The Accomplished Woman: An Examination of Miss Caroline Bingley
The Accomplished Woman: An Examination of Miss Caroline Bingley Miss Caroline Bingley is a character that few can ignore in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Caroline can be described as the high-class socialite who is both respected and despised for her prideful qualities. Yet Caroline is portrayed quite differently in the 2005, 1995, and 1940 Pride and Prejudice films. This paper analyzes the particular scene in which Caroline describes what it means to be an accomplished woman in the 19th century. Through the 2005, 1995, and 1940 versions of this scene, Caroline Bingley helps demonstrate each film’s take on what it means to be an accomplished woman, and in doing so reveals the development of female roles through the years. In the 2005 adaptation, the scene starts with the camera slowly entering a calming, well-lit, airy room with Mr. Darcy sitting directly in the middle and his back facing the camera. Elizabeth is seated to his left, quietly reading, while Charles Bingley is seated to his right, fiddling with a cushion. The aesthetic is very symmetrical and simple. This draws reference to the constructed order of the upper-class society. As mentioned before, the room feels light, with the soft glow of the morning and the spacious size of the room. The other films depict this scene at night, yet the choice of filming this scene in the morning light adds natural beauty to the room. The lighting also creates a refreshing and light mood to set the scene. The costume choice is elegant, yet simple. Caroline draws the most attention with her sleek, deep red dress. The 2005 film adds the most sensuous portrayal of Miss Bingley out of the three films. We see this first with her appearance. Caroline’s costume is very elegant and dramatic, which reflects her character. She appears substantially more attractive than her other adaptations. She talks very slow and almost seductively. In terms of her manner, although she flirts with Mr. Darcy, she
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