Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

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Analysis on Pride and Prejudice

Film version of Pride and Prejudice

Original script of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was written by Jane Austen in 1813 during romanticism, and its social background is late 18th century England when social rank was highly valued. Unlike texts, cultural characteristics, social, political changes and history are reflected in the form of image in the movie. The original script of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was first dramatised in 1940 by Robert Z. Leonard and also screened in BBC television. This essay will analyse most recently dramatised version of ‘Pride and Prejudice (2005)’ by Joe Wright.

There are different opinions about ‘dramatisation’. D. Andrew (1976) explained ‘dramatising’ as ‘borrowing’ idea from original script and ‘transforming’ it into the film. On the other hand, W. Geoffrey (1975) suggested three ways to dramatise; ‘transposition’, ‘commentary’ and ‘analogy’. However there are dramatised version that created whole new work from part of original script. According to production note of Joe Wright, he mentioned that ‘It was time to bring Austen’s original story, concentrating on Lizzie, back in all its glory to big screen for audience everywhere to enjoy’. Thus, what may brought the director’s attention to this novel is the popularity of novel that can be beloved by everyone. Also, film allows its audience to actually see and hear features such as past image of 18th century England that were existed only format of text or photo. For example, music that are played, clothes and dresses they wear and transportation that they ride is shown in the movie while the original texts describe those features detail.

The film shows the class difference using four factors including marriage, conflicts a...

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...son Australia.

Focus Features. (2005). Pride & Prejudice: The Production | Article: Featured Article | Pride & Prejudice | Focus Features. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.focusfeatures.com/article/pride_prejudice_the_production?film=pride_and_prejudice.

Keiraweb.co.uk. (2005). keiraweb.co.uk - Pride & Prejudice Production Notes. [online] Retrieved from: http://keiraweb.co.uk/ppprod.html.

Kishlansky, M. A., Geary, P. J. & O'brien, P. (1995). Civilization in the west. New York: Harpercollins College Publishers.

Pride and Prejudice. (2005). [film] Focus Features: Joe Wright.

Sheehan, L. (n.d.). Historical Context for Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | The Core Curriculum. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.college.columbia.edu/core/node/1765.

Wagner, G. A. (1975). The novel and the cinema. Rutherford, N.J.: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.

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