To what extent has the transformation of Emma into Clueless presented new ideas?
Emma/Clueless Notes
To what extent has the transformation of Emma into Clueless presented new ideas?
- The transformation of Jane Austen’s novel 1816 novel, Emma, by Amy Heckerling in her 1995 film Clueless, has presented new ideas to the extent by which it allows us as responders to gain a greater understanding of both the social contexts of Austen’s world, as well as that of Heckerling. Through comparison of the ways in which status and wealth, morality and the role of women are examined in both texts, greater insight can be gained of these contexts, and the values and ideas they portray.
Wealth, Class and Charity and Morality
- Mr Knightley is used as a model of upper class landed gentry, representing the epitome of wealth, class and charity in normal society. This is first and foremost demonstrated in his name, “knightley”, as well as his first name, pertaining to King George of England at the time. Emma says of him to Harriett “You will not see one in a hundred, with gentleman so plainly written as in Mr. Knightley.”
- Knightley is presented in Austen’s novel as Emma’s moral role model; as much as she enjoys the privileges of her wealth and social status, she does not know at the beginning of the novel the true meaning of charity. Although she is depicted as being “kind to the poor”, she behaves uncharitably towards Miss Bates. Knightley’s subsequent criticism of Emma, “Were she a woman of fortune, I would not quarrel with you for any liberties in manner – but she is poor; she has sunk from the comforts she was born to. Her situation should secure your compassion” implies a complex social structure and nature of personal relationships which is puzzling and difficult to understand to the contemporary reader.