Pride and Prejudice: A Comparison

Not too long ago, I wrote about my enjoyment of the movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. This was during my trip to the UK and I soon realized that I had not really seen or read its source material, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I owned the movie version, a new addition to my DVD collection, but had not watched it yet. I then convinced myself it would be better to read the original book first and watch not only the movie but also the six part mini-series. Others had mentioned to me their fondness of the series and I was pleased to find it available on Amazon Prime Video. During a random trip to Barnes and Noble a couple months ago, I picked up a hardcover version of Pride and Prejudice and set about my task.

I finished the novel, after hardly being able to put the book down. I was enthralled, immediately drawn into the story and loving the book more and more with every sentence. It was different than any of the books I had read of late and the language had an enjoyable and refreshing complexity of a bygone era. I don't know if it is as well known as I believe it to be, but I am a bit of a history buff. Studying historical events and time periods is something I enjoy very much. History was always a favorite subject in school and I even sought out a course in college. Regardless of whether it was the Pyramids of Giza and Ancient Eygpt or the mighty rule of the Roman Empire, all the way to the Renaissance Age and America's Revolutionary War--I love it all. I have a personal connection with World War II, growing up hearing stories about and from my Grandfather, so it is also a time period I am fascinated with even though it is much more recent than the ancient civilizations and the birth of America.

Jane Austen

So to read a period novel such as this, written in the English of the time by a young woman at the onset of her 20s, living in a world where Louis XVI had just been executed and England was at war with France. The novel itself is of course also set in that time, at the turn of the nineteenth century(1790s). It was exciting to get a glimpse into that era through the words of someone who would later become one of the most famous and celebrated female authors of her time--of all time. It is no surprise that her novels continue to be read by people around the world and have been made into a variety of TV series and movies. I was unsure of what to expect when I began, having received positive feedback from friends but never really having shown much interest myself until now. I was determined to see what all the fuss was about. I aimed to discover for myself the appeal of Jane Austen and her novels--I was not disappointed, far from it. If all of her books are even half as good as Pride and Prejudice, I will proudly identify as a complete Jane Austen fan. I will strive to own all of the novels and to watch all of the literary adaptations to film that I can possibly find. But I digress...

This will be a comparison piece, meant to compare not only the novel but the popular series from 1995 and the 2005 movie adaptation. A comparison will be made between the novel and the 1995 series, the novel and the 2005 film, and lastly the two film adaptations to each other. I noticed many similarities and differences between all, and more than just the obvious. I have my heart set on which were my favorites and will explain why.

Firstly, I will compare the novel and the 1995 TV series. But before I do, I wanted to address an aspect of the language of this time period that I found interesting. The novel revolves around a country gentleman's family and the wealthy noble class that they fall just short of, despite being well off enough to have their own housekeeper and staff. The order of the social classes was an established part of British society, and as such it was proper to known one's place within that society. One word kept striking out at me as I read, and the context in which it was used. Condescension, and varying forms of the word. This is a word known for having a negative meaning. To be looked on with condescension, is to be held in a state that is beneath someone else. In fact the simple definition of condescension is: the attitude or behavior of people who believe they are more intelligent or better than other people. Yet, a specific character would practically rave about how pleasing it was to receive the condescending remarks of his patroness. Therein lies the source of my fascination and another aspect of the word's definition. Patronizing and condescending are synonymous of one another. But in British society, it was the responsibility of a patron to support someone of a lesser class and guide them in the ways of being a productive member of society. While also ensuring they remain actively aware of their place in a social ring severely below their own. The patroness in this book does just that and the aforementioned character is more than happy to receive the condescending patronage bestowed upon him. To have a wealthy patron/patroness meant to enjoy a social connection that afforded you more in life than others within your social rank. It wouldn't matter how you were treated or looked down upon, because you were still better off than those without such a connection.

This was something that Jane Austen felt necessary to include in her work. It shows her sarcastic view of the world she lived in and demonstrates the importance of non-conformity and independence that are the basis for her love story. A love story between the fortune-less daughter of a gentleman and the nobleman of wealth and privilege, whose pairing is thought on to be a social disgrace. So let's see how this story compares between the novel and the popular TV series.

