Jane Austen's Emma Research Paper
Audrey J. Johnson
ENG-393 Jane Austen
Prof: Christine Hansen
June 21, 2014
Marriage in Jane Austen’s Emma
The subject of marriage and its effect on women is a topic lively debated by Jane Austen in her many books. In Emma, the title protagonist is the spoiled daughter of a wealthy widower who spends her time gossiping and patronizing those less fortunate. Emma is kind hearted but a touch naïve, and her lack of impulse control finds the young woman often causing more disorder than she intends. The novel begins with Emma having recently attended the wedding of her best friend and former governess. Having introduced Miss Taylor to her future husband, Emma takes credit for their marriage and decides she enjoys matchmaking. Because Emma needs …show more content…
Knightley. As the only woman in the book who is independently wealthy and not required to marry for survival, Miss Emma Woodhouse is unique among her peers. Emma is a spoiled young woman favored by both father and governess. She is firmly entrenched in polite society and has nothing better to do with her copious spare time than gossip and patronize others. Because Emma was born into upper class, she is a stickler for the rules that elitist society uses to judge and condemn others, especially those not from old money, those who are trying to advance socially, or those not on the same social level as she and Mr. Knightley. The opening lines of the story describe the spoiled socialite as “handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition…with very little to distress or vex her” (Austen 5). Mr. Knightley, a friend of the family, is on peer social standing with the Woodhouse’s and very fond of Emma. He is from old money and owns an extensive estate, as well as being older than Emma. A marriage between the two was not only socially acceptable but almost assumed given their backgrounds and similar social standing. Mr. Knightley was, in fact, one of the few people who could see faults in Emma and “the only one who ever told her of them” (Austen 9). Their marriage was a union of parallel families and maintained the status quo to which each was born, but was probably happier for the reason that Emma was not forced to wed, but chose to do so of her own
ENG-393 Jane Austen
Prof: Christine Hansen
June 21, 2014
Marriage in Jane Austen’s Emma
The subject of marriage and its effect on women is a topic lively debated by Jane Austen in her many books. In Emma, the title protagonist is the spoiled daughter of a wealthy widower who spends her time gossiping and patronizing those less fortunate. Emma is kind hearted but a touch naïve, and her lack of impulse control finds the young woman often causing more disorder than she intends. The novel begins with Emma having recently attended the wedding of her best friend and former governess. Having introduced Miss Taylor to her future husband, Emma takes credit for their marriage and decides she enjoys matchmaking. Because Emma needs …show more content…
Knightley. As the only woman in the book who is independently wealthy and not required to marry for survival, Miss Emma Woodhouse is unique among her peers. Emma is a spoiled young woman favored by both father and governess. She is firmly entrenched in polite society and has nothing better to do with her copious spare time than gossip and patronize others. Because Emma was born into upper class, she is a stickler for the rules that elitist society uses to judge and condemn others, especially those not from old money, those who are trying to advance socially, or those not on the same social level as she and Mr. Knightley. The opening lines of the story describe the spoiled socialite as “handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition…with very little to distress or vex her” (Austen 5). Mr. Knightley, a friend of the family, is on peer social standing with the Woodhouse’s and very fond of Emma. He is from old money and owns an extensive estate, as well as being older than Emma. A marriage between the two was not only socially acceptable but almost assumed given their backgrounds and similar social standing. Mr. Knightley was, in fact, one of the few people who could see faults in Emma and “the only one who ever told her of them” (Austen 9). Their marriage was a union of parallel families and maintained the status quo to which each was born, but was probably happier for the reason that Emma was not forced to wed, but chose to do so of her own