Emma by Jane Austen
Classic. 474 Pages. 4 Stars
Synopsis:
The culmination of Jane Austen’s genius, a sparkling comedy of love and marriage
Beautiful, clever, rich—and single—Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen’s most flawless work.
My Review:
Continuing my trek through the Austen classics, this year my bestie and I chose Emma.
I’ve been hesitant to read Emma for years because I saw a film edition a long time ago and didn’t enjoy it. Emma was a turd and I didn’t see how so many people loved her story when she was such an unlikable person. I knew that was the point of the story – Emma’s character development – but I still didn’t look forward to spending so much time with a character I so strongly disliked. Lo and behold, it turns out the book was far superior to the film adaptation I watched. Groundbreaking revelation!
Anyway, all that to say Emma delighted me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Although she is still a meddlesome character, she wasn’t wholly intolerable. She was arrogant and prideful, yes, but not unkind. She can be a little silly, but she’s generally unselfish in her misguided attempts to make the lives of those she loves better. While she does make several mistakes, and a few of them grievous, she was willing to accept the critique and learn and grow, to better herself. That quality alone redeemed her for me. She saved face in front of others and didn’t want them to see how deeply her mistakes and the admonishment hurt, but I can totally relate to that. I think in the film, she appeared flippant and uncaring, but the book allowed us to see her process and change in a much more convincing and natural way.
I’ve always enjoyed how Austen weaves a complex knot of a plot that you wonder how she’ll untangle. Emma was no different. Because of Emma’s meddlesomeness, she makes trouble both for herself and for others. But often it takes her a while to notice. Knightley, on the other hand, has much greater discernment, and isn’t afraid to challenge her to better herself. He’s the only character, ironically, that isn’t so enchanted with Emma that he supports her every whim. It’s no wonder she is the way she is with her doting father and friends who believe she can do no wrong. Even the governess contributed to her spoiling in a way.
The cast of characters around Emma kept things interesting, too. Mansfield Park drove me nuts because there wasn’t a single character with any good sense. They were all entirely silly or conniving, even Fanny at times. But the dynamics in Emma were far more interesting, in my opinion. The little community, families, and those who woven in and out of the Woodhouse’s grasp were distinctive moving parts that each contributed meaningfully. No surprise as Austen is a master of her craft.
I do have to note that poor Mrs. Bates did drive me insane at times. Again, Austen is a master storyteller, and she shows exactly how innocently irritating the poor woman could be. Her incessant chatter gave me such a headache that I really related to Emma’s aversion to her – something else that made the book better than the film. Though I have to admit, this book (and the film adaptations) have given me the worst secondhand embarrassment I’ve ever experienced in a story. The climactic mistake Emma makes with Mrs. Bates is truly terrible. Austen pulled no punches and even thinking about that scene makes me cringe so deeply.
All in all, not my favorite Austen classic, but certainly one I hold in higher esteem than I expected to. I did really enjoy the cast of characters and the complicated entanglement of relationships that ensued. Emma delighted me, and I’m thankful to have given it a second chance. Definitely one I’d read again and recommend.
More On GraceBought
If you liked this story, check out other books by Austen:
Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Mansfield Park