She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 1. When Mr. Bennet makes us laugh, we laugh with him. But when it comes to his wife, we are laugh at her. Austen portrays Mrs. Bennet in an unattractive way, telling us straight away how stupid she is, that she has little understanding of things, doesn’t know much about anything, and is not in control of her emotions.