equally in her time and ours. Bennet's role as an interfering mother is established from the opening scene. She states that she is thinking of their new neighbor, Mr. Bingley, as a potential husband for one of her five daughters. According to her, Mr. Bennet must pay his respects and establish an acquaintance with the rich and promising young man. We find it funny when he insists that his daughter Jane visit Mr. Bingley and his sisters on horseback, in the hope that the threatening weather will force her to spend the night at their Netherfield house. When Jane gets soaking wet and becomes ill, we are amazed to find that Mrs. Bennet is thrilled. He maneuvers to make Jane stay as long as possible, even refusing to send a carriage to take her home. Mrs. Bennet is a determined schemer. We are told, “His life goal was to get his daughters married” (5). Austen reinforces this point in Mrs. Bennet's later relationships with her daughters Elizabeth and Lydia. It would be preferable to sacrifice Elizabeth to the ridiculous Mr. Collins and Lydia to the ignoble Mr. Wickham than to see them unmarried. He intervenes out of pride. But he also does it out… midway through the paper… the final sentence of the novel acknowledges that the Gardiners' well-intentioned interference is responsible for Elizabeth and Darcy's "union" (388). Austen's message is clear: interference is permissible, desirable and successful - when it is "kindly intended". Works Cited: Auerbach, Nina. “Waiting Together: Pride and Prejudice.” Pride and prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. pp. 336-348. Austen, Jane. Pride and prejudice. Ed. RW Chapman. 3rd ed. Oxford: OUP, 1933-1969. Harding, D. W. "Regulated Hate: An Aspect in the Work of Jane Austen." Pride and prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993. pp. 291-295. Johnson, Claudia L. "Pride and Prejudice and the Pursuit of Happiness." Pride and prejudice. By Jane Austen. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: Norton and Co., 1993, pp. 367-376.