Emma Blog I

I have recently started reading the novel Emma by Jane Austen. Initially I was turned off by the dated diction used. Due to the fact that the characters speak with English accents sometimes the understanding of the passage is lost. I appreciated the description of Emma as rich and oblivious because with this back story I was able to comprehend the future concepts.

First, I noted an aspect where Austen expresses an overall satire of the society in which the main characters live. Having the main characters all wealthy and powerful then puts all people lacking the same materialistic means in the position of an outcast. Intelligence unfortunately is measured in wealth, “It must be done directly; it must be done in London; the order must go through the hands of some intelligent person whose taste could be depended on”. London is probably all she knows, but to her that is the only place with sense. It is ironic that the order has to go through someone with intelligence when its only a simple order. She wants to demean the lower class even without them present, just because. She makes her self look foolish and uppity by not wanting her clothes touched by a lower class person.

Second, I noted a place where Emma was blind. In this case to be blind is her revealing her true ignorance, “No, he is not her equal, indeed, for he is as much her superior in sense as in situation. Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you.” Emma sees all the potential in Harriet for her own good. The fact that Harriet has been accompanying her and picking up her mannerism she has begun losing herself. Having her gain a little of her power makes her believe she is above Mr. Martin. This shows how in denial Emma really is because Harriet has never worked a day in her life; whereas, Mr. Martin is a hard working man simply looking for love. She is so concerned with making Harriet a robotic inhumane person that she does not even see the sincere qualities in this man. She is blind to how she has offended her friend Mr. Knightley. This man is Mr. Martins mentor of the same class and he sees the “street smarts” and potential in him and just wants to see him happy. The fact that she puts Harriet on such a high pedestal is repulsive to him.

Third, I saw where Emma’s complex character was revealed. Though she “seems” to be caring about her friends and may actually care she does it through manipulation. This is seen through, “I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she accept a man or not, she certainly ought to say “no” directly…I thought it my duty as a friend, and older than you to say thus much to you.” She puts Harriet in the position of a lose-lose situation. If she ignores advice from an elder she is seen as rude and loses her “friend”; however, by following Emma she may lose her true love. In these instances Emma uses her power of influence over a naïve youth and for that reason I view her as heartless.

I plan on learning more and more about Emma and her varying ways further into novel. Whether her medaling will lead to her downfall is to be decided.