.jpeg){kind=spacer}
EMMA
1. Chapter
1 | Page 12
‘And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me,’ said
Emma, ‘and a very considerable one—that I made the match myself. I made the
match, you know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in
the right, when so many people said Mr. Weston would never marry again, may
comfort me for anything.’
·
Jane
Austen is a writer focusing on three themes. These are courtship, love and
marriage. Here, we begin to read that the character of Emma is a matchmaker to
those around her on the matter of marriage. She is a character that reflects
the characteristics of the period and plays a big role especially in marriage.
She herself does not want to get married, but she wants to marry everyone
around her. From beginning to the end, we read about marriages, and I think
that Jane Austen reflected the marriage system of the Victorian Period very
well.
2. Chapter
3 | Page 27
‘She was not struck by anything remarkably clever in
Miss Smith’s conversation, but she found her altogether very engaging—not inconveniently shy, not
unwilling to talk—and yet so far from pushing, shewing so proper and becoming a
deference, seeming so pleasantly grateful for being admitted to Hartfield, and
so artlessly impressed by the appearance of everything in so superior a style
to what she had been used to, that she must have good sense, and deserve
encouragement. Encouragement should be given. Those soft blue eyes, and all
those natural graces, should not be wasted on the inferior society of Highbury
and its connexions.’
·
Social
status is very important for the 19th century and social status is the first
factor that affects friendships, especially marriages. Emma and Harriet are close
to each other because they are in the same age, but when we look at their
social status, there is a difference between them, and as we read in this
section, Emma aims to increase Harriet's social status by marrying a
high-status person. If your family is not rich, you can only raise your status
by getting married. Because Emma knows this, she wants to Harriet to marry a
rich man.
3. Chapter
4 | Page 34
‘A
young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, is the very last sort of person
to raise my curiosity. The yeomanry is precisely the order of people with whom
I feel I can have nothing to do. A degree or two lowers, and a creditable
appearance might interest me; I might hope to be useful to their families in
some way or other. But a farmer can need none of my help, and is, therefore, in
one sense, as much above my notice as in every other he is below it.’
· Men and women had different social statusses
in the 19th century. If the men of the period intend to get married, their
financial situation is expected to be super good because girls are waiting for rich
people with high status. Before Harriet got caught in Emma’s thoughts, she was
in love with Mr. Robert. Harriet receives a beautiful love letter from Mr.
Robert, but as Emma disapproves of the relationship, Harriet writes a negative
reply to the Mr. Robert. Emma has only
one reason to disapprove of this relationship, that Mr. Robert is a farmer. Emma
thinks that Harriet and Mr. Robert are not of the same status and Harriet
should marry someone of higher rank.
4. Chapter
4 | Page 35
‘Only
four-and-twenty. That is too young to settle. His mother is perfectly right not
to be in a hurry. They seem very comfortable as they are, and if she were to
take any pains to marry him, she would probably repent it. Six years hence, if
he could meet with a good sort of young woman in the same rank as his own, with
a little money, it might be very desirable.’
· In
Austen’s time, social status was determined by a combination of family
background, reputation, and wealth—marriage was one of the main ways in which
one could raise one’s social status. This method of social advancement was
especially crucial to women, who were denied the possibility of improving their
status through hard work or personal achievement. Women were developed
themselves in order to find potential husband candidates not for
self-improvement.
5. Chapter
6 | Page 59
‘This
man is almost too gallant to be in love,’ thought Emma. ‘I should say so, but
that I suppose there may be a hundred different ways of being in love. He is an
excellent young man, and will suit Harriet exactly; it will be an ‘Exactly so,’
as he says himself; but he does sigh and languish, and study for compliments
rather more than I could endure as a principal. I come in for a pretty good
share as a second. But it is his gratitude on Harriet’s account.’
· In
this quote, Emma is talking about Mr Elton. She comments on his character, but
evaluates him within the boundaries of marriage, which is the biggest feature
of the 19th century and this book. Emma is so dismayed that she
thinks that Mr Elton's attitude towards Harriet is in these lines. But
actually, Mr Elton shows interest in Emma because he knows Emma is wealthy. We
see that when making a marriage decision or being interested in a person,
financial interests are at the forefront, not sentimentality. Emotions are not
there where they should be.
6.
