“I Will Not Allow Books to Prove Anything”: An Analysis of Jane Austen’s Novels and Their Film Adaptations as Commentary on Class
Major
English – Literature
Second Major
History
Submission Type
Oral Presentation
Area of Study or Work
English-Literature
Faculty Advisor
Joanne Diaz
Location
CNS E101
Start Date
4-11-2026 11:15 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 12:15 PM
Abstract
Jane Austen is perhaps one of the most well-known authors in literary study, and many of her novels have seen multiple adaptations. The scholarly work surrounding these adaptations focuses on the questions and concerns which arise, including how they tend to focus on the main couple. However, they rarely discuss depictions of socio-economic commentary, despite Austen’s novels nearly constantly commenting on and being constructed around class in the 1800s, whether it is marrying upward or the station of the woman the story is focused on. My project will focus on how these ideas translate to screen, making her commentary on class more prevalent to modern audiences. Whether it is via a zombie apocalypse, a high school in Los Angeles in the ‘90s, or a true book-to-movie adaptation, class commentary is central to the basis of Austen’s works and is therefore engrained in the adaptations. Through the analysis of three of her novels (Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Emma) as well as two adaptations of each (Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016); Persuasion (1995) and Persuasion (2022); and Clueless (1995) and EMMA. (2020)), I will show that Austen’s commentary on class still applies to modern audiences as they think about class structures within current society.
“I Will Not Allow Books to Prove Anything”: An Analysis of Jane Austen’s Novels and Their Film Adaptations as Commentary on Class
CNS E101
Jane Austen is perhaps one of the most well-known authors in literary study, and many of her novels have seen multiple adaptations. The scholarly work surrounding these adaptations focuses on the questions and concerns which arise, including how they tend to focus on the main couple. However, they rarely discuss depictions of socio-economic commentary, despite Austen’s novels nearly constantly commenting on and being constructed around class in the 1800s, whether it is marrying upward or the station of the woman the story is focused on. My project will focus on how these ideas translate to screen, making her commentary on class more prevalent to modern audiences. Whether it is via a zombie apocalypse, a high school in Los Angeles in the ‘90s, or a true book-to-movie adaptation, class commentary is central to the basis of Austen’s works and is therefore engrained in the adaptations. Through the analysis of three of her novels (Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Emma) as well as two adaptations of each (Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016); Persuasion (1995) and Persuasion (2022); and Clueless (1995) and EMMA. (2020)), I will show that Austen’s commentary on class still applies to modern audiences as they think about class structures within current society.