▲ Portrait of Jane Austen
"Every piece of information about Jane Austen, every interpretation, is a national event." Caroline Sperzin, a female professor at the University of London, responded with this powerful remark to those who regarded Jane Austen's novels as "teacup literature" and "manor literature". In the past, it was widely believed that marriage was the central theme of all of Jane Austen's novels, and she did not write about historical events, did not write about wars, but was obsessed with creating mortal trivia related to money, love, and marriage. Over the years, when we re-read her works, we have found more and more that human emotions are timeless themes, and they do not lack the value of writing than historical themes; not to mention that Jane Austen's works have never lacked historical factors, and the social microcosm she describes has a deep connection with economy and politics, so the stories of ordinary people are richer and more powerful.
Austin lived in a time when England was ruled by King George III and society was undergoing great changes. Although she was only 42 years old, she lived through important historical moments including the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Trafalgar, and the abolition of the slave trade in Britain.
Just as her life was surrounded by historical events, the dilemmas faced by her characters also arose in this historical context and social factors. With her own unique subtle brushstrokes, she implicitly describes the impact of the changes of the times on all aspects of social classes. Although she describes life in the middle class circle that she is familiar with, she shows us the true side of what people thought and thought at that time, revealing the control and influence of hierarchy, wealth, and interpersonal relationships on people's lives. Her works also record the details of social customs, religious beliefs, economy, agriculture, transportation, entertainment, diet, clothing, diseases, etc., like ukiyo-e paintings, and other aspects of marriage and funerals—good works always provide different doorways for readers to enter, showing all aspects of a history like an encyclopedia. The social picture of England unfolds in Austen's novels, and she doesn't just tell a simple romantic story in a female voice.
01.
A masterpiece of twists and turns published
Austen spent his life writing in a society with rigid expectations of women, during which time Mary Wollstonecraft, the founder of modern feminism, published The Defense of Feminism, a feminist work. At that time in Britain, women not only did not have the right to vote, did not have the right to enjoy public education, but also had no property autonomy, and could only be economically dependent on men, and the concept of inequality firmly occupied people's consciousness. In the era when it was believed that the ultimate destination of women was only the family, Austin did not have much formal education, and completed self-study and education in his father's collection. She never married, insisted on herself, published her works anonymously, became the first woman to be included in the English literary classics, and the only female writer in Britain who could compete with Shakespeare, which shows how much influence she had on British literature and culture.
The publication of Emma was painstaking. In the fall of 1815, Austin gave Emma to the London publisher John Murray. Murray bid Austin £450 in exchange for the rights to Emma and her first two novels, Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Manor. Faced with this publishing condition, Austin called Murray a "rogue" and decided to keep the copyright himself. Murray eventually published Emma in three volumes, with an initial print of 2,000 copies, but Austin paid for the ad himself. In December 1815, the first edition of the novel was released in bookstores. Like her previous novels, Emma was published anonymously.
"Emma" inherits Austen's consistent beautiful style, and ensures that each work has its own uniqueness, providing readers with a wonderful reading experience. Emma's character is a stark contrast to Austin's previous character -- a less pleasant one -- in Austen's words, "a heroine that no one but myself would like." Not only that, in the storyline, Austin also added the sense of suspense that only detective novels have, causal relationships are hidden behind the scenes, as if detectives solve cases, Emma gradually let the characters' emotional relationship surface through the observation and analysis of the characters and events around her. When we learn the truth, we as readers have to go back and rediscover the foreshadowing that has long been buried—the clues we missed along with Emma.
Twenty years on, Jane Austen's novels span centuries, cross borders, and endure. Re-reading the classics is not only to relive the fashions and intriguing stories of the times, but also to open ourselves up, constantly refresh our habitual cognition, and stimulate new reading experiences and thinking. Although Emma may not be as famous as Pride and Prejudice, a growing number of literary critics have identified it as Austen's masterpiece.
