|
Post by Carma on Jul 3, 2008 8:34:28 GMT -5
I think Emma is really spoiled, I think that has to do with her class . and because she is spoiled, she is the way she is, she thinks she knows everything best, because when she was little nobody told her she was wrong. I kinda see it that way to answer the questions: 1. Do you think Emma would be so ready to become friends with Harriet if she wasn't of a lower social condition and presented "such a delightful inferiority"? No, I don't think so, and I also think that if Harriet was of the same social level, she wouldn't listen to Emma the way she does now. 2. Austen wrote about her novel Emma: "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." (Memoir of Jane Austen, by James Edward Austen-Leigh). What do you like or dislike about Emma? I kinda like Emma, because she's such an 'anti-hero' what I don't like is the same as the reasons that are mentioned by others. 3. What do you think of the way Austen introduced the characters to the reader, in the first chapters? What's your first impression of Highbury? Highbury seems like a small town to me, with a bunch of ladies that gossip a lot. There are also a lot of normal people. I wonder if there is really an annoying person coming by... but maybe thats Emma... even though I don't find her annoying, I find her funny. have any of you seen Clueless? I love that movie
|
|
Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
|
Post by Michelle on Jul 3, 2008 12:10:52 GMT -5
I can't help but think of Clueless when I read Emma and I think that influences how I feel about certain characters. I think I like Emma more because I picture Cher.
I've read Emma before and I think that also causes me to like her more than someone who is reading it for the first time. If this were my first time (and I had no prior Clueless knowledge) I would find her extremely frustrating. The scene when she is directing Harriet to refuse Mr. Martin is so frustrating to read. I feel bad for Harriet because she is so trusting and Emma is taking advantage of that to manipulate her.
That brings me to the question of whether she would befriend Harriet if she were her equal and I think not. So far, Mr. Knightly is the only one that appears to be Emma's intellectual equal and he sees right through her. While she is friends with him, I don't see her seeking out more friends that she can't control.
I also wanted to add that I think Mr. Woodhouse might be my favorite of Jane Austen's nuanced characters. I find him hilarious - especially the part where he was concerned that Harriet's portrait did not have a shawl.
I'm enjoying Emma even more this time and I look forward to reading the rest. Also, it's really nice to see so many people participating (especially the new people). Sometimes these discussions get a bit slow but it seems that this one is going to be good.
|
|
Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
|
Post by Lu on Jul 3, 2008 13:48:50 GMT -5
I've read Emma before and I think that also causes me to like her more than someone who is reading it for the first time. If this were my first time (and I had no prior Clueless knowledge) I would find her extremely frustrating. The scene when she is directing Harriet to refuse Mr. Martin is so frustrating to read. I feel bad for Harriet because she is so trusting and Emma is taking advantage of that to manipulate her. That brings me to the question of whether she would befriend Harriet if she were her equal and I think not. So far, Mr. Knightly is the only one that appears to be Emma's intellectual equal and he sees right through her. While she is friends with him, I don't see her seeking out more friends that she can't control. I agree with you on both subject. I don't think Emma would befriend Harriet if she were her equal, there's another reason which makes me think so, but it's not in part 1 and I don't want to add any spoilers ;D. I also have the impression Emma is sort of obsessed with the idea of being useful to others (or interfering in their lives...), especially after she said of the Martins: "The yeomanry are precisely the order of people with whom I feel I can have nothing to do. A degree or two lower, and a creditable appearance might interest me; I might hope to be useful to their families in some way or other. But a farmer can need none of my help, and is, therefore, in one sense, as much above my notice as in every other he is below it." It seems she doesn't like them because they don't need her... I like Mr. Woodhouse a lot too, he's so cute and funny! I found interesting the comments to Harriet's portrait, I think each is characteristic of the person stating it.
