Q1. Do you think it's important that Austen uses a male character as her 'moral compass' in this novel? Why is Mr Knightley in this role?
Q2. How do we know what Austen's views are of elements of her society, such as gender roles, marriage, superficial appearance?
Learning Activity:
Here is a sample opening to a close analysis essay:
In Emma, Austen reveals the importance of marriage and social status during the novel. Social status is determined by family background, reputation, and wealth. The main way for a woman to get a higher social status is by marriage. This way was especially crucial to the women who were denied possibility of socially improving their status through hard-work or personal achievement. Social Class illustrates Austen's theme that marriage should be equal in social status; otherwise, it will be unhappy. Austen illustrates the importance of marriage during the novel's many marriages. In the novel, Emma is around many marriages, and all these marriages are anticipated throughout the novel. One of the marriages that Emma anticipates is that of Mr. Weston, and her governess Miss Taylor. This marriage was a match made by Emma, which makes her very proud to know that she can make good couples. This successful match makes Emma very happy for her governess and now she wants to make another match; one that she hopes will turn out just as good.
Find three aspects on which you would like to comment on this response - focus on areas which need improvement.
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7 comments:
Emma's match making was debatable, exemplified by Mr. Knightley's criticism. Knightley is a man of reason and the "moral compass", as such, he points out Emma's naiveté of marriage.
Emma does not anticipate all marriages either, Emma was lead to believe Frank Churchill was in love with her. Though Emma noted Jane's diplomatic nature and mysterious illnesses, Emma had not noticed her relationship with Frank.
Q1. Austen's decision of using Knightley as a moral compass is important for its time. Austen is reknowned for her feminism writings, thus her decision of appointing Knightley reflects her opinion of women's judgement. Though Emma has high society and wealth, she is dependent on her father's love. Knightley also has wealth and social standing, however is a man with direction and self consciousness of his behaviour. Knightley's opinion of Churchill's "duty" to visit his father and new mother reflects Knightley's high regard for responsibility - which was generally forced upon men in Austen's society.
Luce, You don't think that Austen was a bit hypocritical? She is pushing the feminist barrow, but then puts a man in, in case no one will listen to a woman? To give her opinion credibility maybe?
One of the marriages that Emma anticipates is that of Mr. Weston, and her governess Miss Taylor. This marriage was a match made by Emma, which makes her very proud to know that she can make good couples. This successful match makes Emma very happy for her governess and now she wants to make another match; one that she hopes will turn out just as good.
The introduction, if it is going to take this direction should explore/explain what aspects of society motivate Emma to take action on Miss Taylor. Explanation of why the match is successful and how Emma's expectations are a product of Regency England society might help.
"which makes her very proud" is a statement that could be more sophisticated if the person described how Emma's pride exacerbates a lack of hindsight about her flaws, leads to the consequence of her unrestrained reckless behaviour, and Austen's own view of irrational fantasy versus rational thinking.
"The prelimnary match of Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston becomes the starting catalyst that drives Emma's pride to meddle in more people's lives and potential relationships. Emma, whose mentality in pairing the couple is a reflection of Regency England's restrictive values on marriage, illustrates the abuse of a society that Austen discerns has forgotten the purpose of marriage and true love. The unrestrained irrationality that follows as a result of Emma's overconfidence in the first match and the disasters that follow from this lack of clear thinking, also demonstrate to the reader that arbitrary fancies of the upper-class only lead to consequences that prove Austen's belief that morality cannot be founded in just the class system alone.
Q1. Do you think it's important that Austen uses a male character as her 'moral compass' in this novel? Why is Mr Knightley in this role?
Austen's novels all resound with the fact that her protagonists are always female. Perhaps this is an attempt to display strengths of the female persona that her society had never considered before, as Austen is a strong advocate for women's semi-equal rights. However, the significance of Knightley being a man and also the moral compass may very well lie in his completion of a moral unity between himself and Emma. He is the complement to Emma's free- will and thinking, the rational against her emotion-oriented judgement and human spirit. Knightly is himself humanised by Emma, while his being the moral compass can be understood as a guide to improve the female character himself. Using Knightley as the moral compass is not a denigration of a woman's capability to think independently and intelligently, rather, Knightley proves women can develop into strong beings that have the same capacities as any man. In his arguments with Emma her retorts illustrate her equal intellectual footing with Knightley. Also, rather slyly, Knightley's being the leader or moral conduct is NOT a glorification of man's role in society, but rather a cunning revelation of how often men do NOT behave this way. The contrast between Knightley and Frank is clear, Knightley is the rare gem that has the clarity of mind to find faults in regular men's behaviour. Knightly, in his grand abode of "Donwell" transcends the gender barrier and is an androgynous representation of the rational and the good.
Q2. How do we know what Austen's views are of elements of her society, such as gender roles, marriage, superficial appearance?
in response to pretty in pinks post: i don't think that Austen is going against her feminist perceptive in giving Mr Knightley such a role as he simply serves to highlight and give greater meaning to Emma's growth. By establishing Mr Knightley as an ideal and constantly comparing Emma's own thoughts and feelings to his own righteous thoughts, the audience is able to see quite clearly what Emma's flaws are.(e.g Emma's naivety versus his experience). Towards the end of the novel Emma develops into a different,more perceptive person. In identifying these characteristics as ones that define Mr Knightley the audience is able to acknowledge the extent of Emma's growth. (As bibliophile said, this assists in Austen's establishing that women can be just as 'strong' and 'intelligent' as men)
yea Knightley was more of a representation of Austen's society - a man's world. Emma's position as mistress exemplified the feminist writing, however, not all women were as headstrong with a plausible opinion as feminists would like. I think Emma showed that through her growth she can become a woman of equal standing with her husband; she had married a man who she loved that truly loved her to compromise and move into Emma's house. This is contrasted to Mrs Elton who's very conceited and supercilious merely because of status and "many connections" all over England. Mrs. Elton seems to overshadow her husband by desperation to appear better than Emma, or anyone in Highbury.
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