Perhaps Austin would not have imagined that the modern reader would fall in love with Emma, whom she felt no one liked, and even fall in love with her shortcomings—Emma was seen as the typical example of an independent and brave modern woman, who could learn, think, reason, and grow. In Emma's story, we meet Austen's thoughts – that a woman's future and happiness do not depend on marriage, and that women should be allowed to have flaws or make mistakes. In real life, every woman can be Emma without having to be the perfect woman to everyone likes.
▲ Stills from the film "Emma"
02.
Emma, who is often wrong—
Jane Austen's most distinctive character
Emma is Austen's most eclectic heroine. Elizabeth 1 is smart and sober from the beginning, close to perfection, knows how to think carefully when encountering things, and will not be impulsive like Emma; Eleanor 2 is rational and cautious, knows how to control her feelings, and knows how to put herself in the shoes of others than Emma; Anne 3 is more mature and old, deeply familiar with worldly feelings, does not get the favor that Emma has at home, but can help the family get through the difficulties, and is very compassionate to friends. Emma's obvious flaws in her, not adhering to the rules of conduct of a lady, is an anti-male perspective of the narrative, adding a bit of unique charm to the novel.
Woodhouse is the book's premier celebrity, Emma Woodhouse was born with a golden spoon, arguably the richest and most intelligent girl in The Highland Village.
Her mother died very early, and she was thoroughly spoiled, as confident and arrogant as all pampered and proud young people.
Her father was elderly and neurotic, especially afraid of change and loneliness, and Emma made up her mind not to marry her sister after she got married, and to stay with him. She is kind and cheerful, cheerful and optimistic, but very nosy, considering herself a wonderful red lady, thinking that she can match people by observing their emotions, and self-righteously attributing her tutor, Miss Taylor, to her own matchmaking.
She became close friends with the naïve 17-year-old harriet Smith, arbitrarily taking on Harriet's lifelong affairs and persuading Harriet to refuse to marry robert Martin, a wealthy farmer who proposed to her—although Harriet was an illegitimate daughter who lived in a local girls' boarding school, Emma was convinced that she could reform her and lead her into high society. Mr. Knightley had a heated argument with Emma over this.
Mr. Knightley, a close friend of the Woodhouse family and the older brother of Emma's brother-in-law, was older than her and knew her personality. Father and Mr. Knightley warn Emma not to interfere in other people's marriages, and Emma is whimsical, messing with the Mandarin Duck Spectrum, and insisting on encouraging Harriet to fall in love with the pastor Mr. Elton, trying to match them. It wasn't until Elton made it clear that he loved Emma and not Harriet that Emma understood the truth with shame and annoyance, and that she had completely ignored Elton's calculations. Elton thinks there's a huge disparity in status between him and Miss Harriet—
"I don't have to be so desperate that I can't find the right person to accept Miss Smith!" （P100）”
Mr. Weston's son, Frank Churchill, was raised in London by his uncle and aunt, who regarded him as their heir, and he returned to Highbury to visit his father, and immediately became a favorite figure for everyone. Emma enjoys Frank's flirtation, believing that her charm attracts him, and sees Frank as a potential suitor. After the dance, Frank rescues Harriet from the gypsy beggar. When Harriet tells Emma that she is in love with a man of higher social status than she does, Emma thinks she is referring to Frank and makes a calculation for them. Knightley tries again to warn Emma, who guesses that Frank and Jane Fairfax have a hidden affair.
Emma, accustomed to being pampered and flattered, always scoffed at Knightley's advice and analysis. This seemingly chaotic emotional relationship was not finally revealed until the death of Frank's aunt— Frank and Jane Fairfax had long been secretly engaged. His ambiguity with Emma has been a barrier to disguise his secrets, and now Frank can finally marry Jane Fairfax.
Emma fears that Harriet will be hit again, but Harriet admits that she is in love with Mr. Knightley, not Emma's guess, because Mr. Knightley offered her to dance at a recent country ball, saving her from the embarrassment of being snubbed by Mr. Elton and his new wife. It was then that Emma realized that she was also in love with Mr. Knightley. While lamenting her mistake in judgment, Emma learns that Harriet has decided to marry Robert. The novel ends with three marriages: Jane Fairfax and Frank, Harriet and Robert, and Emma and Mr. Knightley.
03.
