Radical Thoughts in the Novel "Emma" . or upset her. (Emma, V.1,Ch.1)Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay This opening character summary of the heroine of Austen's novel, Emma, should instantly set off alarm bells in the mind of any avid Austen reader. In Emma, we have an Austen heroine who is attractive, wealthy, and even described as possessing "the best blessings of existence"; This seems way too good to be true. Indeed, Emma is unlike all of Austen's other heroines in that she is both financially independent and devoid of many of the romantic sensibilities that afflicted young women of her era, in that she does not consider not marriage as a goal worth achieving. Her wealth gives Emma the privilege of marrying solely for love and not in the hope of achieving financial security. Yet despite Emma's nonconformity to the standard Austen protagonist, she still finds happiness in marriage at the end of Emma. One interpretation of the frequent endings of happy marriages in Austen's novels might be that they belie Austen's feminist stance on the patriarchal nature of marriage in the 19th century. In 19th-century literature, marriage is often presented as a gender hierarchy that demands submission from the female protagonist to her male counterpart, ultimately losing a part of herself. However, a closer analysis of Emma suggests that Austen actually subverts the marriage trope, such that marriage adds to Emma rather than taking away from her. Austen uses pedagogy and personal development to follow the emotional growth of her protagonist. Through her descriptions of Emma's childish machinations before and after she realizes her love for Mr. Knightley, Austen implies that Emma's maturation is the only prerequisite for her finding true love with Mr. Knightley . In doing so, Austen argues that marriage itself is not the center of the story nor the goal of its protagonist, supporting the feminist interpretation of Emma. To properly assess Emma's maturation throughout Emma, one must first understand Emma's initial shortcomings as a character, as well as her motivations for befriending Harriet Smith. For a woman of her time, Emma possesses extraordinary financial independence and a capacity for societal action, especially compared to her fellow Austen heroines. So one of the first things we learn about Austen's protagonist is that Emma sees no point in marriage for a lady of her rank, telling Harriet: "I have none of the usual incentives of women to get married. If I fell in love, in fact, it would be another thing! but I have never been in love; it is not my way, nor my nature; and I don't think I ever will. And without love, I'm sure I'd be a fool to change a situation like mine. I don't want a fortune; a job I don't want; consequence which I do not want: I believe that few married women are half as much mistress of their husband's house as I am of Hartfield..." (Emma, V 1, Ch. 10) Not only Emma is not subject to any financial constraints to marry, she also considers that being in love is outside of her “nature” and doubts that it ever will be. Emma also seems to avoid the power dynamics inherent in marriage, doubting that the domestic power she would have as a womanbride can match her undisputed power as Hartfield's "mistress". In fact, the narrator tells the reader that the only "real evils" that afflicted Emma "were the power of having a little too much of what she wants, and a disposition to think too highly of herself." (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 1) In short, these quotes reinforce Emma's power within her household, her power in her community, and her power over the people closest to her, like her father and his former companion, Mrs. Weston. With economic problems and social disparity being disqualified as a possible source of conflict in this novel, one wonders what Austen could possibly use to torment her heroine. In fact, it is Emma's mistreatment of those less fortunate than herself that highlights her character flaws, marks her character's improvement throughout the novel, and paves the way for her true love . Harriet Smith, Emma's ill-fated protégé, is the first source of conflict in the novel. Harriet is "someone's natural daughter" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 3) and a boarder at the local boarding school. It is Harriet’s beauty that first catches Emma’s attention, and so Emma decides, “She would notice her; she would improve her... detach her from her bad knowledge, introduce her into good society... shape her opinions and her manners. It would be an interesting and certainly very kind enterprise; which quite suits his own situation in life, his hobbies and his powers. (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 3) Emma's intentions, while probably benevolent, are quite condescending, a fact that is obvious to the reader but not to Emma herself. Emma's savior complex masquerades as righteousness as she decides to "notice" and "improve" Harriet. Emma also believes that "her situation in life, her hobbies and her powers" qualify her for the role of mentor. However, his flaws as a mentor soon become apparent. As Harriet's director of reform, Emma often steers her protégé down paths that make Emma's life more interesting, without using Harriet's best interests as her compass. For example, Emma encourages Harriet, a woman of little wealth, to forget her "course and coarse" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 3) farmer Martin. Emma convinces Harriet to look beyond her social class and aim for a wealthier husband so that she can stay in Emma's social circle. But his plans go awry when his chosen vicar, Mr. Elton, abandons