Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Jul 22, 2008 8:39:43 GMT -5
I think that's one of the interesting things about Emma. We know that she views the world through her own prejudices and desires, yet we still believe her until she is proven wrong.
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Post by pixie on Jul 22, 2008 13:27:59 GMT -5
This is an interesting point Michelle. I guess we can't blame Emma for being inclined to think she is always right if we ourselves are inclined to believe she is right until she is proven wrong. ;D
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Post by Carma on Jul 23, 2008 6:22:34 GMT -5
hahaha, I completely agree! ok, next section: 15. Do you think Emma really is in love with Frank Churchill? Like she concludes she is?16. If you lived in Highbury, would you have loved to go to the ball and dance or would you rather not go, or sit at the side, like mr. Knightley?
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Post by Dominique on Jul 23, 2008 7:02:34 GMT -5
15. Do you think Emma really is in love with Frank Churchill? Like she concludes she is?16. If you lived in Highbury, would you have loved to go to the ball and dance or would you rather not go, or sit at the side, like mr. Knightley? 15. I think it's more an I'm bored crush. I remember having those when I was young, it's just something she keeps herself entertained with, it adds a bit of drama to what seems like a pretty slow life and he's reasonably fun to be around so she probably also feels maybe she SHOULD love him, but she doesn't actually. It's too fleeting for it to actually be real love. 16. If I liked Mr Knightley I'd sit at the side and be near him But otherwise yes I'd go to the ball and dance, I've always loved to dance and I think I would be the kind of character who would enjoy balls.
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Post by Carma on Jul 23, 2008 9:10:27 GMT -5
I'm a bit behind in reading, so I just read the ending of chapter 33, and it is so funny! how Mrs. Weston ends with: Do not beat me! 15. I also have doubts about her being in love with Frank Churchill. I think she likes the tought of being in love with him, but she just isn't. 16. haha, Dom, I think I like mr Knightley and I'd sit next to him! but that is not really my style, I'd be too shy. haha. Anyway, i don't think I'd be dancing a lot, I really don't like dancing, even though dancing back then was different. I might enjoy that sort of dancing... but I'd probably enjoy myself sitting at the side and just talking to someone...
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Post by pixie on Jul 23, 2008 11:52:05 GMT -5
15. I agree with Dom. I think Emma is just bored and wants something to entertain herself with. She is just fooling around and amusing herself with the possibility.
16. I would definitely go but I probably wouldn't dance much and just enjoy sitting at the side and talking to someone like Carma.
I have a question: 17. I believe that Emma's superiority and pride in addition to her dad's fortune have hugely contributed to her indifference towards men, love and marriage. What do you think about this point?
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Post by Carma on Jul 24, 2008 5:32:38 GMT -5
I really like Emma, it is still one of my favorite Jane Austen novels to answer your question Pixie, I agree with you. Because of her background she doesn't need to marry someone to be able to have a life with enough money. So she doesn't need to be married, therefore she also isn't that interested in men. a new question of the day: 18. I had not a spare moment on Tuesday, as you know, for Miss Woodhouse's beautiful little friend. Pray make my excuses and adieus to her.' This, Emma could not doubt, was all for herself. Harriet was remembered only from being her friend. Do you agree with Emma? Do you think Frank wrote that for Emma, or do you think he really likes Harriet?
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on Jul 24, 2008 7:40:45 GMT -5
15. I agree with you Dom. I think Emma likes the idea of being in love with Frank Churchill, and also the "the idea of their being coupled in their friends' imaginations." (chapter 14) 'He seemed by this connexion between the families, quite to belong to her. She could not but suppose it to be a match that every body who knew them must think of.' 16.I like Mr. Knightley but, as Carma, I'd be too shy and I don't think I'd just sit near him and start to talk. I'd rather dance, especially if I'm among people I'm at ease with. 17. I agree with Carma, the fact she doesn't need to be married makes her not interested in finding a match for herself (can't say the same for the others ). Anyway I'm not sure that she's not interested in love, I mean, her behaviour with Frank (and her supposed feelings for him) can be seen as a proof of the opposite. 18. Harriet is a nice girl and I think Frank likes her (even if it's not mentioned anywhere in the book), I'm not saying he's in love with her but just that he has a good opinion of her.
