Thinking Activity: Pride and Prejudice Q&A

This blog-task is a response to the Thinking Activity we have been given after the movie screening of the movie Pride and Prejudice (2005) movie, which is based on the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin.

•  Which version of the novel is more appealing? Novel or film (adaptation)? Why? 

when watching the 2005 movie it is obvious that not only the characters have been transferred onto the screen taking into account the time origins in which the adaptation was made. It appears the film writers carried their own distinctive ideas about the book. In the movie, the first scene is well put as the two activities – reading and walking – characterises Lizzy perfectly. In the novel, there is no mentioning of Elizabeth or her sisters in the first chapter of Pride &Prejudice. Austen invites us to be the witnesses of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s entertaining conversation. 

•  The character of Elizabeth (Headstrong woman, a woman with pride, judgmental, mature, strong-opinions, controlled, honest) 

Austen described Elizabeth as a smart, funny and bright young woman.  she is the least dear to her mother, but always father’s favourite for having „something more of quickness than her sisters “Austen described Lizzy as she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous. And she really had. She was funny, playful, smart and very loyal to her family, even though it was the very same family that unconsciously embarrassed her at every possible moment. To be truthful to description, her sense of humour was not always understood neither accepted as she spoke her mind on social standards quite unscrupulously “In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal.”  

• The character of Mr. Darcy (Man with pride (male ego), reserved, introvert, observer, silent lover, superiority complex, true lover) 

Austen indirectly described him as a mysterious and unpredictable character whom we only begin to understand towards the end. As the story was entirely told from Elizabeth’s perspective, she described him as quite unsympathetic, proud and condescending. To support this analysis there is one example of his self-evaluation “...where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation”. We could translate his words as follows - I think of myself as of someone with a superior intellect and such people do not yield to feelings like pride because they can regulate them. Mr. Darcy thought highly of himself and found everyone beneath him. Showing his snobbish attitude at the Meryton ball and addressing Elizabeth with an inconsiderate remark was only the beginning. 

•  Give illustrations of the society of that time. (Jane Austen's presentation) 

In Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen portrayed issues like love, class, woman’s position in society. Austen uses satire to provide a social critique on love. She uses Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Lady Catherine, and Mr. Collins to point out potential problems with the current social norms of love, class, and position in order to bring about change within society. Mrs. Bennet is a frivolous woman prone to fainting spells. Her goal in life is to find suitors for her daughters and she'll stop at nothing to do so. 

•  If you were a director or screenplay writer, what sort of difference would you make in the making of the movie? 

Joe Wright, director of the movie and Deborah Moggach, screenwriter attempted to be as faithful to the novel as possible. The screenwriter mainly emphasized Elizabeth's perspective while preserving much of the original dialogue. They have set the film in an earlier period instead of a "muddy hem version" of the time. The film’s opening and the ending is changed. So, there is no need to change anything from the movie. Besides, the character of Mr. Darcy. I Would make him more expressive but indirectly, he will stay like the introvert charcter that Jane Austin made him.

•  Who would be your choice of actors to play the role of characters? 

Here's the character switch that I would like to see on the screen playing respective roles.

Keira Kinghtley Played Elizabeth Bennet

Robbie Margot 

Robbie Margot is famous for playing the role of Harley Quinn in the Movie, Suicide Squad (2016) and Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey (2020) in these movies she played the character which is mentaly unstable.

Johnny Depp

Matthew Macfadyen