Emma
discussion
Did Anyone Else Not Like Emma's Character?
Agree.I can't stand Emma and think she is a spoiled brat.You are not alone in your opinion.
I'll admit I did not like Emma in the beginning, but it did not stop me from enjoying the story. I found that Emma grew in the end and I enjoyed the journey. Emma is probably one of my favorite Austen novels.
When I first read Emma, I disliked. She was not like Elizabeth Bennett, the Dashwood sisters, Catherine Morland and Fanny Price. But I admit that I began to be fond when I saw the interpretation of Kate Beckinsale as Emma, in my opinion, the best.
Like many others, I didn't like Emma at first - perhaps we weren't meant to? The book grew on me though and as Emma grew and matured, she became (almost) lovable.The things we didn't like about her were common characteristics back in an era of inequality. Jane Austen was so remarkably ahead of her time in her ability to see beyond her own society's prejudices and social conditioning and draw attention to these things in her characters.
Jenny wrote: "Like many others, I didn't like Emma at first - perhaps we weren't meant to? The book grew on me though and as Emma grew and matured, she became (almost) lovable.The things we didn't like about h..."
What struck me is that I think a character very different from their own social status and much more direct than Elizabeth Bennett. In that sense, Emma is much stronger character than most of the stars of Jane Austen.
The whole point of the book is that you're not supposed to like Emma. JA wrote of her, "I am now writing a character that no one but myself will much like."
Okay so this is a nerdist rumor... but supposedly Austen wrote Fanny Price in Mansfield Park and nobody liked her because she was too good, so Austen, being annoyed by that, wrote Emma's character thinking "well, no one's going to like her because she's so self-centered and bratty"... backfired as most people liked her.I admit that I really like Emma a lot as I'm also pretty self-centered and bossy. But it's cool to think that Austen saw that there were control freaks in the world and wrote a character that had this.
Emma does a lot of growing, but then, she has a lot of growing to do. But that's the whole point. Her daddy thinks she's perfect, and so does her ex-governess. Mr. Knightly is the only one who has ever told her she is not perfect. And Jane Fairfax is the only one who has ever made her feel inferior, because she's the only young woman of close to her class around, and is so obviously so much nicer, so much less self-centered, and so reduced in circumstances and expectations.Mr. Knightly is the only one who demands better of her, and doesn't indulge her fanciful image of herself. Which of course is why he's the only one worth her marrying.
The Churchill young man was far from perfect himself, but had the good sense to see that Jane was the hidden gem.
I couldn't stand emma.
Jenny wrote: "Like many others, I didn't like Emma at first - perhaps we weren't meant to? The book grew on me though and as Emma grew and matured, she became (almost) lovable.The things we didn't like about h..."
Yes, I agree. Once I read the book I started watching "Emma Approved" which is a Youtube series adaptation of Emma. Once I started watching the series, I found myself liking Emma a bit more than her book character. Probably because they didn't include any descriptions of her character in the video series :)
I love the idea of a flawed heroine. Emma is interfering, controlling and in a petty way power hungry...but we do see some wonderful penitence and this little Daddy's girl gains some maturity toward the book. I did not like her, but I found her real!
I agree that Emma is clearly and realistically flaw and generally unlikable in the beginning. I also agree with what many have posted here previous, that the this is the point. I think Emma embodies a typical teenager in that they think they already know everything there is to know. That they are worldly and all opinions should match their own. Emma grows throughout the book and I like the fact that she is not the perfect heroine. With that said, this is probably my least favorite Jane Austen novel. I just did not relate to Emma as I have to other Austen characters.
Annemarie wrote: "Okay so this is a nerdist rumor... but supposedly Austen wrote Fanny Price in Mansfield Park and nobody liked her because she was too good, so Austen, being annoyed by that, wrote Emma's character ..."I love that story. Where did you hear it?
The author's brilliance is not in creating a protagonist who is the an image of idealism (even that varies in our times and her's). Her brilliance is in creating beautiful characters, complete and well defined. Emma was a rich kid, pampered in the absence of a mother and an overprotecting father, in a time when social status held more importance than we now would like. She had all the civility expected of a girl in her position and all the arrogance of a young girl superior than everybody around her. Emma's character may be flawed, but Austen created a perfect character for her story.
Emma annoyed me so much I couldn't stand it!! She is so blindfolded it makes you want to cry... but probably yes it was Austen intention to get that reaction...Anyway I couldn't give Emma more than 3 stars for that reason
Emma is a very good book. The heroine is a young, intelligent and privileged woman who delights in making matches for others. She seems unable to fall in love, until she realises that she has loved Mr. Knightley for all her life. Emma is a different type of Austin's heroines , because she has no romantic interest in the men she meets. She isn't the romantic type such as Marianne Dashwood or Catherine Morland . She's more similar to Elizabeth Bennet.