Independent and strong Emma——
An "awakened" female worldview
Emma is the only novel by Jane Austen to be named after the heroine, and like her other novels, it is conservative in nature, with Emma's primary concern with marriage and class issues. The plot of "Emma" revolves around the heroine's choice of mate, showing the existential crisis and limitations of women in that era. The social status of 19th-century Britain was determined by a combination of factors, including family name, gender, birth rights, fame and wealth – which largely determined a person's life.
At that time, in the trend of British society, women took marriage as their way to seek economic security and improve their social status, and the families of high society were heavy, regardless of women's feelings, and cross-class intermarriage was not encouraged. Women's economic difficulties are an important reason for their forced marriage, Jane Austen always emphasizes the importance of material foundations for women's marriage and life in novels, and Emma's economic conditions allow her to have the privilege that ordinary women at that time could not hope for - independence and autonomy, and did not pin happiness on marriage.
Emma was not a modest lady in the traditional sense of the late 18th century, she was unruly because of her mother's absence, her father's weakness, and her father's acquiescence to her acting as a hostess of the family when she was only twelve years old, taking ideas everywhere - which cultivated her self-confidence and assertiveness, and gave her both action and leadership. She was educated at home, befriended tutors regardless of her status hierarchy, sympathized with the weak, and helped other women in an attempt to positively influence those around her. But in the society of the time, these traits were good for men, and not always encouraged when placed on women.
She claimed early on that she would not marry and not be bothered by society's expectations of women, a bold and radical attitude in the era of Austin life. Emma can take full control of her own life and doesn't need a man to take care of her financially or a man to make her whole. When Harriet worries about the adverse consequences of Emma not getting married, Emma says:
"Since I don't have an object of affection, wouldn't it be foolish to change my status quo?" Wealth, I do not lack; work, I do not need; social status in high society, is not what my heart cares about. I believe that I am in charge of the house in Hatfield, and few married women in the husband's family can have the same decision as I do. I would never, ever expect myself to be so genuinely loved and to have such an important position. Other men don't always put me first like my father and feel like I'm doing everything right. （P65～66）”
Emma was very dismissive when she saw that Elton's marriage was entirely a social status and economic exchange. Jane Fairfax and Frank are secretly engaged for life but hide the truth, and Frank uses Emma as a smokescreen and uses the people around him. These two poor lovers, who hid unspeakable secrets in their hearts, succumbed to the class differences and social pressure of the time, and also let us see that inequality existed not only between men and women, but also widely existed in society. Their love also impacted Emma's original rigid class concept, and she gradually realized that social differences are not fundamental differences between people and are not the differences prescribed by law.
Although Emma eventually broke her original vows of non-marriage, she did not enter into marriage for financial reasons, as many women of her time were forced into marriage, but instead put love first, choosing a husband who was equal to her own intelligence, respected her, and waited for her according to her own wishes. After marriage, she does not have to take the dowry to her husband's hometown to live, to change her life to adapt to her husband; she does not have to leave Hatfield, completely disregarding the common habit of the wife being the husband's "appendage" that prevails in society.
In addition to marital autonomy and equality, Emma's style of acting is also ahead of the times: she never silences herself, always speaks her mind like a man, and does not discipline herself with the labels of "virtuous" and "patient" as a good wife and mother. Emma can also argue with men on an equal footing, and although Mr. Knightley often has the right judgment, Austin still shows us that she constantly challenges the male authority represented by Mr. Knightley and trains her rational thinking in debate.
The different female characters in the novel strive to fight against the strict hierarchy and patriarchal society in this world that is not designed for women, and strive to get a better life. Emma represents a strong and independent female figure, and the novel, from her point of view, presents an awakened female worldview that challenges the rules of silence, and these difficulties still exist in the lives of many contemporary women today.
In Emma, we can see the conditions under which a spontaneous feminist can exist, her bravery, her personality, and the difficulties and limitations she faces. She had certain material conditions, unlike other women at that time, she did not need to marry men for money, did not need to change classes by marriage; her father was very weak, and her mother died early, so she gained autonomy very early, and her family acquiesced to her to run the family - which was also uncommon at the time. Although her "awakening" is unconscious and not entirely out of feminism, she is still beyond the times, at the helm of her own destiny, abandoning many male values that were not conducive to women in her time, and is a respectable model woman.
