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Essay / The Conflicting Gender Values of Jane Austen's Emma
On the surface, Jane Austen's Emma reads as a simple account of the emotional development of its protagonist Emma Woodhouse. Over the course of the novel, Emma realizes the folly of her arrogance and ignorance. Emma's awareness of her faults allows her to correct her objectionable thoughts and opinions and thus achieve humility. While Emma displays an assortment of proto-feminist beliefs early in the novel, her pseudo-maturation causes her to renounce these beliefs in order to acclimate to the society in which she resides. Despite being the richest and most respectable woman in Highbury, Emma experiences both. empowerment and oppression during his maturation. Its unique position highlights the novel's conflicting views on gender, particularly on issues such as empowerment, sovereignty, and individuality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Although Emma is the de facto ruler of Hartfield on behalf of her hypochondriac father, she wields far less power in the larger world of Highbury. In an attempt to influence the world within her reach, Emma continually engages in encounters throughout the novel. His hobby is quickly challenged by none other than Mr. Knightley himself, who calls his match between Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston a "chance of luck" of "vain" thoughts and hopes. Emma responds, “…a good idea is never just luck. There's always talent in there. And as for my poor word "success", with which you dispute, I do not know if I am so entirely devoid of right to it. You've drawn two nice pictures – but I think there may be a third – something between doing nothing and doing everything. » Although Emma admits the possibility that the marriage may not have been entirely due to her actions, she is adamant. argues that its efforts nevertheless resulted in a tangible contribution. By imagining and promoting matches that are sometimes singularly visible to her alone, Emma attempts to free herself from the tradition that locks women into their domestic sphere. Thus, Emma's matchmaking is a progressive attempt at female empowerment. This story of empowerment may cast Emma in a proto-feminist light, but a closer look at the matchmaking and its effects on the larger group of women shows that it has a retrograde silver lining. trim. Emma's matches are made without the will of the men or women involved being taken into account. Additionally, his matches are specifically intended for his benefit. To keep her friend Harriet Smith “in the sphere in which she moves” (Austen 60), Emma encourages her to reject Mr. Martin’s marriage proposal. Emma's evident adherence to the pre-established social hierarchy is observable here when she explains that she "could not have visited Mr. Robert Martin, of Abbey-Mill Farm" because of her social class. Emma's inability to consider the prospects of associating with a family considered as socially inferior as the Martins outweighs even the close friendship she shares with Harriet. Thus, she deprives Harriet of the opportunity to choose her husband and delays her settling into a marriage considered “safe, respectable and happy” for her. While matchmaking is a means of empowerment for Emma, it is also a means of disenfranchising targeted women. Emma's privilege allows her to undertake the potentially reprehensible action of matchmaking. However, this does not exempt her from the expectation of marriage. Marriage is arguably the most important goal a woman in Victorian England could achieve...