I love the NOVEL Emma, but the character...Indeed, Emma is one of the most beleivable in Jane Austen's universe, but still, she is so immature one cannot put up with her without feeling the strong desire to shake her a little. In Emma's defense, I claim that her flaws were cultivated by people who over indulged her for being orphan of her mom. Her father being the most foolish parent ever, Mr Knightly is the closest she'll get for a father figure. She'd rather be taken over his knee at the wedding night though, if he has any hope of being head of the house and master of his wife.
Kressel wrote: "Annemarie wrote: "Okay so this is a nerdist rumor... but supposedly Austen wrote Fanny Price in Mansfield Park and nobody liked her because she was too good, so Austen, being annoyed by that, wrote..."Gillian Anderson told it as part of the Emma releases on PBS a few years back. She was saying information about the movie before it aired, this was the Romola Gairi version.
Natàilia wrote: "When I first read Emma, I disliked. She was not like Elizabeth Bennett, the Dashwood sisters, Catherine Morland and Fanny Price. But I admit that I began to be fond when I saw the interpretation of..."I loved Emma, yes she was flawed at the start but her intentions were good and she did see the error of her ways by the end. It is the Dashwood sisters that I dislike, that about intellectual snobs and they don't change by the end of the novel.
I honestly hated her as a character. I mean I thought she was bratty and really didn't help anyone.
Pragya wrote: "The author's brilliance is not in creating a protagonist who is the an image of idealism (even that varies in our times and her's). Her brilliance is in creating beautiful characters, complete and ..." So true. Lis wrote: "Emma does a lot of growing, but then, she has a lot of growing to do. But that's the whole point. Her daddy thinks she's perfect, and so does her ex-governess. Mr. Knightly is the only one who has ..." I think Emma does change more in the end, and I think that is why her character is so interesting. I agree.
I don't like her either. She is a snobby, selfish, vain, brat that has nothing better to do than to meddle in other peoples lives. I couldn't get through the novel because of that.I also couldn't watch Emma Approved on Youtube(especially with all of the people in the comments defending and justifying her actions uggg)
Annaliese wrote: "I love Jane Austen…but I really don't like the book "Emma". Most people talk about it and say "Oh it was such a great idea". And it totally is, except for one tiny problem. Okay one big problem...."Yes. I agree. Toward the end, one learned to like her more... but she was definitely annoying in the least at the beginning. She messed up multiple other's lives in the process. Gosh. Come on, lady.
Jenny wrote: "Like many others, I didn't like Emma at first - perhaps we weren't meant to? The book grew on me though and as Emma grew and matured, she became (almost) lovable.The things we didn't like about h..."
That's interesting. I enjoy most Jane Austen heroines, but could never bring myself around to Emma. Maybe you're right; we're not supposed to like her, at least before she learns the error of her ways. It does feel like we're meant to feel ashamed of her when she's openly cruel to Miss Bates and when her plans for Harriet fall through. And she does learn from her bad behavior...
Emma was the one book of Austen's I picked up, then put down. I write, so I understand variance in mood and tone of the author. I understand stretching yourself to try something different. Because I love her work, I will pick Emma up again someday. And maybe that time, I will read it through.
I feel a little crazy everytime I come back to this thread... which I LOVE BTW. But I honestly love adore worship Emma Woodhouse. I would hang with that chick!
It is a love hate relationship with Emma for me.
I've just joined Goodreads and this discussion, so a little late to the party!What really interests me about Emma is that she's the only Austen heroine who has real choices. She's wealthy, adored, the mistress of her own establishment. Unlike other Austen women, there's no imperative for her to marry. She starts the book spoilt and controlling but is made to rethink her personality through a series of bad mistakes. It's this rather than a change in her social circumstances that brings her happiness.
We did Emma as a setwork book at school and I hated her. Spoiled and interfering, with very little concern about other people's feelings. She really doesn't deserve Mr Knightly. She's a brat. But then if you consider that she had everything in life handed to her on a plate and was indulged by everyone around her, it is little wonder. Spoilt and indulged children do not grow up to be unselfish, kind and giving adults.
I couldn't stand Emma.I also knew that she would end up marrying Mr Knightly from the word go. Just like Mills and Boon, disliked intensely morphs into love !!
It's definitely the book I read least often, and for the same reason. There's no one to really ROOT for. Rising above your lot in life as a woman is a very compelling theme for us women, and Emma's is like the captain of the cheer-leading squad trying to clumsily pad her transcript with good deeds. I enjoyed the writing as I enjoy all Jane Austen's writing, but the joy in that book lies elsewhere than with Emma herself. Mansfield Park is my favorite :).
Jane Austen herself said, "I am going to take a heroine whom nobody but myself will like much."
I liked her more after seeing Clueless, which is one of my favorite movies. If you think of Emma as "clueless"more than a spoiled brat, she grows on you.
J. Youngblood wrote: "Jane Austen herself said, "I am going to take a heroine whom nobody but myself will like much.""That's really interesting: where did it come from?