Chapter
7 | Page 60
She
had heard, as soon as she got back to Mrs. Goddard’s, that Mr. Martin had been
there an hour before, and finding she was not at home, nor particularly
expected, had left a little parcel for her from one of his sisters, and gone
away; and on opening this parcel, she had actually found, besides the two songs
which she had lent Elizabeth to copy, a letter to herself; and this letter was
from him, from Mr. Martin, and contained a direct proposal of marriage.
· Here,
we can see the feminization of Jane Austen’s novel. Men do not appear except of
women. So, until this page we did not much read about Mr. Martin. When Mrs.
Harriet concerned, we see Mr Martin on the stage. Social status difference also
effects the clarity of the names. Since Mr Robert Martin is a farmer, he is not
considered as the ideal groom, and therefore the name Mr Martin is not hear
much in public unless Harriet is involved.
7. Chapter
7 | Page 63
‘Dear
Harriet, I give myself joy of this. It would have grieved me to lose your
acquaintance, which must have been the consequence of your marrying Mr. Martin.
While you were in the smallest degree wavering, I said nothing about it,
because I would not influence; but it would have been the loss of a friend to
me. I could not have visited Mrs. Robert Martin, of Abbey-Mill Farm. Now I am
secure of you for ever.’ Harriet had not surmised her own danger, but the idea
of it struck her forcibly. ‘You could not have visited me!’ she cried, looking
Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 65 aghast. ‘No, to be sure you could not; but I
never thought of that before. That would have been too dreadful!’
· This
quote is one of the scenes where the status difference is most clearly evident.
It is such a striking factor that Emma and Harriet are aware that if they live
in different statuses, they will not meet again, and Harriet ignores her
feelings so that such an event does not happen. Emma is aware of the fact that
Harriet is of a slightly lower status and works diligently for her marriage to
close this status gap.
8.
Chapter
10 | Page 104
I
have none of the usual inducements of women to marry. Where I to fall in love,
indeed, it would be a different thing! but I never have been in love; it is not
my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. And, without love, I am
sure I should be a fool to change such a situation as mine. Fortune I do not
want; employment I do not want; consequence I do not want: I believe few
married women are half as much mistress of .their husband’s house as I am of
Hartfield; and never, never could I expect to be so truly beloved and
important; so always first and always right in any man’s eyes as I am in my
father’s.’
· Normally,
in 19th century, the only way for a woman to secure her position
financially and her reputation was by marrying a man of wealth. But here, Jane
Austen depict us the opposite character. We see a character who is independent
and does not think of marriage. But if we look at the subtext, the only reason
Emma doesn't want marriage is because she's very present and in good spirits in
her father's house. She doesn't think about anything emotionally. It can be
deduced from this that marriage was not related to feelings, but was made for
the purpose of acquiring wealth and raising status. Indirectly, the
characteristic of the period can be interpreted.
9.
Chapter
13 | Page 136
‘After
a few minutes of entire silence between them, John Knightley began with ‘I
never in my life saw a man more intent on being agreeable than Mr. Elton. It is
downright labour to him where ladies are concerned. With men he can be rational
and unaffected, but when he has ladies to please, every feature works.’
· In
these lines, John Knightley emphasizes the fortune hunter character of Philip
Elton. In terms of behavior, the reason why his actions differ with women is
that Mr. Elton wants to have the wealth of the woman by marrying a super-good
person. That's why Mr Elton pretends to be related to Emma. Because when we
look at the characteristics of the period, we see that once a girl marries her
prosperity becomes her husband.
10. Chapter 14 | Page 145
‘Now,
it so happened that in spite of Emma’s resolution of never marrying, there was
something in the name, in the idea of Mr. Frank Churchill, which always
interested her. She had frequently thought—especially since his father’s marriage
with Miss Taylor that if she were to marry, he was the very person to suit her
in age, character and condition.’
· First,
Emma has sworn to herself never to marry, but she thinks if there is any chance
of her marriage, it will be Frank Churchill. I have concluded that marriage is
such an important concept that even someone who says they will never get
married, one day their thoughts can be changed. The concept of marriage, which
covers a great concept of the period, is the main subject of every conversation.
Even in family conversations, nothing other than marriage has been talked
about.
Secondly, Emma Frank evaluates
Churchill in terms of status first. Emma approves of this situation in herself
because she sees him appropriate for herself in terms of family status, age and
position. Frank Churchill is also an educated child of a wealthy family, and
because he is wealthy, he is seen as the ideal marriage candidate of the time.
