Weekend Showdown: Elizabeth Bennet

This week, I am again stepping outside my wheelhouse of fantasy novels and trying something a little different. I know a lot of people read my nerdy sci-fi, fantasy, YA stuff, but not everybody. So I am branching out and reaching for one of the most popular characters of one of the most popular stories of all time: Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

I talked about Mr. Darcy a few weeks ago, and left the final vote up to you, my faithful readers. And you pulled through and agreed with me (as I knew you would) and said the Colin Firth won that showdown!

For this week's showdown on Elizabeth Bennet, I am going to limit myself to the two "main" versions of Pride and Prejudice; I haven't seen the Bollywood version (yet) and I maintain that the LDS version is too different, and thus the characters aren't really comparable.

So, we have two portrayals to compare. First, Jennifer Ehle in the BBC version in 1995 and Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice in 2005.

For your visual consideration:

FanPop.com

JaneAustenSequels.blogspot.com

I happen to usually lean towards the more "robust" women, particularly for this time period. I just think that Jennifer Ehle looks healthier, you know? And, I kind of hate the way Keira Knightly looks like she's constantly pouting or rolling her tongue around inside her mouth or chewing on her cheeks or something. Despite the sharp cheekbones and clavicles, I am going to have to vote the Jennifer Ehle wins in the looks department, both in general and especially as Ms. Bennet.

As for awards, Keira Knightley was nominated for 11 awards for this role. Yes, eleven. One of which was an Oscar, one of which was a Golden Globe (both of which she lost to Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line) and one of which she won. Jennifer Ehle was nominated for and won only one award, the BAFTA, for her portrayal. I think Keira wins the awards showdown. By a smidge.

FanPop.com

So, here's my big thing with Elizabeth Bennet. In the book, I kind of don't like her. She's stubborn and demonstrative. I know this is a big deal because women of that age were meek and submissive and she was a departure from the mainstream, blah, blah, blah. But, seriously, "prejudiced" isn't exactly the most kind adjective, right? So, I don't love Lizzy Bennet. I tolerate her presence.

However, this is nothing in comparison to how I feel about Jennifer Ehle's character. She's huffy and snotty and bull-headed. She's kind of a b-word, you know?

Oddly enough, I like Keira Knightley's version because I feel like she brings some passion to the character. She's still stubborn, but somehow it comes across as headstrong and willful instead of pigheaded and obstinate. She's embarrassed for her family instead of being embarrassed of them. She's worried about how they are presenting themselves, instead of how they are reflecting on her. I know it's maybe a subtle nuance, but I think it's a distinctive character difference.

I also actually like the overall lifestyle that the Bennets, including Elizabeth, present in the newer version. I like that they aren't so "clean" and "proper", because they aren't nobility, they live meekly in a smaller village and are of a more humble stock.

So, while I will go with the general consensus that Colin Firth and the BBC version win the Mr. Darcy showdown, I will now stubbornly adhere to the fact that Keira Knightley wins the Elizabeth Bennet showdown.

Go ahead, try to convince me otherwise.


All Images pulled from Google Images