Comment on how Jane Austen sets the scene and introduces themes and characters in Chapter 1.
CHAPTER 1 OF EMMA:
Comment on how Jane Austen sets the scene and introduces themes and characters in Chapter 1.
Consider how she engages the reader's interest in this opening chapter.
The opening chapter introduces and begins the development of several of the main characters of the novel, including Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Mr. Woodhouse. Emma is pictured as a pretty twenty-one year old girl who is devoted to her father. Mr. Knightley, a thirty-seven year old bachelor and neighbour is shown to be the voice of reason. The ailing Mr. Woodhouse is the doting father who is worried about losing his daughter from Hartfield. Mr. Elton is also introduced through conversation.
The narrator opens the novel by introducing us to Emma Woodhouse, a girl endowed with "some of the best blessings of existence," including good looks, intelligence, riches, and an affectionate father. Emma's only disadvantages are that she is slightly spoiled and that she thinks "a little too well of herself." Emma's mother died before Emma could form many memories of her, but her gentle governess, Miss Taylor, provided a motherly love. After Emma's older sister, Isabella, was married and moved to London, Miss Taylor and Emma became best friends.
"Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence" The word "seemed" in this opening paragraph is highly significant. Emma is presented on the surface to be a perfect young lady, leading a comfortable, untroubled existence. However, Emma is being set up for a fall. The word "seemed" indicates the difference between appearance and reality. This is a major theme and it also shows the ironic voice of the narrator. "The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself" We cannot judge Emma's arrogance throughout the novel because she does have redeeming qualities. However, the voice of the narrator gently seems to criticize Emma. Jane Austen has sufficiently aroused our interest so that we want to know more about the characters.
David Lodge states "Jane Austen's opening is classical: lucid, measured, objective, with ironic implication concealed beneath the elegant velvet glove of the style. The first scene subtly sets up the heroine for a fall. This is to be the reverse of the Cinderella story. Emma is a princess who must be humbled before she finds true happiness."
This chapter introduces the novel's title character and protagonist, Emma Woodhouse, at twenty-one the youngest of two daughters. Her father is an indulgent man, while her mother died long ago, leaving Emma to be brought up by Miss Taylor, a governess who 'fell little short of a mother in affection.' However, at the novel's beginning Miss Taylor has just married Mr. Weston, leaving Emma contemplative and lonely. After the wedding she is alone playing backgammon with her father, a generally disagreeable man who tended to indulge his daughter, when Mr. George Knightly, whose brother had married Emma's elder sister. They discuss how Emma will miss the new Mrs. Weston, while Mr. Woodhouse pities Miss Taylor, absurdly thinking her unhappy to be married and thus separated from the Woodhouse household. Emma tries to take credit for the marriage, claiming that she matched Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston. This discussion takes place in a social atmosphere, between family members.
"The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself..."
Within the first few paragraphs of the book, Austen gives the reader an appraisal on Emma Woodhouse. While she is "handsome, clever and rich," she is still spoiled and self-centred, less concerned with Miss Taylor's new happiness than her own loss of a companion. Austen lays out the main 'problem' of the book: Emma must learn to be a better person with greater respect for others. Mr. Woodhouse appears as part of the cause of this: his constant complaints and focus on what he perceives to be his numerous burdens has given him a narrow view of the world that Emma has come to share.
"Sorrow came--a gentle sorrow--but not at all in the shape of any disagreeable consciousness. --Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought
of any continuance." Here there is an overflated loss: as if the marriage were a funeral. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her past kindness--the kindness, the affection of sixteen years--how she had taught and how she had played with her from five years old." It is also ironic in the way that they describe Mrs Taylor's love for them; if Mrs Taylor had been so fond of them then she would not have married. Mrs Taylor does not seem to have any faults; the author only uses positive ...
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of any continuance." Here there is an overflated loss: as if the marriage were a funeral. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her past kindness--the kindness, the affection of sixteen years--how she had taught and how she had played with her from five years old." It is also ironic in the way that they describe Mrs Taylor's love for them; if Mrs Taylor had been so fond of them then she would not have married. Mrs Taylor does not seem to have any faults; the author only uses positive words to describe her. - "She had been a friend and companion such as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, and peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure." This description seems impossibly idealistic and the long list shows irony used by the narrator. Mrs Taylor seems to lack authority for Emma; she is more of a mother figure to her. Mr Woodhouse seems to dislike change in his life and is not a companion for Emma. - "He was a nervous man, easily depressed; fond of every body that he was used to, and hating to part with them; hating change of every kind." There is a sense of Emma's isolation in the following quote - "She dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful." Emma is patient with her father, even though he has tedious characteristics. Mr Woodhouse seems to make Emma more isolated. The reader looks at Mr Woodhouse and Emma in the same way as the narrator - Emma is frustrated with her father.
