MovieChat Forums > Pride & Prejudice (2005) Discussion > Jane self centered ?

Jane self centered ?

posted 8 years ago by lilamarie2013
4 replies | jump to latest

When I was watching the movie I couldn't help but feel like Jane was very self centered... Obviously Liz and Jane are very close sisters but all she seems bothered about is Mr Bingley and herself... Liz made sure to visit her sick sister when she was ill. Liz was always worried after her and asking about her.
However I found this was all one sided... The part were Liz says "Don't say that" when Jane bitches out Mr Darcy and then Liz says "I've been so blind" obviously seeing she was emotional. She doesn't think to ask further or comfort her sister. Granted Mr Bingley came in but suddenly all was forgotten? I couldn't help but think how selfish.
Same when Liz and Jane were in bed and Liz says "I saw Mr Darcy while I was in so and so" Seems to me she was about to open up to her sister. Instead Jane jumps straight to ask if Mr Bingley was there ... Again! It has to be all about her and doesn't ask why Liz felt to mention that. Maybe it's just me but it made me cast Jane in a different light... Sorry if no one agrees but I don't like Jane after rewatching a few times. Anyone else think so or is it just me?

[–] teatat 8 years ago

I think this is just a result of adapting it to screen. Lizzy has to say some things out loud or the audience won’t know what she’s thinking so they have her say them to Jane. But in the book she doesn’t say anything so Jane has no idea that her feelings toward Darcy have changed. So if they have Jane ask follow up questions or comfort Lizzy and find out her true feelings at this point in the story it would be a departure from the book. Therefore they have Lizzy make some comments that Jane doesn’t pick up on. Trying to strike a balance between letting us know Lizzy’s feelings without changing the story too much.

[–] lilamarie2013 8 years ago

Mmm that makes much better sense. I've read the book and never thought about it in that sense. They both seemed so close it seemed odd how self centered Jane seemed in the movie but I can understand now why would they need to do the way they did. Thanks for the reply! :)

[–] jimmer69 8 years ago

I never thought for a second Jane was self-centered in this adaptation. Note how embarrassed she was when he mother bragged about her beauty.

As far as anyone knew (even Lizzy for the most par) there was really only one real romance going on. We, as the audience, see the love brewing between Lizzy and Darcy, but the family had no indication at all that Lizzy even liked Darcy until he asked her to marry him.

Mrs. Bennett was focused on getting Jane married to Bingley for the good of the family. Lizzy was focused on getting Jane together with Bingley because Jane loved him. Jane, originally, played along because she wanted to be married and knew her duty. I believe she would have married him no matter what. But then she quickly found herself loving Bingley.

One COULD argue, based on how life was during THAT time period, it was LIZZY who was self-centered by putting herself before the needs of her family when she declined to marry Collins.

[–] hilaryjrp 8 years ago

When I was watching the movie I couldn't help but feel like Jane was very self centered...

Every time I have read the novel (about three times in my life), I get that exact impression. Jane is basically a clone of Mrs. Bennet, only more sophisticated and polite. It's not the actress' fault; the character's a non-entity.