A review by anna_wa
Emma, by Jane Austen
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jo: She says the whole book that she doesn't want to marry. It's consistent.
Dashwood: Who cares? Girls want to see women MARRIED. Not CONSISTENT.
[...] Jo: Fine.
(Little Women 2019)
Out of all the Jane Austen books I read this semester, this one was my favorite. Why? It's hard for me to say exactly. By all accounts it should be my least favorite, since it is the most conservative book she ever wrote: with everybody marrying in the same social class they were born into, and nobody rising above said social class (which is what Elizabeth Bennett, Marianne Dashwood, Fanny Price, and Catherine Morland all did), and also way less subtle political commentary than other books of hers.
A lot of that conservativism has to do with 1. the fact that she was begged into dedicating the book to the Prince (whom she did not like, but could also not refuse) and 2. the fact that this book was actually published by a big publishing company, as opposed to self published.
So yes, why /was/ Austen's most conservative novel my favorite of all her novels? I'm still trying to figure that out. If I had to guess though, it's because of the main character. When Austen was alive, she said of Emma: "I'm going to create a heroine whom nobody but myself will like". Yet, I and my classmates loved Emma.
Emma is just so amusing and I found it fun to laugh at how absolutely clueless she was in the beginning of the book, and yet how simultaneously endearing she was. I loved her desire to be a spinster (which, of course, got broken at the end, but whatever) and her love for her father/putting her father before anybody else in her life. I loved her character journey and how she learned to admit when she was wrong and make amends.
I loved the other characters too. I loved Mr. Woodhouse, who was also adorably clueless and reminded me a lot of my own grandmother. I loved Mr. Knightley and how he worked as someone to bring Emma back down to Earth and reality. I loved pretty much everyone except for Mrs. Elton (I could even feel slightly sorry for Mr. Elton, but I absolutely have 0 good things to say about Mrs. Elton).
It has been an honor to work my way through Jane Austen's bibliography this semester(even though I never finished Mansfield Park and don't know if/when I will) and this one, especially, was wonderful. Thank you Jane Austen!
Dashwood: Who cares? Girls want to see women MARRIED. Not CONSISTENT.
[...] Jo: Fine.
(Little Women 2019)
Out of all the Jane Austen books I read this semester, this one was my favorite. Why? It's hard for me to say exactly. By all accounts it should be my least favorite, since it is the most conservative book she ever wrote: with everybody marrying in the same social class they were born into, and nobody rising above said social class (which is what Elizabeth Bennett, Marianne Dashwood, Fanny Price, and Catherine Morland all did), and also way less subtle political commentary than other books of hers.
A lot of that conservativism has to do with 1. the fact that she was begged into dedicating the book to the Prince (whom she did not like, but could also not refuse) and 2. the fact that this book was actually published by a big publishing company, as opposed to self published.
So yes, why /was/ Austen's most conservative novel my favorite of all her novels? I'm still trying to figure that out. If I had to guess though, it's because of the main character. When Austen was alive, she said of Emma: "I'm going to create a heroine whom nobody but myself will like". Yet, I and my classmates loved Emma.
Emma is just so amusing and I found it fun to laugh at how absolutely clueless she was in the beginning of the book, and yet how simultaneously endearing she was. I loved her desire to be a spinster (which, of course, got broken at the end, but whatever) and her love for her father/putting her father before anybody else in her life. I loved her character journey and how she learned to admit when she was wrong and make amends.
I loved the other characters too. I loved Mr. Woodhouse, who was also adorably clueless and reminded me a lot of my own grandmother. I loved Mr. Knightley
Spoiler
(even though I personally don't believe he should've been married to Emma - because I wish Emma had stayed a spinster)It has been an honor to work my way through Jane Austen's bibliography this semester
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
G slur (against Romani people), anti-Romani stereotypes, F slur (used to mean 'exhausted'?)