Portraying Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice on Film

Thesis abstract This study explores Jane Austen's renowned novel Pride and Prejudice from the point of view of its film adaptations, focusing on five adaptations. Each adaptation interprets the novel differently and embodies a different reading of the novel. The study concentrates on the analysis of the film adaptations of Jane Austen's novel but also evaluates what has changed over time in the perception, understanding, and appreciation of the characters and their actions, through the changes made in each adaptation. While it is apparent that each film adaptation differs from one another and from the novel itself, the questions of why these changes have been made and what purpose they serve will be addressed. The primary focus is on the heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, and on the hero, Mr. Darcy, how their personas have been portrayed in each adaptation and as a result how the expectations of the viewing public are met and created by the film industry. The deployment of characters as well as the portrayal of key moments in the novel are investigated to show the changing perception of the position of women in society, romantic relationships, social and family life. The First part of this study deals with the critical reception and public response of the Hollywood film version from 1940. The Second part of the..