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Post by pixie on Jul 24, 2008 11:37:30 GMT -5
18. I think that Frank wrote it because he likes Harriet and wanted to pay her the proper civilities just like he did/would with anyone else. Frank, as opposed to Mr. Elton, doesn't seem like the guy who would look down to Harriet just because of her low status in society.
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on Jul 25, 2008 3:01:32 GMT -5
18. I think that Frank wrote it because he likes Harriet and wanted to pay her the proper civilities just like he did/would with anyone else. Frank, as opposed to Mr. Elton, doesn't seem like the guy who would look down to Harriet just because of her low status in society. you're right, pixie. Frank is also wealthier than Mr.Elton and I guess he felt no need to look down on Harriet. 19. What do you think of Mrs.Elton?
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Post by Carma on Jul 25, 2008 6:41:00 GMT -5
18. I agree with you Lu and Pixie. He was just writing that for good form, not to compliment Emma or Harriet, I think. 19. Mrs. Elton is such a show off! I find her terribly annoying, but still enjoyable to laugh at. I can totally imagine the way she would be in real life.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Jul 25, 2008 14:17:24 GMT -5
I read Emma in one big chunk this week, and I've just caught up reading the entire discussion so far. In response to whether or not Emma is actually in love with Frank Churchill: I agree with what everyone has said so far, and I love what Lu pointed out about Emma liking that everyone pictured her with him, and thought them a natural match. I also think that her subtle competition with Jane Fairfax makes this all the more interesting. Emma is probably flattered that the town thinks she should be the natural match for the new eligible bachelor in town, and not Jane, who is just as eligible a lady. Question 19: I LOVE Mrs. Elton! She is so horrible and it's so funny. One of the things I like best about Jane Austen is how wonderful she did creating characters that we love to hate. Mrs. Elton is so ridiculous, and it serves Mr. Elton right that he should end up with her! Also....correct me if I'm wrong, but she must still be quite young, correct? Because Mr. Elton is not terribly old (only in his 20s? I can't remember) and it wasn't very common for men to marry older women. But Mrs. Elton's personality is so off-putting, whiny, and self satisfied that I picture a much older woman who is a busybody and thinks they deserve everyone's respect because of their age. But Mrs. Elton must actually be rather young, which makes it a bit funnier.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Jul 25, 2008 19:05:57 GMT -5
And now I am caught up again:
15. I think that Emma is honestly unsure if she is in love with Frank Churchill. It's like when you have your first boyfriend and you don't know what it's like to be in love and you think you might be in love just because you think you should be. Or was I alone in this experience?...
16. I would go and I would dance. I think the dances form that time would have been so much fun. All choreographed and everything. Like the lame dances we all do at weddings but a million times better.
17. I think that Emma's indifference toward marriage is a direct result of her independence. She is already mistress of Hartfield - what does she have to get married for?
18. I think that the comment about Harriet was just Frank being polite and proper.
19. I hate Mrs. Elton. Which is why she is such a great character. She's like Mrs. Norris or Mrs. John Dashwood. Zelda is right - Jane Austen is really good at these annoying characters.
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on Jul 27, 2008 14:25:05 GMT -5
And now I am caught up again: 15. I think that Emma is honestly unsure if she is in love with Frank Churchill. It's like when you have your first boyfriend and you don't know what it's like to be in love and you think you might be in love just because you think you should be. Or was I alone in this experience?... You're definitely not alone! I really like the way Emma thinks about her sentimetns for Frank Churchill. 19. I hate Mrs.Elton too, she's so boasting and she contradicts herself a number of times (sort of remind me of Mary, Anne Elliiot's sister in Persuasion). I love that Austen creats such characters, they're hilarious and annoying at same time...as Zelda said, they're characters that we love to hate!
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Post by Carma on Jul 28, 2008 8:51:36 GMT -5
I love that Jane Austen has the courage to put in an annoying character! ok girls, this one is a bit tougher : 20. To what extent can class be said to be of central importance to the development of the novel, since it is one of the most important considerations in marriage? Does class seem to be treated differently by those in Highbury than it does by outsiders (Frank Churchill and Mrs. Elton)?
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