It is difficult to imagine that Emma was such a strong character, especially considering the time she was written in. She is a very strong figure in the book despite her being a woman. Women were considered second-class to men in that society. Nonetheless Emma is respected by all characters in the book, even men, which is unusual for those times. It was rare for a woman’s views to be taken seriously in 19th century England but Emma is praised and respected by everyone in the novel. ‘What two letters!-express perfection! - I am sure I do not know. Ah! You will never guess. You, (to Emma), I am certain, will never guess. I will tell you.-M. And A. - Em-ma. - Do you understand?’ this quotation was said by a man. That would have been very unusual in those times for such praise to be issued to a woman. Mr. Weston calls Emma perfection, something which the egotistical man in those times would never have done. This shows Emma truly is a heroine to all, that her input makes a difference as no other women is praised like her in the book. Austen likes this about Emma; once again she is perhaps using Emma as a character to express her hopes and feelings about society. She probably felt that all women should be like that. We can see that by putting Emma in this situation, Austen likes Emma because she given her an easy lifestyle and made her different to every other woman at that time.
Emma’s as a person, her qualities, make her a heroine. She has many different qualities which are heroine-like and she some which are the complete opposite. Emma is a determined character; she knows what she wants and is indomitable about getting it. This quality comes from the fact that she is spoilt; she is very comfortable in her lifestyle. She is wealthy and dominating within society moreover she’s never been restricted. Consequently she is always determined to get what she wants, whether it’s for others or herself. This is a quality a heroine. Being determined also makes Emma brave; she will do anything to make sure things go her way. Emma is very well spoken and polite, she never says exactly straight out what she means because she is polite and doesn’t want to be on anybody’s wrong side. ‘Insufferable woman! Was her immediate exclamation. Worse than I had supposed.’ After her meeting with Mrs. Elton where she remained perfectly courteous she lets out her true feelings towards Mrs. Elton. One would never have guessed Emma’s dislike for Mrs. Elton from the conversation they had. This is a quality all heroines should have because it shows Emma’s ability to make people happy with her. Emma says ‘Worse than I had supposed’ suggesting that she was probably expecting something bad from Mrs. Elton but she still carried herself with amazing grace. Added to this, Emma is very curious as most women from 19th century Gentry class would have been. Emma, having nothing to do, would have been interested in the lives of others. This could be a bad quality and described as nosy. "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" Austen says herself that Emma is spoilt and supercilious. These aren’t really good qualities to have but Emma being arrogant makes her seem superior, this makes her like heroine because it makes her someone that people can look up to. Emma has a very sharp tongue, her words are taken to heart and things that she says are normally followed by others because of Emma’s high social status. ‘…laugh at her, humble her - and before her niece, too - and before other, many of whom (certainly some,) would be entirely guided by your treatment of her.’ This quotation shows that even Mr. Knightley, a man who always tells Emma the truth and doesn’t treat Emma like the heroine she is, knows that she is looked up to by most people. And this is what heroine should be, someone who is a role model for others. Though Emma is a role model, one could argue she’s not exactly the best role model, as arrogance and viciousness are not qualities of an idol. Despite the fact that Emma has many different qualities some good and some nasty, they balance each other out making her a well-formed character. Emma has still qualities of a heroine because she is, at first, being perceived as a heroine and she still has more to her. She is more of a heroine because she has faults which help her relate to others. We can see form this that Austen likes Emma’s personality because she has made her character that all can relate to and look up to. Though relating back to irony, she mocks Emma’s bad qualities it is soft teasing and not full on sarcasm showing us that Austen likes Emma.
