Pride and Prejudice and Lydia
Start Date
26-3-2024 2:00 PM
End Date
26-3-2024 3:15 PM
Location
Museum Education Room
Name of Faculty Mentor
Jennifer Flaherty
Abstract
This paper discusses the role of Lydia Bennet in the novel Pride and Prejudice and how that role is adapted into the 2005 film and the 1995 BBC mini-series of the same name, as well as in the YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and The Lydia Bennet. Overall, this paper argues for the essential nature of Lydia’s character across adaptations and makes the point that she is a far more complex character than she may appear to be to the casual viewer. Lydia is presented as a foil to the characters of Jane and Elizabeth, and this is true across all of the film interpretations of her character. In turn, this often leads to audiences having a negative opinion of her. Lydia’s portrayal in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and The Lydia Bennet is particularly interesting because of how they chose to change Lydia’s story in order to have it resonate with modern audiences in the same way the novel would have resonated with the original readers. These changes see Lydia as a sympathetic character and the negative opinions aimed towards her are undeserved. Another vital element is Lydia’s relationship with George Wickham. While she remains ecstatic about the relationship, this does not change the fact that Wickham is a predator. This, as well as Lydia’s relationship with her family members are all elements which eventually lead to the disaster that is her life after marriage. Her fate is one that has many contributors and she alone should not be held accountable for her misfortunes.
Preferred Name: Katie
Pride and Prejudice and Lydia
Museum Education Room
This paper discusses the role of Lydia Bennet in the novel Pride and Prejudice and how that role is adapted into the 2005 film and the 1995 BBC mini-series of the same name, as well as in the YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and The Lydia Bennet. Overall, this paper argues for the essential nature of Lydia’s character across adaptations and makes the point that she is a far more complex character than she may appear to be to the casual viewer. Lydia is presented as a foil to the characters of Jane and Elizabeth, and this is true across all of the film interpretations of her character. In turn, this often leads to audiences having a negative opinion of her. Lydia’s portrayal in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and The Lydia Bennet is particularly interesting because of how they chose to change Lydia’s story in order to have it resonate with modern audiences in the same way the novel would have resonated with the original readers. These changes see Lydia as a sympathetic character and the negative opinions aimed towards her are undeserved. Another vital element is Lydia’s relationship with George Wickham. While she remains ecstatic about the relationship, this does not change the fact that Wickham is a predator. This, as well as Lydia’s relationship with her family members are all elements which eventually lead to the disaster that is her life after marriage. Her fate is one that has many contributors and she alone should not be held accountable for her misfortunes.
Preferred Name: Katie