Emma is a loving daughter but the author seems to be mocking Emma's self-image of herself. No one could match Emma's high social class. However she does have redeeming features. For example Emma wants happiness for Mrs Taylor even though this would bring sadness to herself - "and you would not have had Miss Taylor live with us for ever, and bear all my odd humours, when she might have a house of her own?" Mr Woodhouse is selfish and quite a negative person - "he was very much disposed to think Miss Taylor had done as sad a thing for herself as for them, and would have been a great deal happier if she had spent all the rest of her life at Hartfield."
Mr Woodhouse is an endearing character and his anxiety is almost comical to the reader - "My dear, how am I to get so far? Randalls is such a distance. I could not walk half so far."
Emma is exceedingly patient with her father and describes Mr Western in a positive manner. "Mr. Weston is such a good-humoured, pleasant, excellent man, that he thoroughly deserves
a good wife." The class (hierarchy) of the novel is illustrated by Mr Woodhouse's degrading comment - "and I am sure she will make a very good servant: she is a civil, pretty-spoken girl; I have a great opinion of her."
We are introduced to Mr knightly, who is an older man than Emma - "Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not only a very old and intimate friend of the family" The author does not seem to describe him ironically; it is a more realistic description. He is described as a sensible man and provides a balance here by being a positive character. He is diplomatic and considerate. Emma seems to enjoy Mr Knightly's company and acts in a playful manner with him - " "Especially when one of those two is such a fanciful, troublesome creature!"said Emma playfully." Emma and Mr Knightly seem to have an easy relationship and their conversations consist of such banter - "Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know--in a joke--it is all a joke. We always say what we like to one another." They tease eachother without harm; Mr Knightly seems to be a useful balance for Emma.
"Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles." This quote emphasizes the conflict between her sadness and her happiness. Emma has romantic ideals and thinks of herself as a matchmaker. She believes that she has brought Mr Weston and Mrs Taylor together, however Darcy disagrees. Emma sees this matchmaking as "amusement", but she is involving herself in other people's lives.
Here we find a view of Emma's world. It is one of leisure, in which she spends time drawing, visiting with friends, or playing games, but more importantly Emma's world is static and orderly. There is little change in Emma's life, and what changes occur, in this case the marriage of Miss Taylor, greatly disturb her. When Emma desires change (as when she suggests that Mr. Elton should be married), it is to set things in greater order.
Emma's viewpoint predominates the novel, and Austen gives her perspective on nearly every event, but it is not the only perspective. The novel is told from the third person, which gives Austen the ability to critique Emma's own behaviour. The character Mr. Knightly serves this same purpose. He is the voice of sound judgment in the novel, pointing out where Emma is faulty in judgment or in action. This chapter in fact juxtaposes Mr. Knightly with Mr. Woodhouse. Mr. Knightly represents a sensible view of the world, while Mr. Woodhouse is unduly occupied with his own health and his own feelings and comforts.
Emma Woodhouse is a beautiful, bright, wealthy young woman. She is the youngest daughter of Mr. Woodhouse. Her older sister married years ago, and their mother died even longer ago--two events which left Emma as mistress of the house. The only real check on her rule was Miss Taylor, her kind and affectionate governess. For sixteen years Miss Taylor lived with the Woodhouse family, and she became a particular friend to Emma, in spirit more a sister. Under such kind care, Emma lived,
"doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgments, but directed chiefly by her own. The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself...." Chapter 1, pg. 3
She was still a generally charming and kind-hearted young woman, and her only recent sorrow was the loss of Miss Taylor. She had married the nice Mr. Weston, and she no longer lived with the Woodhouse family. Though it was a good match, and Emma had wanted this good fortune for her governess, she could not help but feel sadness. Emma had been Miss Taylor's single charge since her sister Isabella married seven years ago, and it was hard for Emma to imagine spending her days without her. Though her new home was only a half mile from Hartfield, as Mrs. Weston she would not have the same time for Emma. And though Emma loved her father, he was not a playmate or a good conversationalist like Miss Taylor.