Relating back to her qualities, they are best seen by the things Emma does. A true heroine is brave, dauntless and honest. When they’ve done wrong they know what to do or say to correct their mistake. When Emma finds out how Mr. Elton really feels about her she begins to feel miserable. A true heroine is especially sorry for any actions she does that aren’t exactly correct because always being correct is their nature. It can be argued that Emma doesn’t quite feel sorry. It seems as though Emma is trying to feel remorseful. ‘Such a blow for Harriet! That was worst of all!’ She feels that Harriet will be dreadfully affected by this so she is empathizing with her. ’The first error and the worst lay at her door. It was foolish, it was wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together.’ She realises that match making isn’t exactly the right thing to do. It is wrong. She realises what she’d done wrong and this is the first step to true repentance. Nevertheless, in the quotation earlier Emma does say ‘That was worse of all’ this suggests that there is something else in this whole problem than how Harriet feels. She is most likely talking about herself. Her plans haven’t gone as expected so she is quite irritated. ‘How could she have been so deceived?’ This shows she might not actually be repentant for what she’s done. Also lower class than her, Mr. Elton is in love with her. She feels how can he even allow it? ‘She thought nothing of his attachment, and was insulted by his hopes.’ Even though Harriet’s feelings are more essential and important she is still thinking about herself. She is self-absorbed. Though Emma’s thoughts seem to be about her and really only her, at times she throws in a thought about someone else. At some times, Emma might actually be showing real repentance. This proves Emma’s faults balance her out. Yes, she tried to do something nice for Harriet but it went wrong. It shows she is more a human character and a heroine to someone in this time because she is able to relate to us. Life’s not fair so things that are done with a good heart do not always have the best output; this is what Emma is experiencing. Austen makes Emma a character like this, because you can’t like everything about one person. This makes her more likeable to Austen. Emma faults are usually due to her situation, she can’t change them.
On the contrary, Emma sometimes puts herself in situations that make her seem very unpleasant. At Box Hill, Emma is very rude to Mrs. Bates. She has a very sharp tongue at times. This is not a quality of a heroine and would cause dislike by some. Her sharp tongue comes from her arrogance. “Pardon me – but you will be limited as to number – only three at once” Emma says this to Mrs. Bates implying she is dull and boring. Emma said this thoughtlessly and impolitely. Emma doesn’t emerge as a heroine in this case as what she says as it is completely unprovoked. This is not a mistake many make therefore making her disliked instead of liked by readers. Emma does not say this to deliberately cause offence towards Miss Bates but she sees it as an opportunity to receive attention from the group. One could argue that much had happened to build up to this catty remark. ‘…I was fatigued. The heat overcame me. “It is hotter to-day.”’ The heat made everyone slightly disagreeable. Also Mr. Churchill and Mr. Weston were flattering Emma and praising Emma resulting in Emma feeling very egotistical and invincible. ‘Emma could not resist.’ She felt the need to say something. It makes her seem very un-heroic, as being spiteful is not a quality of a heroine. Neither is being unkind to someone less fortunate than you. This was downright horrible, it wasn’t a genuine mistake, she knew what she was doing, people would not idolise her because of this. As a result of her actions Mr Knightley tells her off very gravely. At first she tries to laugh it off but then she becomes silent and doesn’t try to defend herself. ‘She felt it at her heart. How could she have been so brutal, so cruel to Miss Bates! How could she have exposed herself to such ill opinion in any one she valued?’ Though the lack of defending herself might have been seen as her not really being sorry, it is most likely she was silent because she was so unhappy about what she’d done. Her action wasn’t an action of a heroine but the way she felt afterwards surely was. Austen likes this about Emma. Little gets on Emma’s nerves and all that does is her hurting someone.
Emma is so used to not been restricted by anybody that she doesn’t know the meaning of the word sorry. She’s never had to say it and mean it. It shows she makes mistakes just like everyone but maybe she’s never truly sorry because she doesn’t know the true meaning of it. She doesn’t mean it because no one will challenge her, she will always be forgiven as she is Emma. Because Emma has sincerity in her heart and knows when she’s done wrong, she is portrayed as a heroine. Austen likes this about Emma, Emma does wrong like everyone else but her realisation of this bad deed and the way she feels afterwards is what Austen must like about her. We can see from his that Emma’s good points and bad points make her the heroine she is.
