The Comparison of Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary

The present study has analysed Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary comparatively in relation to the genre of the novel of manners. As the novels have been compared, the times in which they were written have been examined concerning their impact on the novels. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, as one of the most widely known novels in English literature, is explored as one of the representatives of the novel of manners genre. Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary, a popular novel in chick literature, is examined as a modern adaptation of the novel of manners. Since an exploration of the features of the novel of manners as regards the novels requires background information on the genre, its definition, subject and characteristics have been reviewed. The novel of manners is concerned with the issues of manners, class distinctions, financial matters, courtship and marriage. As these aspects of the genre are explored in the novels comparatively, an analysis of Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary in relation to the features of the novel of manners is presented.