a heartbroken Harriet. Emma's naivety comes from her privilege, and it prevents her from seeing the harm that this project of social ascension could do to Harriet. Although Emma is right to believe that as a woman with the power and resources available to her, it is her responsibility to help those less fortunate, Emma fails to realize her social function and leadership potential . Instead, she toys with Harriet's fate only because reforming her would be an "interesting endeavor." The problem with Emma is that she is unable to see the weight of her actions and the long-term implications they could have on Harriet's future happiness. Although Mr. Martin truly cares about Harriet, he is not part of the fun plan Emma has in mind and is therefore useless to her. What saves Emma as a heroine in the reader's eyes is the fact that Emma doesn't hate Harriet. ; her ignorant machinations seem to come from a genuine desire to help her friend. Emma hopes that her matchmaking will lay the foundation for Harriet and Mr. Elton's relationship, and in her heart, she sincerely believes that Mr. Elton is "on the right way to fall in love, if he isn't already lovers” (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 6) with Harriet. His ignorance goodchild keeps the reader invested in her character's growth, hoping that Emma will gain the maturity she needs to put her intelligence, wealth, and social consequences to good use. The reader certainly supports Mr. Knightley when he chastises Emma by saying that whoever raised Harriet surely did not "intend to introduce her into what you would call polite society... [they] thought that [ Mr. Martin] good enough for her; and it was quite good” (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 8). He ends his statement by announcing that Emma has been "no friend of Harriet Smith" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 8). At the time, Emma "repented not of what she had done" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 8), but after Mr. Elton proposed to her and not to Harriet, Emma's attitude changes. She said: “The first and worst mistake was at his doorstep. It was insane, it was wrong to take such an active part in bringing two people together. It was... too much to suppose... she was rather worried and ashamed, and resolved not to do such things again. (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 16). In this quote, Emma recognizes the implications of her actions and, more importantly, repents, even if her repentance is belated. This guilt coming from a girl who once had “very little that distressed or upset her” is remarkable growth indeed. Not only does she call her actions "stupid" and "bad," but she also admits that her role as matchmaker "takes on too much," implying that there are things she shouldn't control. even if she has the power. In the end, Emma's inaction finally allows Harriet to happily marry her Mr. Martin. Her friendship with Harriet teaches Emma that she has the power to influence the lives of others, both positively and negatively. However, her friendship with Harriet is not the last lesson Emma must learn before her maturation process truly comes to a conclusion: her treatment of the Bates family also forces Emma to recognize its social consequences and her ability to influence society. The narrator describes Miss Bates as being in "the worst situation in the world to have so much public favor" (Emma, V. I, Ch. 3): after experiencing an unexceptional youth and environment, she remains single. all over Emma and is financially dependent on her mother's paltry income. Although she and her mother are part of Emma's social circle, their wealth is rapidly declining and so they rely heavily on charity from other Highbury residents. Austen presents Miss Bates as a pitiful and sympathetic character, and Emma admits that as a resident of Highbury she has a subtle duty to "contribute what she ought to the stock of [the Bates'] meager comforts" (Emma, V. II, Ch. 1). However, it is a duty that she often evades because she finds it "very unpleasant... a waste of time... tiring women" (Emma, V. II, Ch. 1). Because the reader pities Miss Bates, Emma's apathy is shocking and immediately dismissed in the reader's eyes. In the first chapter of Volume II, Emma decides to visit the Bates, even if the reasons for her visit are slightly selfish. Throughout her visit to the Bateses, Emma finds Miss Bates' chatter extremely annoying and ends the visit quickly. His inner derision, however, only becomes a real problem later in the novel. During a picnic scene at Box Hill, Emma's internal dislike of the Bates becomes an external issue. As part of a picnic game, Miss Bates, Emma and the other picnic attendees are tasked with saying one clever statement, two moderately clever and three boring. As Miss Bates prepares to deliver three boring statements,Emma quips: “Ah! Madam, but there may be a difficulty. Forgive me, but you will be limited in number: only three at a time” (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7). Austen prefaces Emma's cruel remark with "Emma could not resist", which obscures the author's intention by emphasizing the obligatory nature of Emma's remark. Thus, the reader is left wondering whether Austen intends to reprimand or excuse Emma's insensitivity. However, one thing is clear: Emma can't help but use her privilege and intelligence as leverage to mock those less fortunate. Rather than responding angrily to this obvious joke, Miss Bates responds by saying, “Ah! Yes, I see what she means... and I'll try to keep quiet. I must make myself very unpleasant, otherwise she would not have said such a thing