Jane Austen's Book Pride and Prejudice and Director Joe Wright's Film Adaptation

When asking the typical American about the works of Jane Austen the few that don't read will hardly have faintest idea who you are talking about. Those that do read may likely respond with cynicism, attacking the length of the works, the lack of excitement in the plots, or assume a pompous nature of the characters and their affairs. This is of course to be expected in a time and place where actual reading is in decline let alone for such works considered to be as high brow as the works of Jane Austen. In today's modern world, it almost seems that in terms of literature mediums, books are on their way out to make room for film and television. This makes it harder for the themes of Austen's works, most notably her most famous novel Pride & Prejudice, to reach an audience in this visually stimulated era, especially today where films of the period genre are hardly the biggest blockbusters. Despite these disadvantages, the themes of Pride & Prejudice are relevant more then ever in today's modern world. Thanks to today's film techniques and story telling abilities, film producers and directors can find ways to carry on Austen's messages through such modern day adaptations of Pride & Prejudice including the most recent adaptation by rising director Joe Wright. In doing so they make a work previously and unfairly labeled as "high brow" accessible to everyone who feels a connection to these stories and their messages.

Pride & Prejudice tells the story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, a young middle class girl and a very rich English noble. Elizabeth is an independent and romantic young girl who cynically works towards spinsterhood for due to her not finding a man worth marrying. Her encounters with the seemingly proud and arrogant Mr. Darcy fuel these viewpoints and allow her prejudices to keep her from getting to know him. Only by realizing that Darcy is actually a good man with the best of intentions does she come to love him and the two become married. The story serves as a testament to the power first impressions have on our own judgments as well as a commentary to differences between love and marriage. Elizabeth has been disillusioned by the institution of marriage in how her siblings try to marry the wealthiest man possible as well as seeing her own best friend marry a man she doesn't love for the sake of security. Also her own prejudiced feelings from her first impressions with Darcy prevent her from getting close to a man who both loves her and can provide for her. The lessons learned by Elizabeth show the reader not to trust the bias of first impressions when dealing with people as well the desirability of marriage when love is the foundation. The relevance of such a message is essential in today's social circles for building strong and trusting relationships especially in the area of love and the prospect of marriage. This makes the story worthy of film adaptation in order to expose it to a greater audience.

This is fortunate because even director Joe Wright recognized the challenges of a direct adaptation of Pride & Prejudice when making the most recent version of the film. Throughout the in-film commentary, Wright makes it clear that even he thinks the plot scenario of the story is boring and hard to get into. Despite this he realizes the importance

of the themes enough to make them apparent to the audience while at the same time making the film visually appealing enough to keep the audience involved. Wright uses shots of beautiful landscapes to create feelings of calm, dramatic music in sync with traveling shots to give a feeling of urgency, and beautiful actors Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen to portray the leads. It even appears that he has modeled the balls in the fashion of modern college parties to appeal to a younger audience.

Wright relies on the subtleties of the lead performances to advance the plot and convey the themes of Pride & Prejudice. Just as soon as we are made aware Darcy's stoic personality, we are at the same time made aware of his affections for Elizabeth. This is shown by the introduction of his character. The first person that he makes eye contact with when he arrives is Elizabeth. When he realizes that she is meeting his gaze, he quickly looks away with shyness. Every scene in which she enters a room while he sits, he quickly stands at attention. This is not because society deems it proper, but instead he does it with a politeness that is more deliberate and personal. His affections and his shyness are displayed hand in hand during one of the long takes for the ball. As the camera follows Elizabeth throughout her walk to find Mr. Wickham, we see Darcy wandering in the background searching for her, but upon finding her is too shy to pursue and walks away. Wright has Elizabeth play off this confusing nature of Darcy to motivate he titular prejudice. She only sees Darcy's gruff exterior covering his subtle affections and therefore assumes him unlikable, providing the lesson on the deceptive nature of first impressions.

The commentary on marriage the story makes is made apparent by Wright as well throughout the film via the intentions characters have for seeking a spouse. Mr. Collins is played out to be a socially awkward (and sexually repressed by his constant Freudian slips) clergyman who seeks a marriage only to please his patroness. In his scene where he announces his desire to marry one of the Bennett daughters he nonchalantly opts for Elizabeth when told that her older sister, and his first choice, is currently being courted. When he proposes to Elizabeth, he lists his reasons for wanting to marry her. His "affection" for her is only listed second with his duty as a clergyman and his duty to his patroness being his former and latter. Charlotte Lucas, best friend of Elizabeth, is portrayed by a less attractive actress and must accept the first marriage proposal that comes across her, or she will have no security. Despite her not loving Mr. Collins, she makes note that she is in her thirties and is burden to her parents and only a marriage will improve her quality of life. The engagement between Elizabeth's sister Jane and Darcy's friend Mr. Bingley is wrought with opposition due to the separation of their class as well as Jane's affections being made too subtle. The villainous Mr. Wickham intends to marry Darcy's sister only to get to her wealthy inheritance, and upon being made aware of his not being able to acquire said fortune via marriage, he breaks her heart. His eventual marriage to Elizabeth's little sister Kitty is met with a lukewarm reception due to the family knowing his true nature and also not liking the ditzy daughter who is too clueless to know what her husband is really like. Wright chooses to celebrate on-screen only the marriages that are made for love and not for status or convenience. These of course are the marriages between Jane and Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy. The engagements of both are met with typical human reactions in response to amorous feelings that should come natural with our modern notions of marriage (smiles, laughter, tears of joy, kissing, etc.). All other marriages throughout the film do not even get so much as a longing glance between future spouses.

The treatment that Wright gives to his adaptation of Pride & Prejudice is refreshing and encouraged. Despite his lack of interest in the actual plotline, his respect for the character interaction and the message that it conveys is shown in his careful handling of the story. The timeless appeal of Austen's themes makes the story an important one to continue telling and studying. Modern society is still plagued with misguided faith in its first impressions in its various social circles. And in a world where fifty percent of marriages end in divorce and prenuptial agreements become more common engagement practices, it is refreshing to see the reasons to and the reasons not to get married on a screen. Like Michelangelo painting the Sistine Ceiling, Wright may have not had as much interest in making Pride & Prejudice, but nonetheless through his talent, has made a work of art just as timeless and meaningful.