Hartfield lies within the village of Highbury, but unfortunately there is no one in Highbury who can replace Miss Taylor in Emma's life. The Woodhouses are the most respectable family in Highbury, but Emma and her father still lead a rather solitary life. Mr. Woodhouse is a hypochondriac, fearful of any amusement. Hating change, he takes Miss Taylor's departure very hard, and Emma, though sad herself, does her best to comfort him. He had not yet grown accustomed to Isabella's marriage, and the removal of Miss Taylor made him even more depressed and disapproving of matrimony:
"from his habits of gentle selfishness, and of being never able to suppose that other people could feel differently from himself, he was very much disposed to think Miss Taylor had done a sad thing for herself as for them, and would have been a great deal happier if she had spent all the rest of her life at Hartfield." Chapter 1, pp. 5-6
Topic: Marriage: Marriage is never a completely happy event. Someone is often left behind. In the case of Miss Taylor's marriage, it is the Woodhouses. Mr. Woodhouse, who hated change, felt this most of all. His daughter had married years ago, and he still did not approve of the idea. With his own wife long dead, Mr. Woodhouse sees marriage only as something that takes the people he loves away from him.
Topic: Class: The Woodhouses are the first family in Highbury, the highest in class, and there is no young woman in town who can equal Emma Woodhouse. Left without a counterpart, Emma has no one to replace her friend Miss Taylor. Because of her status, Emma's intimate acquaintances are restricted--she does not like to associate much with people who are of a lower class. This shrinks her circle of intimates to her family and Mr. Knightley.
Though Miss Taylor's new home at Randalls was lovely, Mr. Woodhouse did not understand why she needed to move away. He worried about visiting Randalls, and was only cheered by the thought that he can see his daughter, Hannah when they visit his servant, James.
Emma tried to keep her father happy with a game of backgammon, but they were interrupted by Mr. George Knightley. Mr. Knightley, thirty-seven, is a reasonable man, a good friend of the family. Isabella is married to his brother John, and Mr. Knightley had just returned from Brunswick Square with news of the family. Mr. Woodhouse worries over the rain and Mr. Knightley's walk, then expresses his sorrow about Miss Taylor. Mr. Knightley is happy about the marriage, and he scolds the Woodhouses for their long faces. "Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them...." Chapter 1, pg. 8 He is sceptical when Emma tells him that she made the match between Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston. No one thought Mr. Weston would marry again, but Emma knew he would. Mr. Knightley suggests this was just a lucky guess, but Emma is still pleased with herself. She is convinced she promoted the relationship, and she is deaf to Mr. Knightley's criticisms. She promises only one more match--she wants to find a bride for Mr. Elton, the village preacher. Both men suggest that she ask him to dinner instead, as Mr. Knightley is quite sure that Mr. Elton, who is in his mid-twenties, can find a wife himself.
Topic: Guidance: Emma takes great pride in having made the match between Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston. She encouraged Mr. Weston to visit, and was an advocate for their relationship. Though she actually did very little, Emma considers even a lucky guess a success. Emma likes the idea of her being a matchmaker, able to bring lovers together.
Jane Austin holds the ideals of the landlord class in politics, religion and moral principals; and her works show clearly her firm belief in the predominance of reason over passion, the sense of responsibility, good manners and clear-sighted judgment over the Romantic tendencies of emotion and individuality. She shows contemptuous feelings towards snobbery, stupidity, worldliness and vulgarity through subtle satire and irony.
Austen's major concern is about human beings in their personal relationships. Austen shows a human being not at moments of crisis, but in most trivial incidents of everyday life. For life is made up of small things, and human nature reveals itself in them as fully as in big ones. A picnic in the woods shows up selfishness, kindness, vanity or sincerity just as much as a fight in the battlefield.
Jane Austen is particularly preoccupied with the relationship between men and women in love. Stories of love and marriage provide the major themes in all her novels, in which female characters are always playing an active part. In their pursuit of a marriage, they are usually categorized into three types according to their different attitudes: those who would marry for material wealth and social position, those who would marry just for beauty and passion, and those who would marry for true love with a consideration of the partner's personal merit as well as his economical and social status. In another word, Jane Austen tries to say that it is wrong to marry just for money or for beauty, but it is also wrong to marry without it.