The 1995 six part series starred Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet. This was the most faithful interpretation of the novel. So much so, I watched the entire six part series twice, in one weekend. In my defense, the second viewing was for my mother, she had started to watch the series with me but had only made it through the first episode. So when she suggested to finish watching it, I was happy to oblige--it was only right that I made myself available for questions--and I was already in the living room. That's my excuse                                              and I'm sticking to it!

Being a staunch representation of the book, the Firth/Ehle version had little in the way of differences. This was in large part due to the fact that the six part series was six hours worth of storytelling. More than your average movie but much shorter than your average television series, the six part adaptation lent itself perfectly to do justice to this classic tale. The biggest differences don't even exist in the novel at all and revolve around the series' leading male, Colin Firth. Despite never having seen the series, I had heard of the "pond" scene. I was surprised to not find it in the novel, since a similar scene had also been included in the zombie version. At the time, I thought it was paying homage to the novel, when in fact it was paying homage to Firth's "dip" in the pond in his white shirt and beige breeches. But with a handsome leading man such as Colin Firth, it is no surprise that they wished to strip away a couple layers of gentleman's dress by way of a relaxing swim. Long before the pond, there was a bare-chested bathing scene. Because why not? The damp tussled hair and sideburns are a
good look for him...a very good look...ahem...where was I?

Oh yes, differences. Aside from objectifying Firth, there were a
couple changes that took advantage of a visual format and it made sense. There is a particular portion of the novel, where a major reveal is made through a handwritten letter. In the series, the contents of the letter are still there but in the form of dialog where you also get to see the events unfold visually. Unlike in the 1700s when you depended upon a written account of an event you were not a witness to. In another scene, the same decision is applied. Instead of a letter written by Mr. Collins addressed to the Bennet family, he visits them to discuss his opinions with them in person. There was also one minor difference where Elizabeth--also affectionately called Lizzy--receives a bit of news from a different party than in the novel. In the series, her younger sisters find out about Charlotte's engagement and hurry to tell Lizzy. Whereas in the novel, it is Charlotte herself that tells Lizzy about the engagement. It is often expressed in the novel that news or gossip travels fast through the small town of Meryton and the close-knit country households of Hertfordshire. So I don't really think its that big of deal who tells Lizzy the news, since it still leads to Lizzy discussing the engagement with Charlotte, the same outcome as in the novel.

Where did I note the most differences to the novel? The 2005 movie version. The movie starred Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet. I mentioned previously
that the series did not suffer the constraints of a time limit, the movie of course does. With only 2 hours and 9 minutes to work with, the movie needed to take liberties with the source content. A prime example, and the first major difference I noticed, was the mixing of scenes. There were several instances where scenes that take place in different months were spliced together because of their similarity. This was an easier way to still get the relevant information across without using up too much of their limited time. Now of course this also changed the dynamic of some of the scenes, as well as the dialog and character interactions, but they did a good job of making it a smooth blending of scenes. If I had not just read the book and watched the series, with both so fresh in my mind, I may have noticed it a lot less.

The remaining differences were minor in nature: Lizzy goes to visit Charlotte alone instead of accompanied, a certain conversation takes place outside in the rain instead of indoors, an important letter is delivered to Lizzy at her hotel instead of outdoors, Lizzy's visit to Pemberley is altered from the original, the reveal regarding Lydia is also altered. But the big thing for me regarding the film, was the difference in the leading lady. Where Austen's Elizabeth Bennet was sarcastic and witty with a maturity to match her eldest sister, the movie Elizabeth was less mature and more impetuous. The Lizzy of the novel kept herself guarded, using her intelligence, wit and humor to her advantage. The movie Lizzy seemed a bit more childish, less how a woman of that age in that era would act. Now I'm not saying I didn't enjoy Knightley's performance. I certainly did, she's an excellent actress. It's just out of the two portrayals, I felt the series kept closer to the original than the movie version.

For those of you who have stuck with me this far, we've almost made it! Finally, the last comparison. The series versus the movie. Most of the differences between the two film adaptations are minor and revolve around artistic and preferential decisions. Most notably between the two is the difference with the Netherfield ball where Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet dance together. During the dance, Eliza attempts to coax Darcy into a conversation. In the series, Firth's Darcy remains reticent throughout most of the dance. But Macfadyen's Darcy is more vocal and they hold a conversation for the majority of their dance. Until of course, the entire roomful of guests disappear and they fall into silence as they stare at one another. It's the classic trope of feeling as though you are the only ones in an otherwise crowded room, and everything melts away while distracted by the other person before you. Another difference to make note of, the movie version includes a non-British actor in a main role. Mr. Bennett is played by Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, pulling off a fairly convincing British accent.