11. Chapter 16 | Page 166
‘She
need not trouble herself to pity him. He only wanted to aggrandise and enrich
himself; and if Miss Woodhouse of Hartfield, the heiress of thirty thousand
pounds, were not quite so easily obtained as he had fancied, he would soon try
for Miss Somebody else with twenty, or with ten….But that he should talk of
encouragement, should consider her as aware of his views, accepting his
attentions, meaning (in short), to marry him!—should suppose himself her equal
in connexion or mind!—look down upon her friend, so well understanding the
gradations of rank below him, and be so blind to what rose above, as to fancy
himself shewing no presumption in addressing her! It was most provoking.’
· In
this quote, the focus is on the importance of the courtship. After Mr Churchill
reveals his interest in Emma, she realizes it was all a mistake. While love
should develop spontaneously between two people, here love takes place in the
form of showing off depending on materiality. When Emma retreats to her room
and self-evaluates, she realizes that Mr Churchill is all about upgrading
status and money.
· This
situation reveals what the difference in status and the importance of this
difference can make people do. Emma's £ 30,000 dowry also explains why Mr
Churchill chose her. Emma is certainly aware of the difference between them. Emma
is very angry with Mr Churchill for two reasons. Both for how he saw himself as
Emma's equal, and for how he treated Harriet unfairly and despised her. All in
all, in this quote, everything is based on class status and property.
12. Chapter 22 | Page 220
‘Human
nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting situations,
that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of being kindly spoken
of. A week had not passed since Miss Hawkins’s name was first mentioned in
Highbury, before she was, by some means or other, discovered to have every
recommendation of person and mind; to be handsome, elegant, highly
accomplished, and perfectly amiable: and when Mr. Elton himself arrived to
triumph in his happy prospects, and circulate the fame of her merits, there was
very little more for him to do, than to tell her Christian name, and say whose
music she principally played.’
· Miss
Hawkins is Mr Elton's newly married wife. It is explained that with her
personal, material and spiritual characteristics, she fits the ideal wife
candidate characteristics of the period. I concluded that Mr Elton had achieved
the victory he wanted. He has joined his life with someone higher in status,
and it was flattering to return to town like this. Mr Elton is also very happy
to marry someone financially superior to him. This again emphasizes the
importance of money and materiality in the concept of marriage of the period.
· On
the other hand, this feature made me question true love. Only status, finances,
family equality are talked about. In this novel, being an ideal spouse has
taken the place of true love.
13. Chapter 29 | Page 299
‘Frank
Churchill had danced once at Highbury, and longed to dance again; and the last
half-hour of an evening which Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded to spend with his
daughter at Randalls, was passed by the two young people in schemes on the
subject. Frank’s was the first idea; and the greatest zeal in pursuing it; for
the lady was the best judge of the difficulties, and the most solicitous for
accommodation and appearance. But still she had inclination enough for shewing
people again how delightfully Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse danced…’
· Victorian
balls are one of the most important places to show of its elite status. In this
chapter, Frank Churchill proposes the idea of organizing a ball, and Emma
approves the idea, of course, in order to show off herself, to emphasize her
social class with her dance with Frank Churchill. These
plans were made unaware that the balloon would be cancelled.
· It's
not a courtship, it's just a close relationship with another high-level person
to show your social status. Emma chose Frank Churchill for this show because he
has all the qualities.
14. Chapter 32 | Pages 338-339
‘Yes:
but a young lady—a bride—I ought to have paid my respects to her if possible.
It was being very deficient.’ ‘But, my dear papa, you are no friend to
matrimony; and therefore, why should you be so anxious to pay your respects to
a bride? It ought to be no recommendation to you. It is encouraging people to
marry if you make so much of them.’ ‘No, my dear, I never encouraged anybody to
marry, but I would always wish to pay every proper attention to a lady—and a
bride, especially, is never to be neglected. More is avowedly due to her. A
bride, you know, my dear, is always the first in company, let the others be who
they may.’
· In
this excerpt, the married woman is depicted as the ideal woman by Emma's
father, Mr Woodhouse. While reading throughout the entire book what a sacred
status marriage is in general, the emphasis that a married woman is an ideal
woman was made by Mr Woodhouse for the first time.
· The
reason why a married woman is seen as the ideal woman is that if the woman is
married, it means that she has sufficient social class status, material and
moral values.
15. Chapter 33 | Page 340
‘Emma
was not required, by any subsequent discovery, to retract her ill opinion of
Mrs. Elton. Her observation had been pretty correct. Such as Mrs. Elton
appeared to her on this second interview, such she appeared whenever they met
again,—self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred. She had a
little beauty and a little accomplishment, but so little judgment that she
thought herself coming with superior knowledge of the world, to enliven and
improve a country neighbourhood; and conceived Miss Hawkins to have held such a
place in society as Mrs. Elton’s consequence only could surpass.’
