Jane Austen: Second Impressions

This thesis examines adaptations of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice using fidelity criticism, and translation, intertextuality, and historical models of adaptation theory. Adaptations are products of adaptors' individual visions, but they are also influenced by their cultural and historical milieu. This thesis examines cultural influences on adaptations of Pride and Prejudice which I argue is itself an adaptation of Austen's Juvenilia and Frances Burney's novel Cecilia. I look at the reformative potential of Cecilia and Pride and Prejudice and the extent to which Robert Z. Leonard, Simon Langton and Joe Wright's film adaptations, Marvel Comics' graphic novel, Guy Andrews's series Lost in Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith's novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies foreground this radicalism. The degree to which conservative and radical elements are present in all these adaptations leads to a discussion of the feminist and social implications of Pride and Prejudice which are still applicable to contemporary society.