|
|
|
Post by Lucky on Jul 3, 2008 14:42:25 GMT -5
About Mr. Woodhouse.. I quite like him so far.. he's so careful, but in the same time he's purblind. He loves Emma so much and I think it's his fault that Emma grew into this person. And about question number 3. What do you think of characters and of Highbury. Mr. Knightly - I find him the only reasonable person so far. But I think he could be more refined, not so "easily snarky" (I hope you'll understand ;D). It would be more interesting, I think. But, I admit, it's something new, not like in Pride and Prejudice. Harriet - Not much clever, we can't blame her for that blind look-up to Emma. She isn't much self-confident. So it's understandable that she trusts Emma so much. Someone who has more experience and who is visibly smarter. Martin - we haven't had a chance to meet him. We even haven't had a chance to read (maybe only a part of) the letter, which he wrote to Harriet. We could only hear a couple of opinions about him. And they are mostly totally different. So I'm looking forward to meet him And about Highbury.. It seems like a small village somewhere on the fringe of the town .
|
|
|
Post by Little Miss Sunshine on Jul 3, 2008 16:06:58 GMT -5
1. Do you think Emma would be so ready to become friends with Harriet if she wasn't of a lower social condition and presented "such a delightful inferiority"?
Well I think Harriet's lower social status certainly encouraged Emma to become friends with Harriet, but at the same time I feel like Emma is just naturally inclined to not mind her own business. With Mrs. Weston's marriage, Emma needed someone new to occupy her time.
2. Austen wrote about her novel Emma: "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." (Memoir of Jane Austen, by James Edward Austen-Leigh). What do you like or dislike about Emma?
I think I actually like Emma because she has the flaws that a lot of you pointed out, and because as Carma said, she's like an "anti-hero." I like how she stands out among the characters of the novel. I think her personality suits her circumstances, and I think I'll form a clearer judgment as I read more. Of course I do have a streak of disliking likable characters.
3. What do you think of the way Austen introduced the characters to the reader, in the first chapters? What's your first impression of Highbury?
Highbury seems to me like the typical Austen town, offering plenty of insights on the life of upper-class England during the time period.
|
|
|
Post by erin on Jul 3, 2008 17:04:11 GMT -5
I liked the way she introduced them but I don't know enough about them to know if my impressions will hold through the rest of the reading. Not being rich Highbury and the people seem a bit uppty to me.
|
|
|
Post by Carma on Jul 4, 2008 7:20:36 GMT -5
|
|
Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
|
Post by Lu on Jul 4, 2008 9:14:55 GMT -5
haha I guess Isabella is like her father, who consider the travel to the Westons' house a long journey
|
|
|
Post by Carma on Jul 5, 2008 7:52:09 GMT -5
Yeah, Isabella is a lot like her father I think, but more of that in the next section! ok, next question 4. Would Emma still be doing all the matchmaking, if she actually had something to do during the day? Or is she doing all of it, because she's bored?
|
|
Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
|
Post by Michelle on Jul 5, 2008 8:22:52 GMT -5
I think she does it partly because she's bored but also because she really does care about people and wants to see them happy. She may seem like a silly girl sometimes, but she is a good person - just with a few faults. It's also not really her fault that she's bored - being a girl back then must have been soooo boring.
|
|
|
Post by Lucky on Jul 5, 2008 10:25:40 GMT -5
I think she does it partly because she's bored but also because she really does care about people and wants to see them happy. She may seem like a silly girl sometimes, but she is a good person - just with a few faults. It's also not really her fault that she's bored - being a girl back then must have been soooo boring. Yes.. and I think that she likes to have credit of it.
|
|
|
Post by erin on Jul 5, 2008 13:37:17 GMT -5
the answer to question 4. I think Emma likes to do the matchmaking because she cares about people and all she wants to do is make everyone happy. She's a girl... That's what we do.
|
|
|
Post by Carma on Jul 7, 2008 10:23:08 GMT -5
ok, I think she's partly doing it out of boredom... and if she were bussy, she might be doing it a bit less.. is everybody still enjoying the book? I know I am
|
|
|
Post by Lucky on Jul 7, 2008 13:00:59 GMT -5
I am too . I really like it so far
|
|
|
Post by erin on Jul 7, 2008 13:07:32 GMT -5
I am enjoying it too
|
|