to an old friend” (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7). Although Emma's observation is the truth, it is one that her social circle has implicitly agreed to ignore in the name of decency and out of respect for Miss Bates. Another reason for their indulgence is revealed in Mr. Knightley's reproaches regarding Emma's actions as they wait for their cars after the picnic. He said: "Emma, I must speak to you once more... How could you be so... insolent in your mind towards a woman of [Miss Bates'] character, age and circumstances ] ? — Emma, I didn't think that was possible... Was she your equal - but, Emma, consider how far that is from being the case... You, that she had known since her childhood, that she had seen grow up after a period where her reward was an honor, to have you now, in the thoughtless minds and pride of the moment mock her, humiliate her - and in front of her niece too - and in front of others, many of whom (some some) would be entirely guided by your treatment of her. (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7)Mr. Knightley, as usual, gets to the root of Emma's cruelty; The reason Emma's joke was so inappropriate was that not only was Miss Bates not her equal in status, wealth, or intelligence, but also because Emma's high social status could create a precedent for how the rest of Highbury society treats Miss Bates. Mr. Knightley rightly points out that Emma's actions and words carry enough weight to give her power, and that her power has the capacity to hurt Miss Bates. Despite the impertinence of her comment, there are signs of growth in Emma's character that were absent in her relationship with Harriet. Unlike Mrs. Smith's case, as soon as Mr. Knightley begins to speak, Emma "remembers, blushes [and] is sorry" (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7). As she reflects on the incident privately, she feels "offended...never had she felt so agitated, mortified, distressed, under any circumstances in her life...How could she have been so brutal, so cruel to Miss Bates! (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7) The weight of her social consequence and responsibility finally hits Emma: as the leader of her society, she has the power to establish a standard of behavior. Often a sign of maturity is the ability to turn attention away from oneself and focus on those around you. Towards the end of Emma, our heroine sincerely visits the Bates, no longer motivated by her duty but by her new responsibility to her community. Miss Bates played an important role in Emma's maturation process and her journey to self-knowledge. Throughout the novel, one character serves as Emma's moral compass, holding her accountable for her actions and words: Mr. Knightley. It expresses a vision of individualism for Emma, both recognizing and working to amplify.

Essay / Radical Thoughts in the Novel "Emma" . or upset her. (Emma, V.1,Ch.1)Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay This opening character summary of the heroine of Austen's novel, Emma, should instantly set off alarm bells in the mind of any avid Austen reader. In Emma, we have an Austen heroine who is attractive, wealthy, and even described as possessing "the best blessings of existence"; This seems way too good to be true. Indeed, Emma is unlike all of Austen's other heroines in that she is both financially independent and devoid of many of the romantic sensibilities that afflicted young women of her era, in that she does not consider not marriage as a goal worth achieving. Her wealth gives Emma the privilege of marrying solely for love and not in the hope of achieving financial security. Yet despite Emma's nonconformity to the standard Austen protagonist, she still finds happiness in marriage at the end of Emma. One interpretation of the frequent endings of happy marriages in Austen's novels might be that they belie Austen's feminist stance on the patriarchal nature of marriage in the 19th century. In 19th-century literature, marriage is often presented as a gender hierarchy that demands submission from the female protagonist to her male counterpart, ultimately losing a part of herself. However, a closer analysis of Emma suggests that Austen actually subverts the marriage trope, such that marriage adds to Emma rather than taking away from her. Austen uses pedagogy and personal development to follow the emotional growth of her protagonist. Through her descriptions of Emma's childish machinations before and after she realizes her love for Mr. Knightley, Austen implies that Emma's maturation is the only prerequisite for her finding true love with Mr. Knightley . In doing so, Austen argues that marriage itself is not the center of the story nor the goal of its protagonist, supporting the feminist interpretation of Emma. To properly assess Emma's maturation throughout Emma, one must first understand Emma's initial shortcomings as a character, as well as her motivations for befriending Harriet Smith. For a woman of her time, Emma possesses extraordinary financial independence and a capacity for societal action, especially compared to her fellow Austen heroines. So one of the first things we learn about Austen's protagonist is that Emma sees no point in marriage for a lady of her rank, telling Harriet: "I have none of the usual incentives of women to get married. If I fell in love, in fact, it would be another thing! but I have never been in love; it is not my way, nor my nature; and I don't think I ever will. And without love, I'm sure I'd be a fool to change a situation like mine. I don't want a fortune; a job I don't want; consequence which I do not want: I believe that few married