Pride Prejudice Bridget Jones s Diaries Comparative Essay
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Pride & Prejudice/Bridget Jones's Diaries Comparative Essay
Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice tells the story of middle and upper class society in eighteenth century England. Through the portrayal of the young heroin Elizabeth Bennet, and the trials both she and those around her faced in the quest for happiness, Austen has produced a timeless novel, groundbreaking at the time of its writing as it challenged the perception of what the expected role of a woman was. The society within which the novel is set was a predominately patriarchal one where money and social status were most important and a woman's life was restricted. Most choices were made for them and they were expected not to object. Through comparison to other women within her family and social circle Elizabeth Bennet displays an almost feminist mindset, an independent young woman who stayed true to her moral code and valued her own happiness above pleasing others and in doing this defied the social norms of her time. Pride and Prejudice is a love story; it follows a year in the life of Elizabeth Bennet and her search for a partner. It was Austen's novel that gave fellow author Helen Fielding the inspiration for her novel, translated into film, Bridget Jones's Diary, a contemporary version of Austen's novel set in the mid 1990's. The main character Bridget Jones displays many similarities to Austen's Elizabeth Bennet with both women highlighting the importance of making the right decisions, the danger of first impressions and overcoming pride and prejudice in order to find fulfilment in both life and love. There are also other characters in the film which parallel Austen's. Through the study of both texts the issues surrounding love, finding the right partner and the role of marriage is shown to be timeless...