Question

Why does Mr. Bennet believe Mr. Gardiner gave Wickham money to marry Lydia?

A) He believes Mr. Gardiner is trying to gain favor with Wickham.
B) He thinks Mr. Gardiner was trying to prevent a scandal.
C) He believes Mr. Gardiner is secretly fond of Lydia.
D) He thinks Mr. Gardiner was deceived by Wickham's lies.

Answer 1

Mr. Bennet believes Mr. Gardiner gave Wickham money to marry Lydia to prevent a scandal and protect the family's reputation. Therefore, the correct multiple-choice option is (B).

Step-by-step explanation:

Mr. Bennet believes Mr. Gardiner provided money to Wickham to marry Lydia because he thinks Mr. Gardiner was trying to prevent a scandal. This belief is based on the understanding of the social context of the time in which Pride and Prejudice is set, where a woman's and her family's reputation could be significantly harmed by such scandalous behavior.

Mr. Gardiner, being a caring relative, likely wanted to protect the family's reputation and ensure that Lydia was married to avoid disgrace. Therefore, the correct multiple-choice option is (B).