...BOOK REVIEW Emma is a classic novel written by Jane Austen in 1815, published by John Murray. Emma is an intelligent, upper class young woman who thinks she knows more than other people. She decides to use her knowledge to become a matchmaker for her new little friend, Harriet. Emma finds out that she doesn't know as much as she thinks she does; while she discovers she misread quite a few of her acquaintances. She discovers that she didn't even know herself as well as she thought. The Regency era was a time of great social, political, and even economic change. The upper class lived extravagantly and spent huge amounts on pomp and show which caused a tremendous drain of money and this lead to large scale poverty. Jane Austen's portrayal of England's class structure in 1816 presents the idea that there are three distinct social classes, the lower, middle and upper class. All three join together in harmony to create the essence of Highbury, however there is a little discrimination present. In the early part of this period the ballroom dancing was prevalent in high society parties. Jane Austen features balls in her novels quite often. CHARACTER OVERVIEW: Emma is a young, beautiful and rich girl and finds herself a bit smarter for her match-making habit. She is a feminist character and thinks that she’ll never marry. Mr.knightley is Emma’s neighbor and also her sister Isabelle’s brother-in-law. He is a very good friend and critic of Emma and found to be wise in decision...
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...obtain luxurious wealth and a high ranking social status. Marriage was viewed as a career to women of this era. What if a woman happened to be born in the fame and fortune… would she even feel the need to search for a husband or financial support? Compared to other novels written by the English author Jane Austen, the book Emma seems to depict a very progressive and very inspirational idea that relates to women here today in the Twenty First Century. The best thing to do first in order to understand the concept of this idea would be getting to know the spectacular mind behind the scenes, Jane Austen. Born in Stevenson Hampshire, England on December 16th, 1775. This day made Jane Austen the seventh of eight children to her father Reverend George Austen and mother Cassandra Leigh Austen. Of the eight children Jane and her older sister Cassandra were the only girls, who were extremely close, as the entire family was very close-knit. Jane Austen looked up and idolized her older sister Cassandra Austen. An elder brother was said to have epilepsy and did not live with the family. The third son was adopted by a wealthy family and was not living with them either. All of the remaining Austen children who were Jane’s siblings growing up were primarily taught from the extensive knowledge of their scholarly father and the reading that they took upon themselves to do in the very grand and large at home library that they had with many books that contained stories and facts that they did nothing...
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...portrayed in Emma In Emma, a novel by Jane Austen, social status is determined by one’s family background, reputation, and wealth. One of the main ways to raise one’s social status is marriage but marrying too far above oneself may lead to unhappiness. There are a number of marriages in Emma and in each marriage the match strengthens the social status of the characters. The marriage between Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill is very interesting because their social status are not equal. Jane Fairfax is the daughter of Mrs. Bates’ youngest daughter, Jane Bates and Lieutenant Fairfax. The Bates were of high social status for Ms. Jane Bates to marry a commissioned officer in the regimental military “The marriage of Lieut. Fairfax of the - regiment of infantry, and Miss Jane bates, had had its day of fame and pleasure, hope and interest” (Austen 87). Upon her father’s and mother’s death Jane is taken in by the Campbell’s family “and from that period Jane had belonged to Colonel Campbell’s family, and had lived with them entirely” (Austen 88). Jane is beautiful, talented, charming, well-regarded, and she possesses a kind heart and a reserved temperament. Frank Churchill is the son of Mr. Weston and Miss Churchill. Mr. Weston’s family is respectable yet originally not wealthy but Miss Churchill came from a wealthy and well-connected family. The inequality of their social status caused hardship to both “it was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much happiness” (Austen 8). Because...
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...An English author widely read in the nineteen-hundreds, was Jane Austen. Although Austen’s works were widely read and popular in her lifetime, she published her works anonymously. All of her books are mainly about of her bright, young heroines in courtship and finally marriage, even though Austen herself never married. Her best-known books include PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Virginia Woolf, a renown critic in Austen’s time called Austen "the most perfect artist among women." Austen’s position as part of the upper class of the early nineteenth century British society gave her not only a subject for her novels but also the time needed for writing. Jane Austen was born, in Steventon, Hampshire, where her father, Rev. George Austen, was a rector. She was the second daughter and seventh child in a family of eight. Austen’s father’s unexpectedly retired after twenty-five years of living in Steventon; hence the family sold off everything and moved to Bath. Jane, aged twenty-five, and her elder sister, Cassandra (age twenty-eight), were considered to be confirmed old maids, followed their parents. Jane Austen was mostly tutored at home, and irregularly at school, but she received a broader education than many women of her time. She started to write for family amusement as a child. Her parents were avid readers; Austen's own favorite poet was Cowper. Her earliest-known writings date from about 1787. Very shy about her writing, she wrote on small pieces of paper that she slipped under the desk...
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...levels of understanding. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte has stood the test of time due to its impact on society, masterfully utilized motifs, and the continued relevance Bronte’s message has to readers. Emma, by Jane Austen will weather time equally as well as Jane Eyre, as both of the novels display incredible use of language in their distinctly different criticisms of English society in the 19th century. Both Authors employ motifs as a way to express dissatisfaction with society...
