This was my first time reading Emma. Knowing that it was based on one of my all-time favorite movies (Clueless), it became a little bit of a distraction because I would try to connect the characters and events in the book to the movie (and not the one starring Gwyneth Paltrow). I can see why this Jane Austen classic is still popular today. First, the life of high society has always been popular in entertainment for the masses. We have an obsession with the wealthy lifestyles ("The Hills," anyone?) and like to critique their habits while envying all the stuff they own. Emma's character is complex but I think there are many "Emmas" in life and I happen to know a few. They are kind, well-meaning, but also a little shortsighted and can misunderstand the bigger picture. She's loveable but she has her flaws, and female readers love to point them out because that's what women do.
I think there's an undercurrent of feminism in Emma's psyche. She pledges to remain unmarried and sees her sister's marriage and family as unfortunate. (Austen refers to her sister as Mrs. John Knightley, including his first name reinforces this stripped-down individuality that Emma fears). Despite all these early sentiments, Emma ends up marrying Mr. Knightley. Were all of her earlier concerns just ignorance? And why was her ignorance so attractive to Mr.Knightley? Maybe her blunders were attractive to him in a very "damsel-in-distress" kind of way. But in the end, their union was sealed in "perfect happiness."
No comments:
Post a Comment