“Handsome, clever and rich”, these are the portrayals of Emma Woodhouse in Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma. Austen claimed the heroine Emma as a character “whom no one but myself will much like”. Yet I must contradict her on this point. Indeed, Emma is in possession of many fine qualities which a girl could ever hope for. She is clever, talented to a noble degree, warm-hearted, open, unreserved and friendly among her acquaintances. As the richest and smartest girl in such a small County neighbourhood, Emma’s pride is not without its full justice. Those around her who consider Emma perfect in every single particular are not without their reasons and justifications, although they may have been partially blinded by love and affection. True, spoiled, Emma has a tendency to think a little too well of her judgements on occasions, yet I must defend for her good and kind nature. Anyone grown up in the centre of such indulgent and easy spirited family and friends may think themselves the superior lady in both sense and situation. In a time when one’s town was one’s world, and the actions at a ball excited greater interest than the movement of armies, there lived Emma who knew how the world should run.
However, one person in Emma’s circle of acquaintance is able to identify Emma’s many mistakes and imperfections. As a very old family friend of Emma’s Mr. Knightley does not feel held back from urging Emma to mend her imperfections and sharing his honest opinions with her. Thus is a neighbour, friend, elderly brother and adviser whom Emma holds the highest regard for. Not all their interactions are pleasant to both parties given Emma’s tendency for making mistakes from her quickness of mind and Mr. Knightley’s tendency of careful observation and pointing them out. But their mutual respect and affection are undeniable. At times, if you pay attention to those who talk about your incapabilities and misjudgements in front of you, you will notice that they are the ones who truly and sincerely wish for you to be better off. Those who talk about nothing but flattery praise in front you yet gossip about this and that behind are the ones you really need to be weary of.
So, it can be expected that Emma undergoes a series of obstacles and complications to transform into the humbled, feeling and modest heroine truly deserving of Mr. Knightley’s tender love and affection. During this adventurous journey, Emma makes the acquaintance of Harriet Smith, a boarder at the local girl’s school. At first, she feeds Harriet, the natural daughter of nobody knows whom, notions of class division and the importance of connection in a marriage. Indeed, in the early 19th century, marriage can decide for one’s fate when it involves a girl of little or no consequence. One ought to be aware of this reality as complete naïveté often does more good than harm when the matter directly concerns oneself. In this respect Emma does no great wrong. It is the fact that Emma continuously fetches Harriet ideas of her class superiority that is principally and unceremoniously wrong. When Emma herself is unsure of Harriet’s parentage she should not speculate and make assumptions of it based on her preference of Harriet, and let alone voice these unfounded assumptions to Harriet herself, influencing Harriet's perception of her situation.
Seriously misled by Emma, Harriet grows less self conscious and thinks a little better of herself than what she is worthy for. True to Mr. Knightley’s words vanity creates every kind of mischief on a weak mind, Harriet creates false ideas and hopes of a connection of great disparity. Well, you can definitely take a guess of the outcome of this unrealistic, self-centred fancy. Harriet ends up broken-hearted. Emma, therefore learns to not meddle in the affairs of others and influence one’s opinions based on unfounded and quick judgements on her side. All these revelation and shift of mindset are not done without the help of Mr. Knightley and the parties who decidedly suffered due to Emma’s ill influence.
Jane Austen definitely surprises us in Emma. This is an incredible story of a young spoiled girl seeing the follies of her youth-hood, of a budding, complementary romance, of the conventions during the Regency Period England, of the journey every girl goes through to find perfect happiness and a wonderful prospect for the future.
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