Now, which one was my favorite? As previously stated, I love the book and can't wait to start my Jane Austen collection. But which adaptation did I prefer? I would have to say, hands down, the 1995 series adaptation with Firth and Ehle has got to be my favorite. While the movie was fun to watch, I enjoyed the accuracy the series had with it's source material. I also overall enjoyed the portrayals of the main characters more in the series than in the movie. They were more honest not just to the book, but to the time period. The movie gave off a more modern feel. I am a fan of Colin Firth and have been since the days of Bridget Jones' Diary and The Importance of Being Ernest. So that may also have a small part to do with it, he is one of my favorite actors. I must have been living under a rock when Love Actually came out, having only finally seen it a couple years ago, but it has quickly become one of my favorite movies. Then of course there was The King's Speech, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Mama Mia--not in that order. He has done some great films during his acting career and continues to do so. I haven't seen much of what Jennifer Ehle has done since Pride and Prejudice, but she was recently in an excellent indie film with Paul Rudd called The Fundamentals of Caring--it is available on Netflix if you care to give it a watch.

So, that's it. The end. I think I have successfully compared the book to the series and the movie, the series and the movie with each other and even provided my final opinion on which I preferred the best. I don't believe there is anything further to discuss. Except for maybe the fact that I just started reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. So far, it doesn't quite have the same tone as the original novel, but it does try to stick as close to the source as possible, just with zombies thrown in. You can tell the "voice" of the new writer is more modern trying to stay in the tone of the nineteenth century. I'm enjoying it, but in a different way than the original. I don't think I'll be writing a review of it though, this was enough on the topic of Pride and Prejudice. I bought the movie along with it and still love it even after the third viewing. I even got mom to watch it. She approved of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. So there's that.

Two Years of Words

Facebook was kind enough to remind me, through the timehop app, that yesterday was the two year anniversary of my blog. A lot has happened with my blog in these past two years. It started as just a little hobby to get me back into the habit of writing. The first big thing to happen, I was added as a blog contributor for a podcast's website--the 7 Days A Geek podcast. My blog was linked to their website where anyone could find it under the blog contributors section, to click on and read. Then this year, I was noticed by a blog reader from a convention website management company who suggested a blog post idea, which has resulted in my highest viewed blog post to date.

I paused in the middle of another post to work on my Comicon 101 post, with the intention of getting back to the former, until I realized I had hit another blog milestone. So here we are, a quick celebratory post.

What's in store for the blog going forward? The same thing as before, writing posts about things that interest me and I enjoy. Writing for this blog is something I enjoy greatly--writing in general is something I enjoy doing. Lately, I haven't written as much as in the past. My work schedule has been busy as of late, and I have also been trying to reduce the stack of books on my "reading list". The posts may have slowed a bit, but they haven't stopped, nor will they. So you can all breath a sigh of relief. I can't promise more frequent posts(at the moment), but I can promise to continue giving every post my very best.

So what have I learned these past two years? There are actually people out there who enjoy reading what I write, enough to keep reading more. I couldn't be happier about the response and positive feedback I receive. I also hope to continue to receive suggestions. They don't just have to be from blog readers of companies(although a couple more of those couldn't hurt), but I'm open to blog post suggestions from anyone. I can't say that I'll be able to use every suggestion, some topics may be outside of my wheel house, so to speak. But I look forward to hearing from my readers and friends.

I'll end this post with a thank you. This blog may have started as a hobby, but I like to think that it has become more than that. I can't be sure what the future will bring, but I do hope to continue to improve upon this blog and my writing. So thank you...readers, fans, friends. You are all a big part of this blog's continued success.

Here's to another year of words, From Brain to Keyboard.

Comicon 101: Tips for First Time Convention Goers

The season for conventions is upon us, two major comicons have already come and gone. One being Phoenix Comicon which I wrote about in detail in a previous post, and of course the major convention of the West Coast, San Diego Comicon. But that isn't all, there are still plenty of conventions ahead, big and small. You have Dragon Con in Atlanta and Baltimore Comicon in September, several Wizard World Comicons across the United States in the next months and Stan Lee's Comikaze in October. Not to mention very many smaller conventions that focus on specific pop culture events or topics: TV shows, gaming, comics.

