Am I the only one thinking Emma has an avoidant attachment style?
For those who don't know, Avoidant attachment is an attachment style a child develops when their parent or main caretaker doesn’t show care or responsiveness past providing essentials like food and shelter. Losing her mother in young age and being raised by her hypocondriac father might have caused Emma to not develop a secure attachment style, making her the spoiled little brat we all love to hate.
Signs that someone has a Avoidant Attachment style are:
Trouble showing or feeling their emotions (!) Discomfort with physical closeness and touch Accusing their partner of being too clingy or overly attached Refusing help or emotional support from others (!!) Fear that closeness to a partner will cause them to get hurt Sense of personal independence and freedom is more important than partnership (!!!) Not relying on their partner during times of stress, and not letting their partner rely on them
I feel like Emma is likely to fall into most of these traits... She prides herself to be indipendent and to not need anyone, she "forces" herself to have feelings for Frank Churchill just to toy with him and his feelings, she hates the idea of being vulnerable in front of others, never asks for help, hates every kind of critic, has troubles expressing her emotions (in the scene of Knightley's confession, she lets him talk and says the littlest she can). And it's very telling that she states more and more throughout the book to never want to marry.
For those who don't know, Avoidant attachment is an attachment style a child develops when their parent or main caretaker doesn’t show care or responsiveness past providing essentials like food and shelter. Losing her mother in young age and being raised by her hypocondriac father might have caused Emma to not develop a secure attachment style, making her the spoiled little brat we all love to hate.
Signs that someone has a Avoidant Attachment style are:
Trouble showing or feeling their emotions (!)
Discomfort with physical closeness and touch
Accusing their partner of being too clingy or overly attached
Refusing help or emotional support from others (!!)
Fear that closeness to a partner will cause them to get hurt
Sense of personal independence and freedom is more important than partnership (!!!)
Not relying on their partner during times of stress, and not letting their partner rely on them
I feel like Emma is likely to fall into most of these traits...
She prides herself to be indipendent and to not need anyone, she "forces" herself to have feelings for Frank Churchill just to toy with him and his feelings, she hates the idea of being vulnerable in front of others, never asks for help, hates every kind of critic, has troubles expressing her emotions (in the scene of Knightley's confession, she lets him talk and says the littlest she can). And it's very telling that she states more and more throughout the book to never want to marry.
What do you think? Am I reading too much into it?