The way Emma is thought of by other characters in the book makes her seem very heroic. Characters in the book seem to always be talking about Emma when she is not present. Heroines and heroes are forever being discussed and spoken about and made the centre of attention. In Emma, Emma is only not present in one chapter, chapter five. Mr. Knightley and Mrs. Weston, two of the closest people to Emma, comment on the way they see Emma in chapter five. “Where Emma errs once she is in the right a hundred times” Mrs. Weston is extremely defensive of Emma’s imperfections and therefore she always attempts to make excuses for any faults that Emma might have. Austen makes her exact feelings about Emma become known through Mrs. Weston. Mrs. Weston takes on the role of surrogate mother of Emma and Austen as well, as she is like a mother to Emma, she’s her creator. ‘She doesn’t submit to anything that requires industry and patience’ Emma wants everything to be done smoothly and with haste. People in the book look up to Emma because of her ability to get things done therefore they feel she is invincible and come to her with questions expecting answers. “This great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith, but I think it’s a bad thing” Mr. Knightley believes that Emma is not going to do Harriet good and vice versa. They are both different and perhaps he could also be showing a form of jealousy that he might be un-conscious of. He is implying that conceivably he may be a better companion for Emma. Withal, Austen frequently makes the other characters compliment Emma when they are conversing. This gives readers a positive view of Emma once again. “Pretty! Say beautiful rather” nonetheless this is evidence that Austen does like Emma. ‘What two letters!-express perfection! - I am sure I do not know. Ah! You will never guess. You, (to Emma), I am certain, will never guess. I will tell you.-M. And A. - Em-ma. - Do you understand?’ With characters constantly praising Emma this gives readers the go ahead to idolize Emma. Though what some characters i.e. Mr. Knightley thinks of Emma brings out her negative points, we can see from this that readers are fond of Emma because the misguided characters in Emma are also very fond of her. But Austen knows that most of her praise is over given so she doesn’t like her when expressing herself through other characters. This is another time when Austen uses irony.
Austen’s presentation of Emma throughout the book shows us that Austen is quite fond of Emma. In Austen's earlier novels, the heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, were very much different to Emma and quite like Austen; they did not have an independent fortune. By the time Austen was writing Emma she had by now published two great successes and had some money that she could call her own. So she decided to write about a heroine who is an heiress and therefore, could afford to remain independent. Emma seems to reflect Austen's feelings on the subject of feminism so in those days Emma was a heroine, even to Austen, who might have wanted to be like Emma. This shows Austen likes Emma and that Emma might have even been Austen’s heroine.
Austen additionally uses Irony to show us what subtly she thinks of Emma. ‘…and a Harriet Smith, therefore, one whom she could summon at any time to a walk, would be a valuable addition to her privileges.’ Austen has hidden her thoughts in this. On one hand, Emma is very happy with herself, she has Harriet and she is a friend she can summon at anytime. But Austen is perhaps mentioning that Emma likes to have control of people, she likes to have friends who are inferior to her. Austen says one thing, but another thing entirely is intended. It explains how Emma is quite a controlling person and someone who is controlling can’t really be thought of as amiable. But it might make her seem more of a heroine; it brings out her superiority which is a quality of a heroine. ‘…and her inclination for good company and power of appreciating what was elegant and clever…’ Austen is suggesting that Emma feels that she is good company and elegant and clever therefore praising herself by discussing what Harriet appreciates in a person. Harriet looks for that in a person and because Harriet is friends with Emma, Emma believes that she is obviously that. On the other hand, Emma might be saying Harriet appreciates them without any reference to herself. At times in the book Austen uses her authorial voice to tell the readers exactly what she feels towards Emma. Austen mightn’t like the side of Emma she has created and many readers will also dislike this about Emma.
