Cristian Andres Medina Rua

Professor Jaime Patio

Literature L2: Analysis of the Marriage theme in the Screen Adaptations
of Pride and Prejudice
May 26, 2015
The first sentence of the novel talks about a common understanding of
costume that relates back to the era Jane Austen wrote in, It is a truth
universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune
must be in want of a wife. As it turns out with the story, both in the novel and
film adaptations, instead of the men in want of wives, we see the women in
want of husbands with sizable fortunes. This is an era when people hardly
married for love, and most did with the intent of rising up the social classes
hierarchy, making useful acquaintances and obtaining a large wealth. This is a
theme that the author herself is criticizing during Pride and Prejudice through
the words and actions of her main character, Elizabeth Bennet.
In the big screen adaptations, even though the 1940 film is less of a strict
adaptation than the 2005 version, I think Greer Garson did the better job of
interpreting Austens voice and capturing Elizabeths spirit, wit and sense of
humor. Jane Austen has been often described as a satirist, and when reading
the novel I was under the impression that characters such as Mr. Collins were
created as comedic figures. The scene that comes to mind is on chapter 19
and I think it was adapted much more enthusiastically in Aldous Huxleys 1940
film. It is in this chapter that Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth and she refuses
his proposal, i.e. I am very sensible of the honor of your proposals, but it is
impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them.
Elizabeth's rejection is very unusual, as many women of that time would
have agreed to marry. Her views were so different that she was very surprised
and could not understand that almost immediately after rejecting Mr. Collins
her friend Charlotte marries him. It is because of the way society worked at
that time, that the marriage doesn't come as a shock to most and even
Charlotte says, I am not a romantic, nor have I ever been. The reason for

Charlotte marrying Mr. Collins isn't love because that isn't what was expected
at that time. Take for example her mother, who has different views to Lizzie.
She understands how society works and accepts the norm; therefore she tries
to persuade her daughter and make her reconsider her not accepting the
proposal.
Another example of how society worked within marriage at that time is the
relationship between Jane and Charles. Today, one of Jane's views on why
she wanted to marry Bingley would be considered questionable - she says
Bingley is of 'the perfect breeding'. This nowadays is used to refer to animals,
but in those days it didn't.
Both Elizabeth and Austen were brought up in the middle of a classconscious society, however they both refused several men who proposed to
them, potentially harming their possibilities for a financially secure future.
They were ahead of their times for showing their readers the view that the
only reason to marry is love.
Nonetheless, the modern character of Elizabeth could be one of the reasons
why the 2005 version is less truthful to the original story. Attempting to relate
to the more modern liberal views of women that Austen gave us in her story,
historical inaccuracies such as the early morning scene when Darcy proposes
a second time to Elizabeth, who meets him in her nightgown and with no vest,
were portrayed in the later film adaptation. We must not forget women in the
Regency era are still expected to behave in a certain way, and become
accomplished at things like needlework and music. Even though in Huxleys
1940 adaptation the costumes and scenery are set in a different time from the
book, one of the things I think they did well was maintaining the sense of
modesty, courtship and gallantry of the 19th century.
Also, in the 2005 adaptation we find some of the dialogue and manners of
many of the characters too modern to be faithful to the novel. To take the
simplest example, this versions Mr. Bingley, with the unkempt hair and the

clumsy dialogue, is enough to distract us away from the beautiful

cinematography, country roads and mountains.
Regardless of which film adaptation is the best, I think that in both the 1940
and 2005 version, Elizabeth doesn't seem to like the role of women in
marriage and opposes it, whereas others seemed to accept it. She is
independent, very clever and witty. Her autonomy is the main feature that
separates her from others and is also what makes her a very different (and
surprising) character for her time.