· The
formation of such thoughts about Mrs Elton is actually a courtship problem.
People approach each other calmly and with their feelings and want to get to
know each other. But here we see that Mr Elton did not know Mrs Elton because
we did not read a deep knowledge of Mrs Elton's characteristics. This justified
Emma in her thoughts. When Mr Elton decided to get married, he based solely on
her wealth and social class not her feelings, characteristics, or thoughts. So,
we can say that it is a wrong way of courtship.
16. Chapter 36 | Page 372
‘Yes,
upon my word, very considerable. Sixty-five miles farther than from Maple Grove
to London. But what is distance, Mr. Weston, to people of large fortune? —You
would be amazed to hear how my brother, Mr. Suckling, sometimes flies about.
You will hardly believe me— but twice in one week he and Mr. Bragge went to
London and back again with four horses.’
· Here,
in this quote the focus is on the class distinction and social hierarchy. Even
more than 100 kilometres of road between Maple Grove and London is a factor
that reveals the class divide because it is easy for wealthy families with a
horse-drawn carriage, but for families that are not wealthy, it is difficult to
go this route because they do not have any means of transportation. The length
of the road is specifically specified, down to the kilometre, in order to
emphasize this social class hierarchy.
17. Chapter 38 | Page 389
‘Mrs.
Elton then said, ‘Nobody can think less of dress in general than I do—but upon
such an occasion as this, when every body’s eyes are so much upon me, and in
compliment to the Westons—who I have no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to
do me honour—I would not wish to be inferior to others. And I see very few
pearls in the room except mine.’
· In
the Victorian Era, we can first distinguish the social hierarchy from clothing.
Men and women pay attention to the carefulness of their clothes, because dress
and appearance are the first factors that determine social class. In this
quote, at Mr Weston’s party, Mrs Elton emphasizes that she does not want to be
inferior to other women in order to show that she is from the upper class and
elite, and that's why she wears a pearl necklace.
18. Chapter 38 | Page 394
‘I
do own myself to have been completely mistaken in Mr. Elton. There is a
littleness about him which you discovered, and which I did not: and I was fully
convinced of his being in love with Harriet. It was through a series of strange
blunders!’
· For
the first time, we see Emma almost admit that she was wrong. In fact, this
acceptance is a harbinger of the emergence of some different emotions. What
feelings? Emma has always been aggressive towards Mr. Knightley, but as a
result of their rapprochement at the party and the fact that her suppressed
feelings surfaced, she started to accept something.
19. Chapter 38 | Page 402
‘Whom
are you going to dance with?’ asked Mr. Knightley. She hesitated a moment, and
then replied, ‘With you, if you will ask me.’ ‘Will you?’ said he, offering his
hand. ‘Indeed, I will. You have shown that you can dance, and you know we are
not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper.’ ‘Brother
and sister! no, indeed’
· The
two upper-class people are now taking a step that will mark the ball, by going
beyond the limits of people and showing their elites with the dance they
perform. Thanks to Jane Austen's imagination, the harmony of the two main
characters, who have differences of opinion, conflict and seem to be
dissatisfied with each other, and the atmosphere they created in the ballroom,
came to life like a movie scene from the Victorian era of the 19th century.
20. Chapter 44 | Page 461
‘The
wretchedness of a scheme to Box Hill was in Emma’s thoughts all the evening.
How it might be considered by the rest of the party, she could not tell. They,
in their different homes, and their different ways, might be looking back on it
with pleasure; but in her view it was a morning more completely misspent, more
totally bare of rational satisfaction at the time, and more to be abhorred in
recollection, than any she had ever passed.’
· Mr.
Knightley makes Emma cry in this episode because Emma disrespected someone
older and lower in rank. Mr. Knightley is one of the truly ideal characters of
the era. He always criticized Emma's actions and tried to show her the truth.
Emma has begun to accept Mr Knightley's warnings as she is now approaching the
events with her heart. Emma and Mr. Knightley are ideal characters and
co-candidates of the period. They are in the same social class group in terms
of status, material and moral values and family ties. Although Emma has come to
the end of the book by making wrong decisions from the beginning, she will now
take a step towards the right path for herself and she choose the correct
courtship for herself.
Yorumlar
Yorum Gönder