Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and the perils of misconstrued romance. The novel was first published in December 1815. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian-Regency England; she also creates a lively comedy of manners among her characters. Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the very first sentence she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich." Emma, however, is also rather spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives; and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray.
This book is A Confederacy of Dunces with a privileged white woman as the lead. It's a hard read until you realise she's a buffoon you're meant to laugh at the entire time.
She is smug, classist, and closeminded, the kind of person who genuinely believes they care about others but are completely incapable of seeing anyone elses point of view. Even after her journey of self discovery it's made very clear - with her attitude towards Harriet and Mr Martin - that she is still plenty classist and closeminded.
Maybe it's society conditioning me, maybe it's my own insecurities, but if I'm honest I kinda love her spoiled white ass.
As a person who almost exclusively reads sci-fi or nonfiction, I did not know what to expect from Jane Austen. I'm not sure where it came from, but I did have at least a bit of a preconception of its being quite straightfoward---Emma is anything otherwise. It is comedy, romance, a Bildungsroman, and mystery; all in one incredibly witty package. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am very sad to be leaving its characters and the setting of Highbury. I have agonised a small amount over whether to give this four or five stars, but I have opted for five on account of its being so eye-opening to me (with regards to genre) on top of being such an excellently crafted novel. I will be reading more Austen.
Completely by chance I managed to leave two of the best Jane Austen novels - to my mind at least - until last so have finished my 2017 Jane Austen Challenge on a high note! I think Northanger Abbey is still very much my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised by Emma. I had expected this book to be as slow as Sense And Sensibility. However I found it more energetic and I loved Emma's unlikeable traits. Her father's total inability to empathise with anyone who doesn't share his narrow views, particularly on ideal diet and exercise, entertained me and raised several chuckles. The small town life of Highbury is cleverly and often wickedly evoked. Austen's portrayal of Miss Bates frequently seemed uncharitable, but I have known a couple of women who chattered away in a remarkably similar fashion.
I did feel a little disappointed in Austen's abandonment of Harriet. …
Completely by chance I managed to leave two of the best Jane Austen novels - to my mind at least - until last so have finished my 2017 Jane Austen Challenge on a high note! I think Northanger Abbey is still very much my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised by Emma. I had expected this book to be as slow as Sense And Sensibility. However I found it more energetic and I loved Emma's unlikeable traits. Her father's total inability to empathise with anyone who doesn't share his narrow views, particularly on ideal diet and exercise, entertained me and raised several chuckles. The small town life of Highbury is cleverly and often wickedly evoked. Austen's portrayal of Miss Bates frequently seemed uncharitable, but I have known a couple of women who chattered away in a remarkably similar fashion.
I did feel a little disappointed in Austen's abandonment of Harriet. I felt as though, having served her purpose to Emma, she became then just a minor plot point to tidy away. I would have preferred a stronger resolution to her storyline. Despite being one of the longer books, I felt Emma maintained a pretty good pace throughout, only seeming to drag in the last few chapters, and I wasn't so frustrated with inane conversations as I had been in previous books. Perhaps I have become more attuned to Austen's writing style this year!
Looking back over my challenge I am glad to have finally read all six of Austen's novels - and even more glad than I can't envisage myself ever having to read certain of them again! I will now have a far greater understanding when Austen characters are alluded to in other novels and may even recognise her storylines and plot devices being 'recycled'.
It's annoying to read about people who preach about propriety when they include in it a social system that to me seems immoral. And at times the book seems too verbose. On the other hand, I did enjoy the intrigues and that Emma had to deduce which person thinks what from small deviations of complete propriety. Through frustration I enjoyed this book.
Been thinking and talking about this book a lot since seeing the new adaptation and being completely satisfied with it. And I think it’s time for me to take a stand and say: Emma is my favorite Austen, and yes it is a perfect novel.
