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From Novel to Film: Tracing the Evolution of Feminism via the Plots Adaptations of Pride and Prejudice in the 1940 and 2005 Version
- 1 School of Art & Design, Australia National University, Canberra, Australia
- 2 Nanjing No.29 High School
- 3 School of Teacher Education, Nanjing UniverChinasity of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing,
- 4 Beijing Haidian Foreign Language School
- 5 Hangzhou Foreign Languages School
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This research focuses on the film adaptations of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813) in plots. Compared to Pride and Prejudice (1940) directed by Robert Leonard and Joe Wirght’s Pride and Prejudice (2005), this research explores the evolution of feminism and how these two film adaptations reflect on the waves of feminism during their periods. Robert Leonard’s Pride and Prejudice (1940) is relevant to the first wave of feminism while Pride and Prejudice (2005) by Joe Wright could relate to the third wave of feminism. To prove the points mentioned above, this research analyses the adaptations of plots in the 1940 and 2005 version and argues that both show association with the waves of feminism during their periods via plots adaptations. The connection between Pride and Prejudice (1940) and the first wave of feminism could be shown in the pursuit of women’s equal rights through adaptations. Meanwhile, Pride and Prejudice (2005) reflects on the third wave of feminism via advocacy of women’s empowerment and development, as well as the promotion of gender equality by challenging traditional values.
Keywords
from novel to film, the first and third wave of feminism, plots adaptations of Pride and Prejudice
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Cite this article
Weng,W.;Xie,Y.;Li,Y.;Cui,Y.;Wu,Z. (2025). From Novel to Film: Tracing the Evolution of Feminism via the Plots Adaptations of Pride and Prejudice in the 1940 and 2005 Version. Communications in Humanities Research,70,41-49.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Volume title: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies
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