Jane Austen writes within a very narrow sphere. The subject matter, the character range, the social setting, and plots are all restricted to the provincial life of the late 18th-century England, concerning three or four landed gentry families with their daily routine life.
In Emma, as in all of her novels, Jane Austen deals with ordinary activities of life; but through them she shows the importance of human relations in society. People, as Jane Austen visualizes, are social animals who live by a code; to make life run smoothly, the social code must be based upon a set of moral values. The main theme of the novel is to show the violation of the social and moral codes and its disastrous results in a good-humoured way. Human follies, stupidities and inconsistencies lead to the violation of the code, and only self-knowledge can prevent the human error. Jane Austen's main theme becomes "know yourself." Naturally, this theme is unfolded through the main character, who is always a female in an Austen novel. During the book, Emma changes from a wilful, arrogant girl filled with self-delusion and romantic fancy, to a caring and considerate human being who repeatedly proves that she has matured and is worthy of the love of Knightley. Through self-analysis, she has learned that the social code must be based on human moral qualities.
Marriage was the most important problem for women of the English society of the later eighteenth century. Females were confined to home life with no opportunity for a career. Even education for women had to be provided by governesses within the
home. Women who had no chance of getting married and winning economic security had to depend on charity or work as a governess, such as Jane Fairfax; therefore, most young ladies spent all of their time and effort looking for a suitable husband, just as
Harriet. Only women like Emma Woodhouse, who was a part of the wealthy, landed gentry with a sizable fortune of her own, would chose to remain unmarried.
The theme of the importance of marriage runs throughout the novel. Emma is preoccupied with the thoughts of marriage, though she has resolved not to marry herself. She sees herself as a matchmaker and wants to plan proper marriages that take into consideration the social realities of material well being and social situation in the hierarchical society of Highbury. The problem is that Emma is not a good judge of others, because of her romantic fantasies. She tries to match Harriet with Elton, which proves a total disaster. She tries to bring Frank and Harriet together, which
is also an impossible situation. Emma's meddling and machinations do more harm than good. In spite of her failure at matchmaking, the novel ends with marriages, which emphasizes the importance of this theme.
How does Jane Austen's narrative technique allow the reader to maintain sympathy for Emma, despite her mistakes?
Jane Austen's narrative technique allows the reader to freely step in and out of Emma's thoughts and emotions allowing us to rationalise her decisions. The tone Jane Austin delivers is light hearted and satiric which tends to soften any view the reader may make against Emma. Through ironic commentary the reader is able to laugh at Emma's mistakes, rather than condemn her for them.
The technique used by Jane Austen enables the reader to justify Emma's actions in a way that do not denounce her. Her actions are reasoned and the reader can see Emma's motivations for them. One example of this is Emma's relationship with Harriet and the 'guidance' that she gives her. The reader can see that the advice given to Harriet is poor, thus resulting in much heartache and humiliation, but we can see that this advice is only given with best intentions. Furthermore, Jane Austen's technique allows the conscious mistakes made by Emma to be followed by her shame and mortification of her actions.
The light and satiric tone employed by Jane Austen softens the judgements the reader may make of the characters in the novel. Emma is intended to be a comic character therefore her character can be sympathised with rather than harshly judged upon. Instead of condemning Emma's mistakes, the reader laughs at them.
The one contradiction of this is the Box Hill incident. Our judgement of Emma is harsher because the circumstance is portrayed with little humour. By humiliating Miss Bates, the reader is critical of Emma's actions and the reader's sympathy of her is blemished. This sympathy though is regained through Jane Austen's narrative style. Even in this incident Jane Austen shows Emma deep shame in her actions. Through Mr Knightley, Emma is made clear that she realises her mistake.
We are only able to understand Emma's motivations that drive her actions and are unable to see the reason behind the other characters. Mrs Elton is a key example of this. She is outrageously arrogant and only serves to make the reader cringe with embarrassment at her attempts to be first lady of Highbury. Her manner is frequently frowned upon and her rationale is missed. Jane Austen's style only enables the reader to understand Emma's actions and because of this the reader is more critical of the practice embraced by the other characters. If we were able to see the reasoning behind Mrs Elton's actions, the reader to may be able to maintain sympathy for her as they do to Emma.
Jane Austen's narrative technique draws the reader to Emma as the motivation for her thoughts; emotions and actions are fully displayed to us. Even above characters that consistently behave in the appropriate manner, the reader is able to see beyond Emma's mistakes and maintain sympathy for her.