Emma in Classics and the Western Canon

Apr 08, 2008 Clif Hostetler rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: novel

Jane Austen wrote about everyday life among the lower English gentry of the early 19th Century. Thus, the book's characters are concerned about social class in ways that seem a bit strange to a 21st Century American reader. A modern reader is likely to find that the book consists of much 19th Century dialog about trifles. It is that, but Austen's skill as a writer is apparent in the way she portrays character traits and personalities through their spoken words. It seems as though half the words Jane Austen wrote about everyday life among the lower English gentry of the early 19th Century. Thus, the book's characters are concerned about social class in ways that seem a bit strange to a 21st Century American reader. A modern reader is likely to find that the book consists of much 19th Century dialog about trifles. It is that, but Austen's skill as a writer is apparent in the way she portrays character traits and personalities through their spoken words. It seems as though half the words in the book are contained within quotation marks. But at truly climatic moments the story's narration slips inside the minds of the story's characters to describe their feelings.

Emma, in the book, is preoccupied with social class and match making while at the same time claiming no interest in marriage for herself. The story shows Emma's busy-body approach failing to achieve her desired goals in most cases. Her self perceived ability to understand the feelings of others is repeatedly found to be leading her to incorrect conclusions. But never fear, this is 19th Century writing so things will be OK in the end.

Some reviewers note that the book shows how women of that era were dependent on men for their security. That may be true, but this is a story about English gentry who have a quite pleasant life. (The servants hover in the background and are given about as much attention as we give to our kitchen appliances.) The women in this story may not be liberated in the modern feminist sense, but they appear comfortable with their environment.

The historical context within which Jane Austen wrote is what makes her books interesting to me. She predates the Bronte sisters, George Eliot and Mary Shelley. So I guess that makes Jane Austen the mother of the English novel. Jane Austen also predates Dickens and Hardy. Unfortunately, her being female had little impact on her contemporaries because all her novels were published anonymously during her lifetime. Jane Austen was a natural born writer starting at a young age. However, it can be argued that her books may never have been published had her family not been experiencing financial difficulties.

(I need to acknowledge here that Ann Radcliffe was a published female author prior to Jane Austen. So it may be a bit too generous to call Jane Austen the mother of the English novel.)

Here's a short review for the 12/24/2015 PageADay Book Lover's Calendar:
Beautiful, bright Emma Woodhouse lives with her hypochondriac father on a country estate outside of London. Their bachelor neighbor Mr. Knightly makes frequent visits to their home, and as a diversion Emma decides to play matchmaker and find a husband for Harriet, a young woman whose background is not genteel. There are picnics and parties, false starts, misunderstandings, and flirtations in this absolutely delicious novel. You can read this book 20 times and still get fresh pleasure out of it every time you do.
EMMA, by Jane Austen; edited by George Justice (1816; W. W. Norton, 2011)
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Mar 14, 2008 Jason Cook rated it did not like it

Shelves: abandoned

I am abandoning Emma. The first couple of chapters were interesting, but now I'm halfway through and I'm just not enjoying this book, all in all. None of the characters really seem all that distinct from one another. It doesn't matter to me if anyone gets together with anyone else. Emma herself is a bit of a snob. And there's a pointlessly long monologue about baked apples that made me want to throw the book across my apartment, but I didn't because I'd probably have hit the cat and it's not hi ...more

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Nov 05, 2007 Ayne Ray rated it it was amazing

Regarding Emma Woodhouse, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like." While I found Emma to be a likeably charming (if somewhat initially oblivious) character, I enjoyed Austen's departure from a female character who must marry "up"; unlike Elizabeth Bennet or the Dashwood sisters, money is not a primary concern here, allowing the author to take a somewhat lighter tone. It doesn't resonate as deeply as some of her other works, but is a sparkling comedy non ...more

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Jan 04, 2010 Gail rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2011, classic-british, 2010, e-library

I've stupidly avoided Austen for years. I really liked this book, especially its maddening but very realistic characterizations. The plot is one of those misunderstood intentions/romance/comedy of manners sort of things, but the writing lifts it far above the norm. Most enjoyable. ...more

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