Mrs. Bennett's desperation is a little understandable.

During P&P the daughters are Jane (22) Elizabeth (20), Mary (18), Kitty (17) and Lydia is (15). From what I read girls 'came out' between15-19. So Jane has been out for at least three or as many as seven(!) years. I know they don't have many eligible bachelors where they live but Jane is suppose to be especially pretty as well as charming and agreeable. Given the attitude of the time is that marriage is all important for woman (especially with their father's estate being entailed) I can see Mrs. Bennett's desperation a little. Part of her job as a mother is getting her daughters married. If she can't get her most eligible daughter married after trying for many years, she must have truly been afraid of not getting any of them married. As a side note, I am very happy to have lived in a time and place where I (and other woman) can live well regardless of our marital status.