Phoenix Comicon Vendor Hall

So with so many options, what is a comicon newbie to do? How do you prepare to attend a convention for the first time? What tips are there to having a successful comicon? You may be thinking these are some very specific questions, which they are, to which I have very specific answers. I will be taking the opportunity to write up a "Comicon 101" post, if you will, in which I will discuss some helpful tips for anyone feeling a bit intimidated about going to a convention for the first time.

The idea for this post, came from Eventbrite--a conference managing software company specializing in event pages for conventions and events across the United States. A reader had seen and enjoyed my recap of Phoenix Comicon and emailed to ask if I would be interested in putting together a "tips and advice" post about attending a comicon. I was pleased, flattered and immediately excited to elaborate on a topic I know well, based on my own experiences as both a volunteer and attendee at various conventions over the past few years.

Before going into the main topic, I thought it might be helpful to provide more detail of what my experience actually is with comicon and similar events. It all started five years ago with my first time at a convention of any kind, ever. I had heard of Phoenix Comicon and it seemed like something I might be interested in. I didn't read comic books or at least not very often and I wasn't very immersed in geek culture but I liked geeky things. I finally decided to give it a try and got involved with Phoenix Comicon as a volunteer, to get an idea of what it was all about. I was interested to see how I would like it and if I would easily meet like-minded people. I more than liked it and I owe comicon for quite a few friendships. I also dived into geek culture headfirst and am perfectly happy to just keep swimming. But for a more detailed explanation of my origin story with Phoenix Comicon, you can listen to my recent podcast appearance on the Little Geek Lost podcast. Our topic of discussion was conventions and I told the story of how I came to be a Photo Booth Coordinator for Phoenix Comicon. Aside from volunteering at Phoenix Comicon, I have also attended other conventions and had the opportunity to experience things from a different perspective.

Now, just because I jumped in as a volunteer does not mean you have to do the same in order to attend and enjoy a comicon. So let's start out with some tips on how to prepare prior to attending a convention.

Whether it's your local convention or a larger convention in a different state, there are things you can do in preparation. Start out by doing some research on the event you plan to attend. You can use the Internet, most conventions have their own websites or you can use event websites like Eventbrite. Determine how many days the convention is running and how many days you would like to go. For the smaller conventions it may only be a day long event or an event lasting a couple days. Those types of conventions would be perfect for someone's first visit. Now, if you're feeling adventurous and want to go for a big convention right out of the gate, that's fine too and good for you! Large conventions will usually offer full event passes(a pass that will get you access to every day of the convention) and daily passes. So even if you go for a big event but want to limit your time to something less intimidating, you can go the daily pass route and choose which day(s) you would like to go.

For example: the convention runs from Thursday through Sunday. Thursday is their preview night and their website suggests that Saturday and Sunday are sure to reach record attendance. Tons of people and crowds might not be your thing. The convention sells daily passes in addition to the full event pass for the entire four day run. With it being your first comicon or large event, you decide to buy a daily pass for Thursday and/or Friday. This gives you a taste of comicon and what it has to offer, but you also avoid the crowds that tend to intimidate first time convention goers. But if you are good with crowds and want the full comicon experience, be bold and go with a full event pass. There is so much to see at a convention and the best way to see as much as possible is to have as much time as possible.

By now, you've decided which convention you would like to attend and for how long. So let's focus on how you prepare leading up to the event. Different people will prepare differently depending on preferences and priorities. What are you going to bring with you? Where are you going to stay? Etc. But it's important to keep in mind the things you can do outside of what you bring with you. Invest in some Emergen-C or Airborne to help boost your immune system. Carrying around some of those little hand sanitizers doesn't hurt either. Trust me(I've learned this the hard way), you can be healthy and rarely get a cold, but surrounded by that many people for an entire weekend, it will be rough on your immune system. I've gotten into the habit of starting to take the Emergen-C a week in advance of a convention and then continue on through the entire weekend, works like a charm for me. It's the best way I've found to not come down with a case of the "con crud".