Linda wrote: "Natàilia wrote: "When I first read Emma, I disliked. She was not like Elizabeth Bennett, the Dashwood sisters, Catherine Morland and Fanny Price. But I admit that I began to be fond when I saw the ..."There's a difference between being flawed and being overly immature. Emma's difference from the Dashwood sisters is no one is slightly given to be condescendent or indulgent with them. That's why they have to rely on themselves only, and therefore may be regarded as 'snobs'.
Olivia wrote: "I liked her more after seeing Clueless, which is one of my favorite movies. If you think of Emma as "clueless"more than a spoiled brat, she grows on you."Good suggestion! I really enjoyed the film too - I've seen it several times now. In the novel Emma flounders around and makes some terrible mistakes before she's forced into some very painful soul searching.
Just finished reading Emma and I have to say it was a painful read...and that's being generous. I'm one of those people who has to read a book all the way through whether I like it or not and it was a struggle to get through this one. Emma is spoiled and selfish and judgemental and somehow winds up with everything she could ever want. She uses Harriet as her own little play thing and then tosses her aside when she wants to play with Emma's toys (aka Knightley). Knighley and Mrs. Weston were the only two sensible characters in the book, all the rest were just horrible. Love Jane Austen, but hated Emma.
I detested Emma. She is so annoying and always in fanciful thoughts about herself. Except for Mr Knightly everyone indulges her in her stupid, annoying, fanciful thoughts. She has nothing better to do other than poking her nose in other people's affairs. huh.
I definitely felt the same way. Emma was completely unlikeable! I didn't even finish the book the first time because I hated her so much. I did eventually finish it, but that didn't change my opinion. Neither did watching any of the movie adaptations. Though I do like Mr. Knightley. :) However, I just discovered Emma Approved on Youtube last week. It's amazing!!! I LOVED IT. It shows Emma's growth so much better. (You should also watch the Lizzie Bennet Diaries if you haven't already)!
Emma is my favourite book and Emma is my favourite heroine. I reread it with immense pleasure. It's easy to see why some people find her so annoying, but she does achieve a level of self-awareness that bears out the love and hope vested in her by Mrs Weston and Mr Knightley. Emma is certainly spoiled and she has been the centre of her father's life for a long time. He thinks she's perfect and the only reason she doesn't agree with him is because Mrs Weston and Mr Knightley have been telling her otherwise.
I think Jane Austen was joking when she said that she had created a heroine that her readers wouldn't like. That was hardly the attitude of a woman who wrote to sell books because she needed the income.
Emma is a feminist, miss-know-it-all, who has trouble knowing who is right and who is fake and is a bad judge of people and character. She also is less clear in matters of the heart. A young rich clueless woman. So author-wise she's a great character to have written, especially since head-strong women usually end up badly in great works of literature. Emma is one-of-a-kind and that's why probably she was Austen's fave.
But I cannot STAND Emma! Never have, and the only reason that book gets lower rating from me, is because of the irritating heroine!
I think that each one of Austen's heroines reflects a side of her character. And, since we all as human beings (including brilliant authors) have a clumsy, whiny, childish side in our personalities thus, Jane used Emma to reveal that side of her personality.Annoying! maybe. But she is innocent and with good intentions just like a child and she is the kind that learns from her mistakes.
Not my favorite Austen novel, but still..enjoyed it.
I loved Emma for the simple and beautifully written human comedy that it is. To dislike the story because we dislike Emma, in my opinion, misses the point.
Kressel wrote: "The whole point of the book is that you're not supposed to like Emma. JA wrote of her, "I am now writing a character that no one but myself will much like.""Agreed. I love that we have that bit of JA's view of Emma. Emma's heart is in the right place, but as is true of a lot of people her age, is callow and naive. It would be interesting to visit Emma further along in her life and to see if her hopeful optimism and refinement of life experience has made her more agreeable to readers.
I'm odd. This is my fave Austen novel, but I didn't really like Emma herself until the end.
I loved the spoiled Emma, actually Emma is one of my favorite Jane Austen novels. And I love the movie versions also. Makes me want to watch the movie right now.
I like this book , but i didn't like Emma,not at all.
I read Wayne C. Booth's "The Rhetoric of Fiction" first (which led me to reading "Emma"), and he pointed out a few things. Jane Austen knew she had an uphill battle making this character likeable. What to do? Use distant narration initially to openly acknowledge Emma's faults, then shift to tell the story from inside her her head so we at least know she's well-intentioned. Use humour to keep things entertaining, but carefully not malicious so we're laughing with Emma, not at her. And once you know how the book ends, it's much better the 2nd time (or consider spoiling yourself before the first time, like I did.) Good novel, I enjoyed it. The only Austen I've read so far so I can't compare to her others.
John wrote: "I loved Emma for the simple and beautifully written human comedy that it is. To dislike the story because we dislike Emma, in my opinion, misses the point."Completely agree.
Why should it be difficult to read a great book because the protagonist is an immature girl. It is a story afterall about a young immature girl who grows into a better woman, and it is brilliant. It is my favourite of Auten's books.
Agree? Disagree? I'm happy to discuss.