It is a truth universally acknowledged that Helen Fielding did not invent the plot of her novel Bridget Jones’s Diary, which was first published in 1996, all by herself. When asked about it in an online chat session, Fielding admits that she “shamelessly stole the plot” of Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen (n.pag.). Bridget Jones’s Diary received great praise from critics in the United Kingdom and beyond. In 1999, Fielding published a sequel called Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. A highly anticipated film adaptation entered cinemas in 2001, and soon became very successful. Even though Jane Austen’s novel was published nearly two hundred years earlier than Fielding’s, its plot still seems to be relevant to a turn-of-the-millennium readership. What parallels are there between the two novels and their heroines? In how far are Elizabeth and Bridget children of their time? What changes did Fielding consider necessary when taking Pride and Prejudice into the late 20th century? These questions will be answered in this paper.
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Table of Contents
1. Children of Their Time: Elizabeth Bennet versus Bridget Jones
Goals and Themes
This paper explores the parallels and differences between the heroines of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones’s Diary to understand how their characters reflect the societal expectations and ideals of their respective eras.
- Comparative character analysis of Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones.
- Examination of outward appearance, education, and social status.
- Analysis of the thematic roles of pride and prejudice in both narratives.
- Evaluation of temper, emotional loyalty, and self-confidence.
- Contextualizing the heroines against 19th-century and 20th-century ideals of womanhood.
Excerpt from the Book
Outward Appearance and Self-Perception
First of all, it should be made clear that it is difficult to describe Elizabeth or Bridget’s outward appearance in an objective manner. Jane Austen’s narrator does not give an explicit description of the heroine. However, her appearance is discussed in several parts of the novel sometimes by characters who like Elizabeth, and sometimes by those who strongly dislike her. Similarly, as Helen Fielding’s work is written in the form of a diary, it does not include an objective view of Bridget Jones. It is only Bridget herself who comments on what she likes or dislikes about her own appearance.
As far as Elizabeth’s outward appearance is concerned, there are different opinions. When Mr. Darcy sees her for the first time, he hurts Elizabeth’s pride by calling her only “tolerable” (Austen 13). Elizabeth first laughs off the remark, but then calls Darcy’s pride unforgivable because he has embarrassed her. Later, however, Darcy starts to admire Elizabeth’s eyes, which he calls “fine” (Austen 25). When he tells Miss Bingley about it, she becomes jealous. This is the reason why Miss Bingley criticises Elizabeth harshly whenever she can.
Bridget Jones, on the other hand, constantly complains about the way she looks. In her list of New Year’s Resolutions, she puts down that she would like to “reduce [the] circumference of [her] thighs by three inches” and “go to [a] gym three times a week not merely to buy [a] sandwich” (Fielding 3). Bridget is obsessed with her weight: Trying to become thinner, she loses 5st 3lb in one year – and gains 5st 3lb in the same time (Fielding 310). After her break-up with Daniel Cleaver, Bridget writes: “Why does nothing ever work out? It is because I am too fat” (Fielding 181). In her opinion, being thin equals being beautiful and successful.
Summary of Chapters
1. Children of Their Time: Elizabeth Bennet versus Bridget Jones: This chapter introduces the parallels between the novels, analyzes the characters based on their appearance, education, pride, and temperament, and concludes by comparing them to the societal ideals of their time.
Keywords
Jane Austen, Helen Fielding, Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Comparative Literature, Character Analysis, Femininity, Social Ideals, Pride, Prejudice, Heroine, 19th Century, 20th Century, Romantic Fiction, Literary Adaptation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central subject of this academic paper?
The paper examines the literary connection between Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary, focusing on the character development of their respective protagonists.
What are the primary themes discussed in the analysis?
The core themes include the impact of pride and prejudice on character judgment, the influence of social conventions on women, and the evolution of the "ideal woman" from the 19th to the 20th century.
What is the main goal of the research?
The goal is to determine how Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones function as representations of their time and to explore the necessary changes Fielding made to adapt Austen’s themes for a modern audience.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, categorizing the heroines’ traits into outward appearance, education, pride and prejudice, temperament, and emotional life.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body systematically compares how both heroines interact with their romantic interests (the Darcies), how they navigate societal pressure, and how they define their self-worth through their social circles.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include literary adaptation, characterization, social status, femininity, and the evolution of the female protagonist across centuries.
How does the author evaluate the "outward appearance" of the heroines?
The author notes that both heroines lack objective descriptions; Elizabeth is judged by the subjective perspectives of others, while Bridget focuses exclusively on her own perceived flaws and insecurities.
How is the "ideal of womanhood" contrasted between the two novels?
The paper concludes that while Elizabeth deviates from 19th-century expectations of submissiveness, Bridget fails to meet 20th-century demands for professional perfection and confidence, yet both find happiness by remaining authentic.
- Quote paper
- Nina Dietrich (Author), 2002, Children of Their Time: Elizabeth Bennet versus Bridget Jones, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/3070