Often Emma’s perfection isn’t very genuine. The way others think of her isn’t legitimate enough as Emma is often over-praised. ‘…And in nothing had she approached the degree of excellence which she would have been glad to command, and ought not to have failed of.’ This quotation shows that Emma doesn’t put the effort in but still expects to do well. Emma can be said to have and be able to do everything but what she lacks is the effort to do these things to the best of her ability. This is ironic as Emma is meant to be perfect. This lack she has isn’t very heroic. If Emma feels so arrogant that she never has to put effort in, that things will come to her naturally it doesn’t make her a very good idol for others. Austen doesn’t like this aspect of her that is why she expertly makes it known to all. ‘She was not much deceived as to her own skill either as an artist or a musician but she was not unwilling to have others deceived.’ This shows a rather sly quality behind Emma’s exterior. She knows that she isn’t as amazing as people praise her for being. She shouldn’t let it happen but she does. This is ironic because Emma is perfect and it’s surprising that there is more to her perfection. That perhaps her perfectness is too generously praised. She isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks. Austen realises this and this probably makes her like Emma. Emma is a heroine but heroines are normal people and can’t be blamed for mistakes of others. The irony does suggest that Austen doesn’t like Emma’s faults that are displayed in the book, though the irony she presents isn’t harsh, it’s soft and almost as if she is gently teasing Emma instead of serious sarcasm. This shows Austen likes Emma.
Emma’s dialogue in the novel also portrays Emma as a heroine. When speaking her dialogue is very confident. She doesn’t stutter or waver to say something. Harriet Smith, however, is much undecided. She uses a lot of ‘Oh’ and ‘I mean’. She is confused with what she wants to say; she doesn’t know what she wants to say therefore she stammers and stutters. Fortunately, this is the opposite of Emma. She is sure of herself and this means her opinions and thoughts cannot be shaped by others. Emma’s sentences themselves have hidden meaning. She manipulates the way she speaks and knows what she wants to say therefore her speech is direct. She can make people do things or say things by using her words wisely. ‘It was most convenient for Emma not to make a direct reply to this assertion.’ This suggests Emma can control herself; she can influence her words to her situation. Additionally Emma has a very advanced vocabulary she says things and uses words that are difficult to comprehend.
‘”Oh no, no! The letter had much better be all your own. You will
Express yourself very properly, I am sure. There is no danger of your
Not being intelligible, which is the first thing. Your meaning must be
Unequivocal; no doubts or demurs: and such expressions of gratitude
And concern for the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires, will
Present themselves unbidden to your mind, I am persuaded. You need
Not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his disappointment.”
“You think I ought to refuse him then” said Harriet, looking down.
Emma doesn’t want Harriet to find a new husband in Mr. Martin but doesn’t want to tell her straight out so she manipulates Harriet. From the huge chunk Emma says above Harriet can’t comprehend so she just says what she thinks Emma is implying. She doesn’t straight out say ‘don’t marry Mr. Martin’ but she has convinced Harriet to reject him. These words make her sound very intellectual. This can confuse many people Emma talks to, as she can use words people do not know the meaning of. She also chooses her words carefully and uses a lot of commas in very long sentences. It seems that Emma’s objective when speaking is to bewilder.
No one can quieten Emma because she is so used to being in the limelight. Emma is able to use long sentences and say so much because everyone in the novel allows her to. The only way Emma can be hushed is by speaking to someone who is somewhat more arrogant than her, Mrs. Elton. ‘Mrs. Elton was wanting notice, which nobody had inclination to pay, and she was herself in a worry of spirits which would have made her prefer being silent.’ It’s surprising that she can only be hushed by someone as catty and arrogant as Mrs. Elton. Harriet Smith nonetheless is very different. She doesn’t have her own views so as a result she asks many questions. Someone once said that ‘Wisdom is the asking of many questions.’ but when Harriet asks questions constantly it makes her seem very impressionable as if she’s unintelligent and isn’t ever aware of anything. Emma is very different to Harriet in this sense. Harriet is a sponge and she absorbs all that she is told but Emma, she has her own opinions which are often imitated by others. Austen likes Emma because of the sophisticated language she bestows upon her. It is different to that of anyone else’s in the book. This shows Austen favours Emma as a character. Emma’s dialogue does make her a heroine. It is superior, and though she uses her extensive knowledge and vocabulary to confuse and manipulate others, it makes her advanced. Though Austen may like Emma’s better-quality language, readers may not, as it might come across as snobbish. Emma’s dialogue presents two sides of Emma, charming and manipulating. She has this amazing vocabulary and wonderful language but this enables her to manipulate and baffle others but also charm. We can see from this that the two sides of Emma’s dialogue make her a heroine as she knows when to use each aspect of it.