04.
Emma, who is constantly growing up on her own——
Know how to reflect and dare to introspect
The novel is also Emma's history of learning and self-growth. Good origin and social status bring emma experience limitations, because she has not experienced the tribulations of real life, emma is often accused of arrogance, conceit, control, narcissism, and jealousy. For example, Emma doesn't like Jane Fairfax and thinks Jane is too reserved, and CuteMa can't put herself in her shoes as an orphan under a fence, that is, she doesn't have the property at her disposal and doesn't get enough love.
The sober and rational Mr. Knightley always pointed out the problems that Emma had growing up, such as the lack of enough that the tutor could give and Emma's high taste in reading, but did not insist:
Emma has wanted to read more since she was twelve. I've seen her make a lot of lists at different times, saying that she should always look at the books in it, the list is very good, the books in it are carefully selected, the titles are neatly arranged, sometimes alphabetically, sometimes by other rules. She wrote a list when she was fourteen, and I remember thinking it proved that she was judgmental, so I kept it for a while. I dare say she also makes a nice list now. But I don't expect Emma to keep reading. Anything that required diligence and patience, she couldn't do, she was now full of fantasies, it was impossible to settle down to study. Miss Taylor couldn't inspire her before, and I'm sure Harriet Smith can't now either. You can't persuade her, you want her to read the books, she can read half of them is very good. You know you can't control her. （P26～27）”
▲ The inner page of the new book "Emma"
Fortunately, Emma constantly examines her behavior and is a person who knows how to reflect and dares to reflect. People around her were always full of praise for what she did, and she was initially complacent about her piano level, but when she heard Jane Fairfax playing, she immediately realized that her playing and singing were just passing the standard.
"She is inferior in both playing and singing, and she can't help but feel sorry from the bottom of her heart. She was heartily saddened by her childhood laziness and neglect of practice, so she sat down and practiced diligently for an hour and a half. （P175）”
Emma's failure to match Elton and Harriet hurts her friend, and she realizes:
"She was the first to make a mistake, and she was the one who made the most outrageous mistakes. She was so active in matching others that she was so stupid, it was a big mistake. Taking what should be very serious as insignificant, and treating what should be simple as a ruse, is indeed too risky and self-righteous. She was worried and ashamed and decided not to do it again. （P104）”
The appearance of Lady Elton gave Emma an even more vain and narcissistic opponent than she was. Mrs. Elton did have a little bit of posing and talent, but she was extremely arrogant, wishful thinking that her experience would make Hebury feel good. As a bystander, Emma discovers that the people around Mrs. Elton are eager to praise and judgment, and emma is even more shocked by the fact that Jane Fairfax accepts Mrs. Elton's attentive care—and this help is not out of genuine concern, but only to satisfy her own narcissism and sense of superiority. In Mrs. Elton, Emma saw the danger of conceit.
While flirting with Frank at a picnic and insulting Miss Bates, Emma loses Knightley's approval and is met with one of his harshest criticisms:
"How can you be so ruthless to Miss Bates?" How can you use your wits to treat a woman of her character, age and status with such a rudeness? Emma, I didn't expect you to be like this. （P287）”
Emma suddenly woke up in shame that she used to be blind to everything, snubbing others and bringing pain to others, and this time the ridicule really hurt Miss Bates, and she gave birth to compassion in sincere remorse. She gradually realized that everyone has their own ideas, their own way of life, their own strengths and weaknesses.
Introspection is the only way to grow. Emma appears imperfectly, constantly changing herself rather than endlessly whirling in blind conceit, eventually evolving from a self-centered character to a sympathetic and sensitive woman, changing the stubborn side of her personality and completing the growth of the role and the reflection on class.
05.
It's "Emma" and not just "Emma" -
Face to face during the Regency period
The English literary critic Marilyn Butler argued in Jane Austen and the War of Ideas that readers should understand Austen's work from the perspective of all things. We read about the relationships and interactions of the characters in a social context, recreate real life like a history book, and we can also think about what values gave them such behavior and meaning at that time.
