Notes on Austen's Emma

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, at Steventon, in the south of England, and died on July 18, 1817. Jane Austen started writing “Emma” on January 21, 1814 and finished on March 29, 1815. Jane Austen had multiple writings, one in 1811, She began “Mansfield Park” which was finished in 1813, and published in 1815. Jane Austen’s affectionate family circle provided a stimulating context for her writing. Her experience was carried by an extensive network of relationships. Austen was used in the settings, characters, and subject matter of her novel.

Jane went to a two-year stay at a small boarding school that trained her in needlework, dancing, French, drawing, and spelling. It was this social atmosphere and feminine identity that Jane so skillfully ridiculed in her many works of fiction.

In 1776, one year after Austen was born the Declaration of Independence happened. Thomas Jefferson is often called the “author” of the DOI, he wasn’t the only person who contributed. Nine of the signers of the DOI died before the American Revolution ended in 1783.

In 1789, the French Revolution began. The French Revolution resulted in the freeing of 10,000 African slaves. Before the beginning of the French revolution, peasants were so poor and the cost of food was so high that many starved. In 1794, the whiskey rebellion started, which was a tax protest in the U.S during the presidency of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson believed that the government had used the army to stifle legitimate opposition to unfair government policies. One of Austen’s novels was set in the 19th century in Highbury, England.

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A tiny, tiny little town where everybody knows everything about everybody else. Also, another setting in the book was in Hartfield, the grand home Emma shares with her invalid father, nearby Randalls, where her former governess lives with her new husband. This is the house of the novel.Revolution

Emma Woodhouse, the matchmaker, and selfish. “The real evil’s, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much of her way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself: these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments.” (Ch.1, Pg. 3). Emma is also indecisive, “I stopped you ungraciously, just now Mr. Knightley, and I am afraid, gave you pain.” (Ch. 49 Pg. 385). Emma is also clever Austen states that she is “handsome, clever.” (Ch. 1 Pg. 3). Mr. George Knightley, he is openly critical, always honest and truthful to Emma, “of this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith, but I think it’s a bad thing.” (Ch. 5 Pg. 31). Mr. Knightley is also joyful, he is never really in a sad mood. “Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner.” (Ch. 1 Pg. 7). Lastly, Mr. Knightley is always kind, compassionate, and protective of the women in the community.

Throughout the whole book, Emma convinces herself that she will never get married. Whenever someone takes Emma’s advice, it would all goes wrong. Emma is the matchmaker in the novel and when she matches Harried who is her best friend with Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes that she is in love with him after Harriet reveals the same to her. Everyone assumed Frank and Emma had something going on but Emma was thinking about Frank being a match with Harriet. Frank saves Harriet from the Gypsies and that’s when Harriet tells Emma she fell in love with him. Soon enough, Frank is secretly engaged with Jane. Towards the end of the novel, Emma hoped Knightley tells Harriet he loves her but he says he loves Emma. Harriet gets a second proposal from Mr. Martin and they get married. Emma and Knightley question who loves who.

In conclusion, I liked the book, it was interesting to me. Emma is indecisive and wants everyone to be happy which I would describe myself. According to Sandie, “We receive an impression of a young woman so blessed with good fortune that perhaps Emma is a little complacent, even smug.” She also states that “Emma is a refreshing change from the idealized models of virtue to be found in the novels, a realist character to who we can relate as to a real person.” Kathy states “The more we identify with Emma and her predicaments, the more minutely we are obliged to examine our moral codes.” Brian thought “Emma suggests a happy balance between enlightenment sense and romantic sensibility, a bend wherein the pleasures of imagination must always be tempered by rationality and social responsibility.”

Reference:

1. Byrne, Sandie. ‘Emma, Jane Austen’s.’ British Writers Classics, edited by Jay Parini, vol. 1, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2003, pp. 65-86. Gale Virtual Reference Library, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX1385400012/GVRL?u=j014906007&sid=GVRL&xid=77225bb2. Accessed 1 Feb. 2019.
2. ‘Emma.’ Novels for Students, edited by Ira Mark Milne and Timothy Sisler, vol. 21, Gale, 2005, pp. 21-62. Gale Virtual Reference Library, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3421400013/GVRL?u=j014906007&sid=GVRL&xid=28d7e61d. Accessed 1 Feb. 2019.
3. Southam, Brian. ‘Austen, Jane (1775-1817).’ British Writers, edited by Ian Scott-Kilvert, vol. 4, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1979, pp. 101-124. Gale Virtual Reference Library, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX1385000016/GVRL?u=j014906007&sid=GVRL&xid=4255dbcf. Accessed 1 Feb. 2019.
4. Southam, Brian C. “Jane Austen.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 12 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Jane-Austen.
5. “1775-1800 – AP U.S. History Timelines – Study Notes.” Go to the Front Page of StudyNotes, www.apstudynotes.org/us-history/timelines/1775-1800/.