After the trials and tribulations Emma faces throughout the novel, the way she comes out of it best shapes anyone’s opinion of her. At the end of the novel, after all of her layers have been removed, the readers see the true heroine in Emma. Her true benevolence is shown when she worries about the consequences of her marrying Mr. Knightley. She doesn’t want her father to be alone and is willing to throw her marriage away for him. This shows Emma has understood the real meaning of kindness and love and is being a true heroine. She is willing to sacrifice her happiness for that of her father. She has put self-obsession and her arrogance away and become more of a friend to Harriet. ‘…but it does not make me unhappy, I assure you - …’ Harriet now has a status and Emma is happy that she has found love. She shows true contentment for Harriet and this is what a heroine should do, a heroine should be happy because others are joyful. Emma shows she is a true heroine because she is no longer thinking only about her self. Even her actions change towards the end of the book. She throws a self a very simple wedding although she can afford much more. Emma is very happy with her wedding and thinks it perfect. This shows perhaps that Emma realises that true perfection isn’t the most elaborate or complicated things. It also shows that Emma’s need to impress isn’t present anymore. She has found what she thinks completes her and this makes her a heroine. Ultimately and most vitally she has found love in Mr. Knightley. She loves the one man who doesn’t tell her she is perfect and look up to her. She loves the one who knows every fault she has and sees the real Emma, the Emma under all her layers. This makes her a heroine because she has overcome self-delusion and found the real heroine in herself. At the beginning of the book she was a heroine on the outside, she was a superficial and stereotypical heroine. But at the end of the book she becomes a true heroine one at heart. Austen likes this about Emma; she likes the character Emma becomes. Throughout the novel, as Emma advances through it, Austen creates dilemmas for Emma that allows her to make the transition from stereotypical heroine to true heroine.
Emma is a heroine. At first, because she is portrayed as perfect, our first impressions of her are perfect. But during the course the novel Emma, she shows us her faults which are that of a normal human being. Heroines aren’t meant to have faults but the way Emma reacts to her faults and the way she tries to mend her mistakes and make things well again for the better is a true quality of a heroine. ‘…with very little to distress her or vex her…’ We’ve seen in the book, that although it is a fact that little distress’ Emma, Emma is distressed a quite a few times in the book form the incorrect actions she makes. Most of these cases included her friends or family. Emma’s heart is always hurt when she hurts someone else. And this is what a true heroine is. Being brave and trying to make the world right. That is what Emma does. Yes she has faults which most likely come from the way she was brought up and her situation at the time. She can be a snob but her high class encourages that. She can be arrogant but the praise she receives from all promotes that. Emma is a heroine to a modern day reader because of her modern views. I feel that she can be horrid and is sometimes nosy, but I like the way she handles things that she does wrong therefore she is heroine to me. Emma is seen as perfect ‘Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition…’ This is only half of Emma’s character, she is perfect, on the outside, but there is so much more to her. This is what Jane Austen likes, Austen likes that there is a lot to Emma that is why she made the statement I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like.’ Because she believed that she would be the only one who could see all these many sides of Emma. The sides we like and the sides we don’t like. Emma being perfect and having faults makes her equal. She is a well-rounded person, who knows good and bad. During the novel, Emma overcomes self-delusion, as the things that happen in her life are some of the most upsetting moments of her life. She sees the world in a new light. This is like many of Jane Austen’s Books. Like Marianne Dashwood in and in . They all defeat self delusion, and see the real world as it should be. Emma is a heroine who has faults and these faults make her the heroine she is because she teaches others when she deals with the consequence of her faults.