Blog Post #5

Communication is Key

~Blog Post #5~

Topic A

May 15, 2015

By: Rose Poplawski

          Towards the end of the novel in chapter 29, Jane Austen adds in an important quote by writing, “Seldom, very seldom does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken; but where, as in this case, though the conduct is mistaken, the feelings are not, it may not be very material” (Austen 436). This quote is able to explain why the conflicts in the novel occurred. Austen writes that conflicts occur when one doesn’t speak the whole truth. She makes it apparent that the whole truth is rarely spoken and important details are left out which could affect one’s opinion on the subject. For example, the misunderstanding between Mr. Elton was due to misunderstandings between not only Emma and Mr. Elton, but also Harriet. Emma did not tell Harriet the whole truth, which led Harriet to falling for Mr. Elton. Likewise, Emma didn’t tell Mr. Elton all of Harriet’s feelings for him. These details Emma left out might have seem small and redundant, but they could’ve changed both Mr. Elton’s and Harriet’s view of each other. Throughout the novel, Austen makes the communication between the characters important because that’s where their problems form. 

Blog Post #5

It Takes Two to Tango- and Transform

~Blog Post #5~

Topic B

May 15, 2015

Lily O'Gorden

           At the end of Jane Austen's novel Emma, the main character Emma Woodhouse has experienced immense changes making her an improved and more openhearted woman. This transition comes with the lessons she learned through her experiences, but most importantly her complicated relationship with Mr. Knightley. When Emma is first introduced, she is described as a girl who had little in her life “to distress or vex her” (3). Emma had grown up in a society where everyone treated her as perfect, and as a result she is egotistical and consumed in her own upper-class world. The only sign of Emma's future change in the early parts of the novel is through her friendship with Mr. Knightley because instead of doting on her, he challenges her. When Emma convinces Harriet to reject Mr. Martin’s proposal and seek Mr. Elton as a husband, Mr. Knightley is distressed with Emma’s decisions; this makes Emma upset and she wants Mr. Knightley to approve of her, showing her “habitual respect for his judgment in general” (61). After her failed matchmaking with Harriet and Mr. Elton, Emma is ashamed when she realizes Mr. Knightley was right after all, making her look at her matchmaking more carefully. Once Mr. Frank Churchill arrives in town, Emma’s new self disappears and she reverts back to her manipulative ways. Emma believes she is in love with Mr. Churchill solely because of his social class and the fact she is trying to suppress her feelings for Mr. Knightley. Mr. Knightley is a much more open man who is in touch with his feelings and obviously cares for Emma; however, Emma is consumed with her own vanity for most of the story. In the end, she comes down to earth and gets in touch with her emotions. After Harriet tells Emma she is in love with Mr. Knightley, Emma cannot bear the thought of him with anyone other than herself; she is in love with him and he confesses his love to her as well. Mr. Knightley’s honesty has transformed Emma into a sincere woman and “all her views of happiness” originate with him (459). Emma changes into a compassionate woman who can finally look to others for a source of happiness rather than her old, conceited self.

Blog Post #5

Counting on Change for a Change

~Blog Post #5~

Topic B

May 13, 2015

   Throughout Emma, readers knew there would have to be a change in our main character, Emma. From the very beginning we were introduced to characters, but the two that Jane Austen made most apparent were none other than Harriet, Emma’s best friend and Mr. Knightley, Emma’s future love interest. These two characters have the most obvious growth throughout the novel, but it is their drastic change that collaboratively creates the ultimate change. Emma intended to “create” Harriet into a companion for herself, but instead makes her a minion. In other words, Harriet is everything Emma is and worse. In the end, when Harriet has finally had enough of Emma’s meddling she confronts her. With the newly built confidence that Emma has constructed, Harriet says “I seem to feel that I may deserve him; and that if he does choose me, it will not be anything so very wonderful,” speaking of her feelings of Mr. Knightley. This causes a “spontaneous burst of Emma’s feelings” and she finally realizes that she turned Harriet into a person even Emma does not want to be around (421). Emma’s growth is finally revealed here in these last chapters. Of course, the greatest change of all has to come from Mr. Knightley. As it was evident throughout that Mr. Knightley was in love with Emma, he seemed to be the only person that was not aware of his own love. Once he finally grows into his love Emma grows into her life. This event marks the conclusion to her growth. Emma has achieved love for a human being besides herself and she is mature enough to grow from the past and continue on her journey and love others.. maybe even kids?? If only there was an Emma 2!

Blog Post #4

Set in a Small Town

~Blog Post #4~

Topic E

May 8, 2015

   Jane Austen skillfully sets Emma in a tiny little town to communicate that the characters know all about each other and everything they do. Specifically In chapter 38, a Londoner speaks of Emma's small town and says "Time will generally lessen the interest of every attachment not within the daily circle" (332). This rings true at the dance in that chapter. Secrets were actually developed in earlier chapters and Emma and Mr. Knightley reveal what was concealed. The setting of the dance, like many others in earlier chapters, represents the beacon of the major events. This setting is also interesting because it makes a clear distinction between upper classes and lower classes. In this chapter, Mr Elton even says "I am a great advocate for timidity—and I am sure one does not often meet with it.—But in those who are at all inferior, it is extremely prepossessing" (337). Most of the main characters are of higher class and they all speak of people like Mr. Elton calling them "inferior." The parties also bring in major themes of foolishness and folly. Emma learns to mature at this dance when Mr. Knightley finally convinces her of her childish ways which lastly ties in the last themes of the chapter. At the parties everyone has their own reputation and upper class receives respect for theirs. Reputations are given and they are hard to change, but no one seems to judge. Emma is an airhead but being upper class she has a certain amount of respect, so no one calls her out for being quite foolish sometimes. Parties are a huge part of Emma and one of the main settings, I predict there will be one last big change at one last big party in their small little town.

