Final Thoughts on Emma After the Seminars

This week, we had two seminars on the novel Emma, and we discussed several important thematic concepts regarding the novel and the characters in it. Several interesting topics we covered include human fallibility, the role of society, Mr. Woodhouse as a villain and Mr. Knightley as a hero, and the conclusion of Emma. There were a lot of points that people made that were interesting regarding Emma’s character and her role in society during that time (Regency era). One important question I am considering is whether society influences Emma for the better or for the worst, because I think that is one of the key themes in this novel that unlocks a lot of Austen’s purpose.

Another question relative to the story is does Emma successfully learn from her mistakes and improve herself as an individual with the help of Mr. Knightley, or does she simply learn to tame her imagination with his restraint of logic?

I still have many more questions about the novel, like why Austen decides to end the novel on such a bittersweet note. I want to feel happy for Emma, but at the same time, I’m not sure if marriage is ultimately the best decision for her. Is Mr. Knightley indeed the perfect match? Or will he replace Mr. Woodhouse as Emma’s new prominent “father figure”? Will Emma’s relationship with Mr. Woodhouse—her not-so-manly father—change after her marriage with Knightley? Also, what is Austen’s purpose in including Mrs. Elton’s opinion of Emma’s wedding at the end? Is this all part of Austen’s satire? In the article I read for class, “Emma: Jane Austen’s Errant Heroine” it mentions Emma as an independent woman whose pride does not diminish at the end, despite her marriage to Mr. Knightley. Is this true? Does Emma still remain emotionally independent after marrying Mr. Knightley?

In addition, I find it very interesting that Mr. Woodhouse is often perceived as an evil character; one who controls and manipulates Emma. While reading the novel, I was completely oblivious to the fact that Mr. Woodhouse’s influence could be perceived as selfish and slightly cruel. Instead, I attributed his egocentricism to his high social status and position. So it is really an environment vs. personal disposition type of situation. However, after the seminar, I now see that Mr. Woodhouse isn’t as minor of a character as I thought he was. He is actually quite devious in a subtle way, but I still thing Emma’s is her own biggest enemy/obstacle. I believe Emma has to overcome her attachment to her fantasies and her tendency to resist society’s influence in order to grow and develop into a mature young woman. I think that is why Austen ties up all the loose ends of the novel. The story comes full circle in the end. In the beginning, everything was quite orderly, undisturbed, and blissful in the small town of Highbury, but then, things start to get chaotic as Emma begins to meddle in the business of others. The bulk of the novel consists of commotions, misunderstandings, and mixed emotions that emerge in many of the characters. It is not until the end, when Emma resolves to conform to society’s values by marrying Mr. Knightley that everything returns to normal. After all the matches in the novel get paired off, a calm, happy, and hopeful feeling settles over everyone at Highbury. I think it is very interesting that Austen depicts society in this sense, because I think one of Austen's points is that we are all susceptible to our own mistakes, and that we must be open to change or else we can never grow for the better.