Why do these characters care so much about the next ball, the man who just moved into the neighborhood, and why having a nice estate but 5 daughters is such a problem? For enhanced enjoyment and understanding, watch this video before reading Austen (especially "Pride and Prejudice").
** Note: As mentioned in several of the comments below, an unnamed ancestor of Mr. Bennet (not Mr. Bennet himself) entailed the estate. Sorry for the confusion.