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...tuberculosis (Weldon 37-39). Jane Austen, born 1775, in Hampshire, England, was removed from most of these challenges due to her wealth, but the constriction she felt and debasement she observed still disturbed her (Life v). Her entire life was channeled toward marriage, and her thoughts and opinions were seen as trivial and lesser because she was female. Austen found escape in literature, and channeled many of her life’s frustrations into her last novel, Persuasion. The novel became a place where she could immortalize herself and those close to her, live out...
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...in the novel Emma by Jane Austen. The novel pertains to this saying, but beyond that the characters do as well. Emma Woodhouse, the shallow heroine cannot see behind looks and what the reasoning is through people’s actions. She is so aloof to what is happening outside of her perspective that many people’s actions in the novel, which are predictable many times to the reader, end up surprising her. This ultimately leads to Emma experiencing several major revelations in the novel that fundamentally change her understanding of herself and those around her. Emma represents many ignorant girls who cannot see past their own delusions of what others are thinking. Austen uses this plot device to convey to the reader that with people, things are not always what they seem and that even the most ignorant of teenage girls can change their perceptions of themselves and others around them. The first character that Emma is shocked by is Mr. Elton. After Emma convinces Harriet that Mr. Martin would not be a suitable husband, the girls and Mr. Elton spend much time together. Emma has made it Harriet her project and will not rest until she is married to, who Emma considers to be, a respectable gentleman. Working on a portrait of Harriet, Emma believes that Mr. Elton has taken a liking to Harriet, and she vice versa which pleases her very much. (Austen) Emma soon learns she is far from being right. After a dinner at Randall’s, a slightly drunken Mr. Elton announces his love for Emma as they sit...
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...Heroines Jane Austen- ENG 471 Abstract A heroine is a woman of strong emotional strength, character, moral standard and willpower. A heroine knows what she wants in life and she knows that she will not get their by settling for anything less. In the stories of Elizabeth Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, Fanny Price, and Emma Woodhouse, this was just the case. They fought to overcome obstacles and challenges that they were faced with so that they could live happy and prosperous lives. In their own way they proved to be heroines. Introduction In my opinion, a heroine is a woman with emotional strength, character, moral standard and willpower. A heroine does not have to be the richest, smartest or prettiest, but she does have to have a sense of esteem. A heroine knows what she wants, as well as what she does not want and she knows how to go about getting it in her own way. This is a head strong woman who keeps her priorities in line with realistic measures and the things that will keep them being the strong women that they are. While reading the Jane Austen novels and watching the movies there were several heroines to consider. While they were all carried different situations and outcome when it came to relationships and family, they were all the same in being strong in character and their beliefs. It seemed as if they carried the personal motto: don’t settle for less in the matters of love and relationships and each heroine did just that. The heroines in the Jane Austen novels consisted...
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...Discuss the ways in which Jane Austen uses caricature to ridicule or point out the faults of a rigid class system in characters such as Sir Walter, Mr. Woodhouse, and Mr. Collins. Extend your explanation of these character's personalities and goals to those of one or two of today's politicians. Are there parallels between Mr. Woodhouse, for example, and members of the Congress or Legislature? Explain your Answer. Jane Austen uses caricature to ridicule and to point out faults of the rigid class system of her day. We can look at Sir Walter Elliot from Persuasion, Austen’s last completed novel in 1816. Secondly poor old Mr. Woodhouse from Emma, written by Austen and published in 1815. Lastly Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice also written by Austen and published in 1813. Sir Walter Elliot at first read comes off as pompous and vain. After finishing the novel I cannot seem to change my view of him and probably with good reason. “He maintains personal qualities that are abhorrent to Austen's protagonists. Selfish and self-absorbed, he is unable to think past himself and his own immediate desires. Yet Sir Walter is not at all evil or ill inclined; rather, he is comically ridiculous, a caricature of the old, titled class” (SparkNotesEditors). Austen explains his vain character well in this one statement. “Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four...
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...March 2011 Essay 2 A Short Analysis of Romance and Eroticism in Emma and The French Lieutenant’s Woman While both novels explore the ideas of romance, Jane Austen is much more conservative in her approach to courtship and marriage. She includes traditional love scenes where men confess their love to a lady, or a woman speaks of her love for a man. There is no strong sexual content or intimacy between characters that is able to evolve into a steamy affair. There are certainly no intimate scenes within the novel and much of the romance is expressed through flirtation, superficial interest and courtship. John Fowles on the other hand explores romanticism and eroticism through several affairs that end in romantic tragedy in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Although this contrast exists between the two novels, both authors are still able to demonstrate the complexity of romantic relationships using their own unique approach to the subject. Jane Austen introduces romantic ideas through complex relationships that involve courtship and marriage. For some characters it is a growth process that allows them to make mistakes and learn new lessons. Emma is the main character in the novel and she is the main cause for the drama that goes on in the story. Emma assumes that she has cupid-like qualities that make her a great matchmaker for those she surrounds herself with. In reality, the matchmaking backfires and Emma finds herself entangled in a web of guilt and disappointment due to...