women are half as much mistress of their husband's house as I am of Hartfield..." (Emma, V 1, Ch. 10) Not only Emma is not subject to any financial constraints to marry, she also considers that being in love is outside of her “nature” and doubts that it ever will be. Emma also seems to avoid the power dynamics inherent in marriage, doubting that the domestic power she would have as a womanbride can match her undisputed power as Hartfield's "mistress". In fact, the narrator tells the reader that the only "real evils" that afflicted Emma "were the power of having a little too much of what she wants, and a disposition to think too highly of herself." (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 1) In short, these quotes reinforce Emma's power within her household, her power in her community, and her power over the people closest to her, like her father and his former companion, Mrs. Weston. With economic problems and social disparity being disqualified as a possible source of conflict in this novel, one wonders what Austen could possibly use to torment her heroine. In fact, it is Emma's mistreatment of those less fortunate than herself that highlights her character flaws, marks her character's improvement throughout the novel, and paves the way for her true love . Harriet Smith, Emma's ill-fated protégé, is the first source of conflict in the novel. Harriet is "someone's natural daughter" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 3) and a boarder at the local boarding school. It is Harriet’s beauty that first catches Emma’s attention, and so Emma decides, “She would notice her; she would improve her... detach her from her bad knowledge, introduce her into good society... shape her opinions and her manners. It would be an interesting and certainly very kind enterprise; which quite suits his own situation in life, his hobbies and his powers. (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 3) Emma's intentions, while probably benevolent, are quite condescending, a fact that is obvious to the reader but not to Emma herself. Emma's savior complex masquerades as righteousness as she decides to "notice" and "improve" Harriet. Emma also believes that "her situation in life, her hobbies and her powers" qualify her for the role of mentor. However, his flaws as a mentor soon become apparent. As Harriet's director of reform, Emma often steers her protégé down paths that make Emma's life more interesting, without using Harriet's best interests as her compass. For example, Emma encourages Harriet, a woman of little wealth, to forget her "course and coarse" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 3) farmer Martin. Emma convinces Harriet to look beyond her social class and aim for a wealthier husband so that she can stay in Emma's social circle. But his plans go awry when his chosen vicar, Mr. Elton, abandons a heartbroken Harriet. Emma's naivety comes from her privilege, and it prevents her from seeing the harm that this project of social ascension could do to Harriet. Although Emma is right to believe that as a woman with the power and resources available to her, it is her responsibility to help those less fortunate, Emma fails to realize her social function and leadership potential . Instead, she toys with Harriet's fate only because reforming her would be an "interesting endeavor." The problem with Emma is that she is unable to see the weight of her actions and the long-term implications they could have on Harriet's future happiness. Although Mr. Martin truly cares about Harriet, he is not part of the fun plan Emma has in mind and is therefore useless to her. What saves Emma as a heroine in the reader's eyes is the fact that Emma doesn't hate Harriet. ; her ignorant machinations seem to come from a genuine desire to help her friend. Emma hopes that her matchmaking will lay the foundation for Harriet and Mr. Elton's relationship, and in her heart, she sincerely believes that Mr. Elton is "on the right way to fall in love, if he isn't already lovers” (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 6) with Harriet. His ignorance goodchild keeps the reader invested in her character's growth, hoping that Emma will gain the maturity she needs to put her intelligence, wealth, and social consequences to good use. The reader certainly supports Mr. Knightley when he chastises Emma by saying that whoever raised Harriet surely did not "intend to introduce her into what you would call polite society... [they] thought that [ Mr. Martin] good enough for her; and it was quite good” (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 8). He ends his statement by announcing that Emma has been "no friend of Harriet Smith" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 8). At the time, Emma "repented not of what she had done" (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 8), but after Mr. Elton proposed to her and not to Harriet, Emma's attitude changes. She said: “The first and worst mistake was at his doorstep. It was insane, it was wrong to take such an active part in bringing two people together. It was... too much to suppose... she was rather worried and ashamed, and resolved not to do such things again. (Emma, V. 1, Ch. 16). In this quote, Emma recognizes the implications of her actions and, more importantly, repents, even if her repentance is belated. This guilt coming from a girl who once had “very little that distressed or upset her” is remarkable growth indeed. Not only does she call her actions "stupid" and "bad," but she also admits that her role as matchmaker "takes on too much," implying that there are things she shouldn't control. even if she has the power. In