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
- Introduction
- Analogies Between the Novels
- Character Comparison: Elizabeth and Bridget
- Outward Appearance
- Education and Intelligence
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to explore the parallels and differences between Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary, focusing on the similarities and differences between their respective heroines, Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones. The analysis will examine how these characters reflect the values and societal expectations of their respective eras, and how Fielding adapts Austen's classic narrative for a late 20th-century audience.
- Comparison of plot structures and character arcs between the two novels.
- Analysis of the heroines' outward appearances and self-perceptions.
- Examination of the heroines' education, intelligence, and social standing.
- Exploration of the themes of pride, prejudice, and societal expectations.
- Discussion of the evolution of romantic relationships across different time periods.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage by acknowledging Helen Fielding's admitted inspiration from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in creating Bridget Jones's Diary. It highlights the surprising relevance of Austen's nearly two-hundred-year-old novel to a modern audience and poses key questions about the parallels between the novels and their heroines, their respective times, and Fielding's adaptations. The introduction effectively lays the groundwork for a comparative analysis of the two works and their protagonists.
Analogies Between the Novels: This section delves into specific plot similarities between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary. It highlights key parallels such as the similar names of the male protagonists (Darcy), their wealthy social standing, the initial meeting at social gatherings, the negative first impressions leading to prejudice, the presence of a rival character disliked by the Darcy figure and initially admired by the heroine, and the assistance provided by the Darcy figure to a member of the heroine's family. The section successfully establishes a foundation of shared narrative structures, highlighting the deliberate choices Fielding made in adapting the original story.
Character Comparison: Elizabeth and Bridget: Outward Appearance: This section explores the contrasting ways in which the physical appearances of Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones are presented. While Austen's narrative offers indirect descriptions of Elizabeth's appearance through the varying opinions of other characters, Fielding's diary format provides a direct, yet subjective, account of Bridget's self-perception. The section analyzes how these different narrative approaches contribute to our understanding of each character's self-esteem and relationship with societal beauty standards. The contrasting descriptions, through subjective and objective lenses, highlight the different ways beauty is perceived and presented in the two novels.
Character Comparison: Elizabeth and Bridget: Education and Intelligence: This section compares the education and intelligence of Elizabeth and Bridget. It examines how Elizabeth, despite a lack of formal education by 19th-century standards, is portrayed as witty and intelligent, while Bridget, possessing a university degree, is often depicted as lacking intellectual confidence and sophistication. The comparison highlights the different societal expectations and standards of education for women in the two time periods, emphasizing the contextual factors influencing the heroines' self-perceptions and social interactions.
Keywords
Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary, Jane Austen, Helen Fielding, Elizabeth Bennet, Bridget Jones, romantic comedy, adaptation, social class, gender roles, self-esteem, body image, societal expectations, 19th-century novel, contemporary fiction, parallels, differences, character analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of *Pride and Prejudice* and *Bridget Jones's Diary*
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a comparative analysis between Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The analysis focuses on the similarities and differences between the heroines, Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones, and how their respective narratives reflect the societal values and expectations of their eras.
What are the main themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes, including the comparison of plot structures and character arcs; an examination of the heroines' outward appearances and self-perceptions; a comparison of their education, intelligence, and social standing; an exploration of the themes of pride, prejudice, and societal expectations; and a discussion of the evolution of romantic relationships across different time periods.
What specific aspects of Elizabeth Bennet and Bridget Jones are compared?
The comparison focuses on the outward appearances of both characters, contrasting the indirect descriptions in Austen's novel with the direct, subjective account in Fielding's diary. It also examines their education and intelligence, highlighting the different societal expectations and standards for women in their respective eras.
How does the analysis approach the comparison between the two novels?
The analysis uses a comparative approach, highlighting specific plot similarities and exploring how Fielding adapts Austen's classic narrative for a modern audience. It examines both the parallels and differences between the novels, focusing on the characters, plot structures, and underlying themes.
What are some of the key plot similarities highlighted in the analysis?
The analysis points out similarities such as the similar names of the male protagonists (Darcy), their wealthy social standing, the initial meeting at social gatherings, the negative first impressions leading to prejudice, the presence of a rival disliked by the Darcy figure and initially admired by the heroine, and the assistance provided by the Darcy figure to a member of the heroine's family.
What is the significance of the different narrative styles in *Pride and Prejudice* and *Bridget Jones's Diary*?
The analysis highlights how the different narrative styles (third-person narration in Austen's novel versus first-person diary entries in Fielding's) influence our understanding of the heroines' self-perceptions and their relationship with societal beauty standards. The contrasting perspectives provide valuable insights into how beauty is perceived and presented in each novel.
What are the key words associated with this comparative analysis?
Key words include: Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary, Jane Austen, Helen Fielding, Elizabeth Bennet, Bridget Jones, romantic comedy, adaptation, social class, gender roles, self-esteem, body image, societal expectations, 19th-century novel, contemporary fiction, parallels, differences, and character analysis.
What does the introduction to the analysis accomplish?
The introduction sets the stage by acknowledging Fielding's inspiration from Austen, highlighting the surprising relevance of Austen's novel to a modern audience, and posing key questions about the parallels between the novels and their heroines. It effectively lays the groundwork for the comparative analysis.
What is covered in the chapter on "Analogies Between the Novels"?
This section delves into the specific plot similarities between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary, highlighting key parallels in narrative structure and demonstrating Fielding's deliberate adaptation of the original story.
What is discussed in the chapters on "Character Comparison: Elizabeth and Bridget"?
These chapters compare Elizabeth and Bridget in terms of their outward appearance and their education and intelligence. They analyze how these aspects reflect the societal expectations and standards for women in their respective time periods.
- Citation du texte
- Nina Dietrich (Auteur), 2002, Children of Their Time: Elizabeth Bennet versus Bridget Jones, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/3070
