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Critical Theory in a Digital Age, CCU, ENGL 483 2017

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

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Then There Were Zombies Just as there are attempts at remaining true to the original work, there are also reproductions which alter the true meanings. This is seen by the 2016 film version of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, originally a novel of the same name. Right from the beginning, it is clear that this movie edition will not be like the classic story. Incorporating zombies into this world distorts the authenticity of the piece because it essentially creates a new plot based off of the original. It is no longer the same especially when science fiction is introduced into a world of romance fiction. Not only is the "aura" disrupted but the "spirit" of the book is as well once the main character is changed. Elizabeth Bennet is still the honest and stubborn woman who keeps Mr. Darcy anxious, but this time her focus is not on finding a decent man. It is now on destroying the zombies who threaten the humans' existence.

One of the most prominent lines from the original book is, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife," but when it is showed in the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies version, it is altered to "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of brains." By playing off the original eight words, the movie tried to keep that original concept but the uniqueness can no longer be retained once it is changed into something completely different. In the novel and the 2005 movie version, this line refers to marriage and the intricacies of courtship, while the zombie rendition is a another concept all together.

To the left is a glimpse at the very first page of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies with a side by side comparison to the original. It is important to see the two texts next to each other because it highlights the differences. Although some of the wording is kept the same, there are inclusions that never existed before in the zombies rendition. This line, ""Woman, I am attending to my musket. Prattle on if you must, but leave me to the defense of my estate," is a clear example of this ability to alter the story but keeping the personality of Mr. Bennet in tact.

The quirks of the original novel are still present throughout. Mrs. Bennet is still attempting to get all of her daughters married off and Elizabeth is still adament to not marry. The present and still annoying Mr. Collins wants to marry Elizabeth and her personality is held true when she stubbornly refuses him again. One of the most important parts to the novel, is when Lizzie goes to see her ill-fallen sister Jane because it sets up the next chance encounter between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. Of course in the zombie edition, Jane has to be fighting zombies and is suspected to possibly have been bitten by one; thus, giving Elizabeth the reason to travel to Mr. Bingley's estate.

Despite the story line following the same pattern, this movie distracts from the authenticity. Although the zombies are used as secondary characters, they find their way into being the center of attention; therefore, the story is distorted by drawing the focus away from Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. It seems as if the two main characters have become supporting players in a much larger story. The same ideas are there but the "aura" is missing leaving the viewers with a sense that this is an entirely different story resulting in a derivative of the original.