Another thing to be cognizant about is dehydration. DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Seriously, I cannot stress this enough. I also speak from experience on this point, the first year I volunteered I let myself get dehydrated without even knowing it. It is actually quite easy to do. There is a lot going on and you're always on the move, even if you find moments to sit down, if you don't take those moments to drink water you may find yourself having issues. I learned quickly and have been using a Camelbak for the last few years. I can carry around a liter of water and have it readily available. Now, I'm not saying this will work for everyone, it depends on what the conventions rules are regarding bringing in water containers. It also will depend on your preference for wearing a backpack all day, even one as small and light as a Camelbak. But even if that is not for you, taking advantage of water fountains whenever you walk by one or buying water with your food instead of soda should be amongst your priorities.

Last but not least, wear comfortable shoes. Chances are you will be on your feet a lot, regardless of the number of panels you go to. There will be a lot of running back and forth between various events throughout the day, for an entire weekend. There will also be a great deal of standing, in lines, for so many different things. You will stand in line to get into a panel, for a photo with your favorite celebrity or an autograph, for food...you name it, there is probably going to be a line for it. The size of the event will determine the size of the lines you have to wait in. The smaller the event is, the shorter the lines are, in most cases. So, wearing appropriate footwear is very important and will help you avoid blisters and sore feet. You may still wind up with sore feet and legs, depending on how much walking you get up to over the course of the event. For that, I recommend a hot shower or at the very least soaking your feet in a hot bath.

Then there's time management. Time is one of those things you cannot always prepare for and there is no bringing extra amounts of it with you. You're probably thinking I have an entire day or an entire weekend to see things, how could I not see everything I want? Well, in a perfect world, that might be the case, but conventions do not operate in a perfect world. Despite trying their best, comicons are still at the mercy of the guests' schedules. Programming for conventions, I've come to realize over the years, is almost a science. Guests' time at a convention has to be split between panel appearances, photos, autographs, interviews...they are running around as much as the attendees there to see them. So coming up with a game plan ahead of time is always a good idea. Most conventions will release their programming schedules ahead of time. Start looking up and jotting down various items that you're interested in. Most conventions will post their schedule online and/or print out program guides. Use the tools available to plan your day. You will not see everything, and that's ok. Don't stress yourself out especially for your first convention. It should be a fun, entertaining and definitely enjoyable experience. You will miss panels, you will miss guests, you will probably miss a meal here and there. But for everything you miss, you will have created a memory that will last a lifetime.

Quick note about cosplay, for those interested. This is a topic I cannot add too much on, as I unfortunately don't have much personal experience with cosplay. It's something that I've thought about doing but it's never been a possibility at Phoenix Comicon as I tend to not have very much time with my volunteer position--I'm also a horrible seamstress. I do have friends who cosplay and I have many times marveled at their creativity and of people who cosplay at these conventions. I may get around to it eventually, with a little help. My recommendation, for a first time convention attendee, skip cosplaying. Unless you're planning a simple costume. You are going to be busy enough as it is, to add wardrobe changes to the mix can be quite the task. It would be better for you to attend the convention first, familiarize yourself with the layout of the event and what services they provide for cosplayers. Some conventions will offer special "staging" areas where costumers can go to be out of the way of the crowds and have a place to make adjustments to their costumes if needed. Another thing that most conventions will offer, are panels about cosplaying. For those new to cosplay, you can attend these panels and get tips and ideas about how best to go about cosplaying. It's perfect for first timers and cosplayers in general, to have the opportunity to meet up with other cosplayers and bounce ideas off one another, maybe even collaborate as a duo/group cosplay. 

So, a lot has been discussed in this post and I haven't even gotten to accommodations and budgeting. But those are things that really boil down to individual preferences. Most conventions will have associations with local hotels, so there are always deals and discounts a plenty. If you only plan to go for a day, you most likely will not even need to worry about a hotel. But for those looking to have the full weekend experience, a hotel room near the convention is essential. After a long day of panels and roaming the vendor hall(s), the last thing you want to do is hop into a car to drive home only to come right back the next day. Quick hotel tip: share with friends. Four friends sharing a hotel room with two queen beds can seriously reduce hotel costs for an entire weekend.

But everything--all the tips and advice--boils down to this. Just have a great time. A convention is meant to be enjoyed, have fun. Try new things, meet people who share the same favorite things as you. Geek out in an environment where you don't have to be ashamed to love things that may seem silly...because guess what? We all love silly things too and you know what else? It's not silly at all.