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...Clueless, an adaptation of Jane Austen's 1815 novel, Emma, is a 1995 American film by director, Amy Heckerling. The comedy serves as a 20th century update of the original text that shifts into creating a contemporary Emma, one for our own era. Though Clueless seems to set forth on building its reputation on a completely new, distinct ground, it is not an entirely different work of art. Considerable amounts of uniformities between the adaptation and Emma can be pinpointed throughout. As “Clueless is most faithful to Emma in its recreation of the plot involving Mr. Elton, Harriet Smith, and Emma” (Troost, Linda, and Greenfield 124), several parallels between the two distinctive texts, concerning this matter, can be recognized. One outstanding example is the correspondence and connection between the modern photography scene in Clueless and the sketching/painting of Harriet’s portrait in Emma. Hence, along with the novel’s highly persuasive guidance and the two’s so-called loose relation, various similarities as well as differences are inevitably present. Upon an analytical, close reading of the associated scenes, several shared story elements are brought into prospective. Both revolve around a beautiful, young lady who believes it is her duty to act as a matchmaker for her two companions. In both, the protagonist attempts to capture an image of her friend in hope that it would somehow reveal or prove the affection of the other. But aside from that, one will find that the two widely...
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...Comparative Analysis of Point of View of Joseph Andrews and Emma Point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers “hear” and “see” what takes place in a story. In this essay, the point of view of Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding and Emma by Jane Austen will be analyzed in comparison to one another. The comparison will be made on each aspect of the point of view, such as subjective/objective, partial/impartial narration and the perspectives through which the point of views are presented. The point of view of Joseph Andrews is third person omniscient. In Third person omniscient narration the narrator lies outside the plot and knows everything about the characters, their emotions and feelings and various events happening in the story, such a narrator is a God like character who is aware of everything. The narrator of Joseph Andrews is an intrusive narrator who keeps the reader aware of the fact that they are reading a fiction and the truth of the novel lies not in its facts but in the depiction of human nature. The intrusive nature of the novel can be felt by the descriptions provided at the beginning of each chapter, like the description of chapter V says, “The Death of Sir Thomas booby, with the affectionate and mournful Behaviour of his Widow, and the great Purity of Joseph Andrews”(24). In the very beginning even before reading the chapter the mind of the reader is made to think in a particular way that the behavior of the widow will be affectionate...
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...Ms.Dotson English 2 24 April 2012 Jane Austen’s Accomplishments Jane Austen was such a remarkable author. Growing up in such a judgmental period gave her many ideas due to her many stories coming from personal experiences. One thing is she stayed true to herself and others. Jane’s significance on her novels made her the great author of her decade. Jane Austen is such a loving person who shows her love through her actions by her novels, the way she treats her family, and how she puts others first. Austen was born on December 16th, 1775 to Reverend George Austen and Cassandra Austen. She lived her life in Steventon rectory with her close knit family. Her parents had seven children with Jane being the last. There were five boys and two girls. With her only having one sister name Cassandra they became best friends. Out of all her brothers she was closer to Henry. Even though she loved both of her parents very dearly she was more of a daddy’s girl. During Jane’s childhood, open learning, dialogue and creativity was the key to there life. Her parents wanted there children to express their self and be creative as possible. Education was so important in Jane’s family that her father took neighborhood children in their home to teach them. Jane’s house had a huge library full of literature. Jane and Cassandra were the main children who took the library seriously. Jane took over the library reading many books of different genres also writing. All the books she read helped her to...
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...In her transformation of the Nineteenth century novel Emma by Jane Austen into the modern film Clueless, Amy Heckerling reveals how society has changed over the last two centuries. While Austen illustrates a society based on patriarchal values, where women married for financial security and social status, Heckerling depicts a society where women are more independent and a society which values consumerism. Despite the many changes in society, Heckerling makes us aware that modern society still retains many social values of Austen’s time such as the way tha modern society is still based on a type of class system. Through the characters of the film Clueless, Heckerling makes us aware that despite America being a democratic society a class system still exists. Cher and Emma are both privileged woman born into a wealthy family and both are part of the dominant social group who take their privileges for granted. Cher’s affluent lifestyle is a product of the consumerist American society, where status is determined by wealth, popularity and image whereas Emma lives in a society where status is also determined by wealth, but background and family connections are more important. The use of the mise en scene of Cher’s bedroom and computer which assist her to select a suitable outfit for from her vast collection of clothes which satrises the consumer society of the twentieth century. The mall is described as a place of worship, it is a place where Cher can “find sanctuary…gather my thoughts...
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...•Emma, written in 1815 by Jane Austen, investigates the foundation of marriage inside nineteenth century British society. Each character is meshed into the story and makes faces off regarding with respect to marriage and the part men and ladies depict while considering the possibility of marriage. Austen likewise investigates what every sexual orientation profits by a union. The view Emma has toward marriage, and how these perspectives change once she finds a good accomplice, Mr. Knightley, is a focal topic all through the novel. When she is consoled of the adoration Mr. Knightley has communicated, Emma can get through the dividers she has made around herself and go into a union in a positive way. •Austen investigates marriage and why Emma,...
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