The hugely popular book Bridget Jones' Diary is meant to be a modern version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The plot concerns a rather ditzy girl who has to make a choice between her incredibly attractive but rather sleazy boss and a snobbish and proud barrister who she, of course, hates at first. The barrister called Mr. Darcy is played in the film by the sexy Colin Firth who played the original Darcy in the latest series of Pride and Prejudice. This was a nice touch.
Bridget Jones' Diary may be the new Pride and Prejudice, but is Bridget the new Elizabeth? At the beginning of the book Bridget, like many women of today, is trying to lose weight and cut down on her drinking and smoking somewhat. She is stuck in a job she doesn't like much, madly in love with her boss who takes no notice of her, and frightened that she is going to end up a 'tragic spinster eaten by wolves.' Bridget, who is kind to her friends, and struggling to cope with a slightly mad mother, is terrifically likeable.
It is difficult to imagine the assertive Elizabeth in this position. Even if she were alive today it is unlikely that she would drink and smoke too much or be stuck in a job that she doesn't like. It is also hard to imagine her being fat. One very attractive trait of Elizabeth is her energy - she loves to dance for example. She also likes to run and to take long walks even though these activities are considered inappropriate for Regency ladies.
Bridget is not all that clever at times. Even though she works in publishing she doesn't know who F.R. Leavis is; she ruins a speech that she has to make; and she cooks a sauce which ends up blue! Elizabeth, by contrast, is very smart. Her problem, of course, is prejudice against Darcy who snubs her at a dance and ignores Mr.Wickham, her seemingly charming friend.
Unlike Bridget Elizabeth isn't at all scared of remaining unmarried even at the beginning of the novel. She thinks that only the very deepest love is suitable for marriage and won't settle for the idiotic Mr.Collins. She is very angry with her friend Charlotte for settling for him.
Bridget does learn her lesson when her womanizing boss wants her back, but throughout the book and the movie she is very concerned with ending up alone.
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