Pride and Prejudice Adaptations in Modern Film Essay -- Jane Austen

Love in Relationships vs. Love for OneselfIn a day where loving yourself first is not scarcely real but often expected, it is a stretch for the 20th (or 21st) century forefront to see marriage as a necessity, as it was for Jane Austen and some of the superior of her heroines. Marriage for money and convenience, as well as familial preservation, form altogethery dominated matchmaking choices. Love and romance were but luxuries in the business-like fashion of marriage. Austen contend this reality and criticized it, but she also placed one thing preceding(prenominal) romance the Self. Austen undoubtedly prizes respect for the Self above social forecast and relationships. Handler and Segal (45) noted that themes of independence, dependence, and choice are recurring throughout all of Austens works. Recent film adaptations to Austen have decided to downplay these themes, however, in exchange for playing up the romance. These films reveal the 20th century vehemence on romance at the cost of excluding the already established immenseness of self-k instantlyledge. insolence and Prejudice, Austens first written but later create novel, is a commentary on the importance in society of heritage and achievement. Austen obviously valued ones achieved virtues over inherited status, a revolutionary notion for a female of the day. Elizabeth Bennet, Austens own sass to criticize her times, bridges the gap between 19th century impressibility and 20th century self-exploration. Lizzy, though given the opportunity on to a greater extent than one occasion (Mr. Darcys first and Mr. Collinss only proposal) to save herself from her impending poverty as well as salve her familys estate, choose rather to be alone than to be in a situation that would compromise her principles. She is a woman of a strong-willed character who puts herself above her societys expectations of her. If Elizabeths parents had known of her sign refusal of Darcy their disbelief would have probably outwei ghed her reasons for rejecting him. Even Mr. Bennet, though a unbendable supporter of Elizabeth, may not have felt that she had acted prudently use uping the familys situation. This was before her sister Jane was engaged to the wealthy Mr. Bingley, and concern over the forthcoming entailment of the estate to Mr. Collins was still great. She didnt even consider Darcy until her began exhibiting signs that he respected her, such as his ... ...rement for well-rounded development, and as it has choke more common, its importance has been taken for granted. How Austen would deal with this present reality is unsure but likely with some disdain. Austen did not preach revolution and womens rights, she only presented her world as she saw how it was and how it should be. Now that the Self has now been placed on the back burner for romantic interests or has been ballooned to the point of superabundance is only a creation of the present, a true novelty in human history. That our mediums for entertainment reflect this is only as expected to gather our cultural ideas.Works CitedAusten, J. Pride and Prejudice. Penguin Putnum, Inc. New York 1989.Fielding, H. Bridget Joness Diary. Penguin Putnum, Inc. New York 1996.Handler, R., Segal, D. Jane Austen and the parable of Culture. Rowman & Littlefield, Inc. Maryland 1999.Haskell, M. The Innocent Ways of Renee Zellweger. New York Times, April 8, 2001.Bridget Joness Diary 2001 say by Sharon Maguire.Clueless 1995 directed by Amy Heckerling.Emma 1996 directed by Douglas McGrath.Pride and Prejudice miniseries 1995 BBC/A & E