The Unique Heroine in Jane Austens Emma Essay example

In Jane Austens Emma the eponymous heroine is handsome, clever, and rich but she also suffers from arrogance and self-deception. With the good judgement of Mr Knightley, and her own self scrutiny, Emma experiences a movement of psyche, from arrogance and vanity through the humiliation of self knowledge to clarity of judgement and fulfilment in marriage. The tone of the novel and the episodes where Emma is self deceived progresses from the light comedy of Mr Eltons gallantry and the eventual mortification to the sombre depression of Emmas belief that she has ruined her own chances of happiness by bringing Mr Knightley and Harriet together. Although at times the reader is able to laugh at her mistakes, as she moves slowly†¦show more content†¦Mr Knightley is put off by Emma taking on Harriet as a protegee, for she is simple minded and ignorant. He does not take her matchmaking powers seriously you made a lucky guess; and that is all that can be said, and tries to d iscourage her from further matchmaking, knowing that Elton will not do. He is highly mortified at recommending Mr Martin propose to Harriet, and angry that Emma has intervened in the affair. He tells Emma that she should make more of an effort to be nice to Jane Fairfax, a more suitable companion for her than Harriet, for she matches and even surpasses Emma in talent. Mr Knightley is also put off by Emmas inappropriate behaviour with Frank Churchill at Box Hill. Here Emma and Frank flirted excessively, breaking social convention, and because Mr Knightley takes Emma seriously he believes that she is in love with Frank. Emmas cruel remark to Miss Bates, prompted in part by the high spirits of Frank, elicits strong reaction from Mr Knightley, who rebukes her for this because Miss Bates is poor and has declined in social circumstance. This shows his strong sense of duty and good judgement. Miss Bates also, at this point, takes Emma seriously, but has the generosity and candour to forgive her. Though at the time, Emma says it was done in jest, she later feels Mr Knightleys rebuke at heart, and is able to respond by visiting Miss Bates the next day to atone for her cruelty. FrankShow MoreRelatedA Modern Context Within Jane Austen s Clueless 1737 Words   |  7 Pagesstories and social themes into a new context. Amy Heckerling exemplifies this notion as she brings forth the social issues and concerns of Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ into a modern context within her 20th century film, ‘Clueless’. Heckerling has transformed ‘Emma’ through her use of modern language, setting, targeted audience and props in ‘Clueless’ illustrating how Austen’s ideals and social themes are still relevant and affective to a contemporary audience. 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