the end, Emma's inaction finally allows Harriet to happily marry her Mr. Martin. Her friendship with Harriet teaches Emma that she has the power to influence the lives of others, both positively and negatively. However, her friendship with Harriet is not the last lesson Emma must learn before her maturation process truly comes to a conclusion: her treatment of the Bates family also forces Emma to recognize its social consequences and her ability to influence society. The narrator describes Miss Bates as being in "the worst situation in the world to have so much public favor" (Emma, V. I, Ch. 3): after experiencing an unexceptional youth and environment, she remains single. all over Emma and is financially dependent on her mother's paltry income. Although she and her mother are part of Emma's social circle, their wealth is rapidly declining and so they rely heavily on charity from other Highbury residents. Austen presents Miss Bates as a pitiful and sympathetic character, and Emma admits that as a resident of Highbury she has a subtle duty to "contribute what she ought to the stock of [the Bates'] meager comforts" (Emma, V. II, Ch. 1). However, it is a duty that she often evades because she finds it "very unpleasant... a waste of time... tiring women" (Emma, V. II, Ch. 1). Because the reader pities Miss Bates, Emma's apathy is shocking and immediately dismissed in the reader's eyes. In the first chapter of Volume II, Emma decides to visit the Bates, even if the reasons for her visit are slightly selfish. Throughout her visit to the Bateses, Emma finds Miss Bates' chatter extremely annoying and ends the visit quickly. His inner derision, however, only becomes a real problem later in the novel. During a picnic scene at Box Hill, Emma's internal dislike of the Bates becomes an external issue. As part of a picnic game, Miss Bates, Emma and the other picnic attendees are tasked with saying one clever statement, two moderately clever and three boring. As Miss Bates prepares to deliver three boring statements,Emma quips: “Ah! Madam, but there may be a difficulty. Forgive me, but you will be limited in number: only three at a time” (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7). Austen prefaces Emma's cruel remark with "Emma could not resist", which obscures the author's intention by emphasizing the obligatory nature of Emma's remark. Thus, the reader is left wondering whether Austen intends to reprimand or excuse Emma's insensitivity. However, one thing is clear: Emma can't help but use her privilege and intelligence as leverage to mock those less fortunate. Rather than responding angrily to this obvious joke, Miss Bates responds by saying, “Ah! Yes, I see what she means... and I'll try to keep quiet. I must make myself very unpleasant, otherwise she would not have said such a thing to an old friend” (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7). Although Emma's observation is the truth, it is one that her social circle has implicitly agreed to ignore in the name of decency and out of respect for Miss Bates. Another reason for their indulgence is revealed in Mr. Knightley's reproaches regarding Emma's actions as they wait for their cars after the picnic. He said: "Emma, I must speak to you once more... How could you be so... insolent in your mind towards a woman of [Miss Bates'] character, age and circumstances ] ? — Emma, I didn't think that was possible... Was she your equal - but, Emma, consider how far that is from being the case... You, that she had known since her childhood, that she had seen grow up after a period where her reward was an honor, to have you now, in the thoughtless minds and pride of the moment mock her, humiliate her - and in front of her niece too - and in front of others, many of whom (some some) would be entirely guided by your treatment of her. (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7)Mr. Knightley, as usual, gets to the root of Emma's cruelty; The reason Emma's joke was so inappropriate was that not only was Miss Bates not her equal in status, wealth, or intelligence, but also because Emma's high social status could create a precedent for how the rest of Highbury society treats Miss Bates. Mr. Knightley rightly points out that Emma's actions and words carry enough weight to give her power, and that her power has the capacity to hurt Miss Bates. Despite the impertinence of her comment, there are signs of growth in Emma's character that were absent in her relationship with Harriet. Unlike Mrs. Smith's case, as soon as Mr. Knightley begins to speak, Emma "remembers, blushes [and] is sorry" (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7). As she reflects on the incident privately, she feels "offended...never had she felt so agitated, mortified, distressed, under any circumstances in her life...How could she have been so brutal, so cruel to Miss Bates! (Emma, V. II, Ch. 7) The weight of her social consequence and responsibility finally hits Emma: as the leader of her society, she has the power to establish a standard of behavior. Often a sign of maturity is the ability to turn attention away from oneself and focus on those around you. Towards the end of Emma, our heroine sincerely visits the Bates, no longer motivated by her duty but by her new responsibility to her community. Miss Bates played an important role in Emma's maturation process and her journey to self-knowledge. Throughout the novel, one character serves as Emma's moral compass, holding her accountable for her actions and words: Mr. Knightley. It expresses a vision of individualism for Emma, both recognizing and working to amplify.

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