Consider the phrase: "wrestle with a dilemma." what does this phrase mean; what figure of speech is it?

The missionaries who appear in the novel are colonists from britain portugal spain italy

Who said this in of pride & prejudice, and what type of irony does it show? “you mistake me, my dear. i have a high respect for your nerves. they are my old friends. i have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.” a.mrs. bennet: situational irony b.mr. bingley: dramatic irony c.elizabeth: proverbial irony d.mr. bennet: verbal irony

London includes a quote about john thornton as he is observing hal attempt to motivate the exhausted dogs "it was idle, he knew, to get between a fool and his folly". if the word "idle" is defined as "of no real worth, importance, or significance", what does this statement mean with regard to hal? who is the fool? what is hal's folly? why would john thornton think it of no real worth or useless to intervene?