From the Bookshelf of Classics for Beginners…

Emma

Jane Austen

Start date: May 1, 2011

Finish date: July 1, 2011

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Why we're reading this: We will read Emma and Pride and Prejudice over May and June.
[close] We will read Emma and Pride and Prejudice over May and June.

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Sep 07, 2009 Juergen John Roscher rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read_2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Jane Austen’s book “Emma” was a good read. I read this book for a book discussion group and was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. One of the benefits of the book discussion group is that I have been surprised how may times I have read books that I normally would not read and have liked and learned from them.

There were three main topics that I found interesting in this story: (1) the importance of social status in England at the time of the novel, (2) the role and expectations of women Jane Austen’s book “Emma” was a good read. I read this book for a book discussion group and was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. One of the benefits of the book discussion group is that I have been surprised how may times I have read books that I normally would not read and have liked and learned from them.

There were three main topics that I found interesting in this story: (1) the importance of social status in England at the time of the novel, (2) the role and expectations of women, and (3) Jane Austen’s use of static and dynamic characters to carry flow of the story.

Social Status
The social class of the novel’s characters was a crucial element of the relationships and played a significant role in the storyline. Emma was especially conscience of everyone’s social status. She had a tendency to look down on those who were lower class except for a few selected friends. She tried to elevate Harriet Smith’s social status through marriage to someone of a higher social status. Marriage to someone in a higher social class seemed to be the best way of moving to a higher social class, especially for women. Education or financial condition did not cause others (especially those of higher social status) to have a more preferably view of those in a lower class. I felt this was one of the key things I learned from the book; one’s social status does not correlate to the nobility and character of an individual.

Women’s Roles
The woman influence in the community was mostly limited to her husband or father and the family’s social status. Education or talent did not seem to have near the redeeming quality as it does now. It was demonstrated throughout the story the importance of a woman finding a good man (meaning a man that could provide for her needs and provide social benefits).

Static and Dynamic Characters
Emma Woodhouse was the character that changed and grew through the story. The rest of the characters (with the possible exclusion of Frank Churchill) were static, not growing or changing greatly during the story. The storyline dealt with the change Emma experienced living and dealing with the other characters. At the first of the story Emma was arrogant and condescending to those who were socially beneath her except for the few hand-picked people that she tried to save (such as Harriet Smith and Mrs. Weston to a lesser extent). She was determined that she would never get married. The novel progressed through her experiences at being a matchmaker for Harriet Smith with first Mr. Elliot and then Frank Churchill. Her dealings with other women in the novel such as Jane Fairfax and Miss Bates was immature and beneath her status. She slowly evolved to the point that she released that she loved Mr. Knightly. She tried to make amends for the dreadful way she treated others. Emma evolved through the novel to be one worthy of her social status and the love of Mr. Knightly.

I recommend this book to those who are fans of Jane Austen or who love stories about the-pursuit-of-romance and marriage.
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