Blog Post #4

Oh What a Night

~Blog Post #4~

Topic D

May 7, 2015

By: Rose Poplawski

      Throughout the novel, Austen uses parties as motifs. Parties in the book are not just gatherings of people, but are actually organized by social classes. Austen uses the parties to bring attention to important character details or thought changing information to the reader. For example, in the first party in the novel, Emma finds out that Mr. Elton actually has feelings for her and not Harriet. From this experience, Emma is humiliated and the reader is able to interpret that she isn’t just a pretty face. Parties are significant events throughout the novel and occur often. Towards the end of the novel, Emma and her friends reschedule a ball; Austen uses the ball to show the growing relationship between Mr. Knightley and Emma. During the ball a song comes on and everyone has a dance partner but Harriet and Mr. Elton. Mr. Elton refuses to dance with Harriet, which causes her to be humiliated, but Mr. Knightley steps in and dances with Harriet. From his actions Austen reveals that Mr. Knightley is a down-to-earth man and cares for others’ well being. Emma witnesses Mr. Knightley’s good dead and thanks him. After thanking him Emma confesses that she was wrong about Mr. Elton. Mr. Knightley then asks Emma to dance and she says, “Indeed I will. You have shown that you can dance, and you know we are not so much brother an sister as to make it all improper” (Austen 315). They then seal their newly formed relation with a dance. Without the ball it would be hard to reveal Mr. Elton’s true character, thus Emma and Mr. Knightley would not have come to an agreement, which forms a healthier relationship between them.

Blog Post #4

Wild Words

~Blog Post #4~

Topic G

May 7, 2015

Lily O'Gorden 

                   The word game played in Chapter 41 of Emma represents the intertwined and confusing relationships among most of the characters. Literally, the game is played for entertainment at a party but the specific game Frank Churchill chooses has a deeper meaning. In this scene, he suggests that a game is played and introduces the idea of something with words because he wants to “puzzle Emma again” (330). Metaphorically, this brings up the puzzling relationship between Frank and Emma from the beginning of the story. The other people present at this gathering, Jane Fairfax and Mr. Knightley, are also involved in what makes this friendship so mysterious. As the game starts off, Frank writes the words “blunder" and “Dixon,” which to Emma seem like a jab at Jane; however, Frank laughs as if it is a joke and makes these first words seem like flirting. Mr. Dixon is the man who Emma believed Jane was having an affair with, and Frank’s game seems to be making fun of Emma, his “blind companion” for thinking this (331). In addition, this event is important because it foreshadows all of the future relationships that finally surface at the end of the novel. Mr. Knightley is worried when Emma is confident that Frank dislikes Jane, but readers know that Emma should take Mr. Knightley’s warning about their relationship. He is concerned with making sure Emma doesn't get hurt, something that foreshadows his love for her. This is also the first time that it is obvious Frank likes Jane through his jokes and subtle flirting. All the previous misunderstandings between Frank, Emma, Jane, and Mr. Knightley reach their peak at this party, specifically because of Frank's word game. 

Blog Post #3

Crazy Carriage Ride

~Blog Post #3~

Topic E

May 1, 2015

By: Rose Poplawski

       Through out the novel, Emma by Jane Austen, the main character, Emma believes she is never wrong and has wonderful talents. However, Austen adds a significant scene in which Emma self-doubts herself. From the beginning of the novel Emma has been trying to match Harriet with Mr. Elton, believing they would make a wonderful match. Even though Harriet was originally attracted to Mr. Martin, Emma convinced Harriet that Mr. Elton was the one for her. Emma, being manipulative only saw Mr. Elton’s money. She believed Harriet deserved a man with money instead of a man with personality. When Austen writes the scene with Emma in the carriage with Mr. Elton she shows that Emma does have some sense and can be humbled. After Mr. Elton professes his faith to Emma, Austen writes that, “ Every part of it brought pain and humiliation of some sort [to Emma]” (Austen 126). Through Mr. Elton’s actions in the carriage scene, Emma is taken back. Emma cannot stand that she was wrong and re-evaluates her matchmaking skills she claims to posses. From this Emma is more aware of how her actions affect people and the repercussions that come along with them. After reading this scene the reader gets an almost “I told you so” feeling towards Emma. Austen made it clear that Emma is not a perfect girl.

Blog Post # 3

Mix & Match: Relationships

~Blog post #3~

Topic H

May 1, 2015

    From the beginning of Emma, Mr. Knightley and Emma share an interesting relationship that takes readers through their many twists and turns. Comparatively, Mr. Knightley and Emma have a lot in common with Much Ado About Nothing's Benedick and Beatrice. Beatrice and Benedick joke around like a brother and a sister do. "Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know - in a joke," Emma says in an earlier chapter. Back then, their relationship seemed light-hearted with a hint of childish flirting. Though, as the story progresses, so does their relationship. Similar to Much Ado, the love interest is revealed as others get involved. Beatrice and Benedick were lied to by their friends, but in Emma I believe the love is sparked by Frank and Jane causing jealousy among the two. Emma has always expressed her jealousy of Jane and as Mr. Knightley seems interested she constantly needs proof that he does not. In return, Mr. Knightley says, "Hum! Just the trifling, silly fellow I took him for" about Frank (333). Emma and Mr. Knightley fight over Frank and have immersed themselves into a jealous and competitive relationship. My prediction, as for all comedies, is that this book will end in a marriage or some sort of romantic, dramatic huge ending. Beatrice and Benedick put all the lies and past fighting aside because they found love. If Emma and Mr. Knightley can find a way to end the constant fighting, they may soon find that they both love each other more than the fake loves they share with Frank and Jane, who could even still be in love with each other!