Class differences are the most obvious contradictions, but there is also class mobility, but it is believed that the increase in the assets of individuals does not equal the increase in social status.
The Coles "came from humble backgrounds, made a living in business, and had only a slight Sven temperament." （P157）”
As their incomes increased, they became more and more in line with the upper-class families in their lifestyles, expanded their homes, hired more employees, loved to be sociable, and generous. But when they invite Emma, she says she won't go easily, and Austin satirizes the prejudices and snobbery that prevail in high society in a critical manner. Fortunately, the Coles worked tirelessly, not only to be slowly accepted by the nobility, but even to realize that the Coles were better educated and polite than some people of aristocratic origin—the upper class attached great importance to etiquette norms.
The privileged also need to fulfill their social responsibilities, such as Emma will carry a basket with her arm, visit poor families, send some necessities of life, and express the concern of the upper class. For example, Miss Bates revealed in a chat with Emma that Mr. Knightley would send apples to her house every year.
“...... The apples were roasted, and they were all planted by Donville, and some of them were generously given by Mr. Knightley. He gave us a sack of apples every year. （P180）”
Although this behavior is also interpreted by Marxists as a sugar-coated shell of the upper class – it consolidates the existing structure of the social order.
Letters are not only an emotional connection between family members, but also a common property within certain circles, writing to one person is equivalent to writing to everyone, and the host and visitor sitting around reading the letter is a recreational activity. For example, Miss Bates would always give Jane's faith to all her visiting friends, and would also take out the letters for everyone to enjoy the calligraphy. Frank's congratulatory letter to his newlywed stepmother was widely circulated:
"Now it's time for Mr. Frank Churchill to meet them, especially when people know he wrote to his stepmother, and they wish he had come." For days, people visited Highbury every morning, mentioning the generous and decent letter mrs. Weston had received. （P12）”
"In winter, there should be a dance party here every two weeks. （P150）”
▲ In the new book "Emma"
Austin more than once in his novels to describe the prom pomp and character interaction, the prom is the most popular social activity at that time, can show a person's social etiquette and personal charm, the opposite sex can rarely be so intimate contact, so the prom is also a perfect opportunity for young men and women to explore each other and courtship. The balls are public and private, usually organized by the wealthy, invited, and held in private spaces with bands accompanied by bands. Invited guests always dress up and enjoy dancing.
Mrs. Weston suggested not eating regular food for dinner, and only setting up some sandwiches in the small room. Others, however, see it as unseemly. At a private ball, if you don't sit down for dinner, you are depriving the guests of their rights and maliciously cheating. （P192）”
It can be seen that the private ball must provide a dinner that can be sat down to enjoy, which is also an intermission to replenish the energy at the dance.
"Everybody loves to paint portraits, and Miss Woodhouse must have done a very good job. （P33）”
We can also see other entertainment activities, especially portrait painting. Music, singing, riddle riddles, and outdoor trips in horse-drawn carriages were also popular entertainment and social activities at the time. Austen's tasteful depiction of life just complements the personal daily life that has not been carried in the grand narrative, recreating the life interests of people during the regent period and becoming a precious archive.
It is often said that "life is far more wonderful than fiction", but in Austen's novels, realistic scenes, three-dimensional characters, intriguing life and emotions form a living organism, whether it is plot or details are portrayed vividly, digging out unusual meanings in the ordinary.
As time goes by, both the value of Austen's novel and the role it plays in history become more and more apparent and precious. The charm of literature is timeless, Austen's novel is never outdated, her novel carries far more broad and deep information than we think, and the novel can also become a mirror for us to understand survival, human nature, society and ourselves.
If you like it, follow me [cute]
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="153" > people who like this content also like</h1> it
The happiest moments in the ordinary: happiness always happens inadvertently, but it is not discovered
Don't you know what an NFT is? Is crypto art? After reading the bag, I understand!
The Most Controversial Contemporary Artist: Can the Inner Volume of Social "Childishness" Heal Hearts?