Essay about Jane Austens Emma - Rebel or Conformist

Emma - Rebel or Conformist? Near the town of Highbury, a village located in the eighteenth century English countryside, sits the estate of Hartfield where Emma Woodhouse resides with her health conscious father who finds fault with all of lifes necessities. When Emmas governess and close comrade, Miss Taylor, marries Mr. Weston, an affluent neighbor, and moves to his nearby estate, sociable Emma is forced to find herself a new companion. Harriet Smith, a naive teen who lives at Mrs. Goddards boarding school, though of a lower class due to her illegitimacy, seems desperately in need of Emmas management and counsel. Sure that she was the cause of the perfect match between Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston, Emma is determined to find†¦show more content†¦Elton , who professes his love for Emma. Much taken aback by this confession, she rebukes him for not caring about Harriet and denies his feelings. They continue the ride in silence and soon after, Mr. Elton leaves for a stay in Bath and Emma is forced to tell H arriet the heart breaking news. Jane Fairfax, a girl of Emmas age, comes to stay with Mrs. and Miss Bates and brings along the news that Mr. Elton has hastily engaged himself to a women he met while traveling. Another guest, Frank Churchill, Mr. Westons son by a first marriage, comes to Highbury, bringing with him mystery as well as assumed love for Emma. Mr. Churchill, to the dismay of Mr. Knightely, who finds great fault with the young man, pays close attention and flirts extensively with Emma, while at the same time indulging her story about Jane and a secret love affair. Frank is called away to tend a sick aunt, and Emma realizes she does not really love him. Her confusion about her feelings quickly subsides, though, when Mr. Elton and his new, snobbish wife arrive and Emma finds herself comforting Harriet. By the time Frank Churchill comes back to finish his stay with the Westons, Emma determines she has no feelings for him and a friendship is cultivated. Frank rescues Harriet from a band of gypsies and Emma begins to think that Harriets new secret crush is Mr. Churchill. Emma is eager to help this new affair along and redeem herself for HarrietsShow MoreRelatedFeminism, By Jane Austen1314 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel, Emma, Austen presents a view of feminism that, at this point in time is quite outstanding for her to do. Men were the dominant gender and in England women remained submissive to the men at all times. Women had specific roles in the household and in society. When the girls are young, they are expected to obey their fathers until they are grown and passed off to a husband so they are financially supported at all times during their life. Emma is a story about the everyday life of Emma WoodhouseRead MoreJane Austen’s Novels and the Contemporary Social and Literary Co nventions.12979 Words   |  52 Pages2.3 The Gothic Romance. 13 3. Jane Austen and Her Novels in relation to the Contemporary Literature. 15 3.1. Austen’s Criticism about the Contemporary Fiction. 15 3.2. Jane Austen as a Conservative Writer and as a Social Critic. 16 3.3. Austen’s writing in her own perception. 17 4. Pride and Prejudice. 20 4.1. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy – the Reversed Ideals. 20 22 5. Emma 23 5.1. Emma the heroine. 23 5.2. Men of sense and silly wives 26 5.3. Emma as the unusual learning. 28 Conclusions