The Power of Emma Woodhouse
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- Date Submitted: 04/14/2012 07:31 AM
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The Power of Emma Woodhouse
Emma has been described as a classic feminist novel. Even though Emma was written before any true women’s right movements had taken place, Emma Woodhouse takes on many masculine characteristics and has much more power than many other young women in the late 18th century. Readers see the luxuries that Emma Woodhouse has, and Emma is fully aware that she answers to no one. She is fortunate enough to not have to worry about primogeniture or an entailment because there are no close male relatives. Because Emma has a high opinion of herself, and because she does not have any socioeconomic reason to get married, she is not a stereotypical Austen heroine.
Emma’s privileged attitude starts at a young age with a father that never denies her anything and a governess that is only a few years older, neither of which give good discipline if any at all. The only person who redirects her in any meaningful way is George Knightley, her brother-in-law, father figure, and eventually love interest.
Emma and Mr. Knightley’s constant disagreements show that Emma can stand her ground to a socially high ranking male, and in several cases plays Devil’s Advocate. One argument in particular, after Emma discourages Harriet from accepting Mr. Martin’s proposal and Mr. Knightley encourages it, Emma “… still thought herself a better judge of such a point of female right and refinement than he could be…” (48). Even though Emma is a woman and sixteen years Knightley’s junior, she argues with him in a very masculine way, without any regret or submissiveness and believes herself to be right without a doubt.
Emma defies social expectations because she has no desire, or need, to get married. Emma tells Harriet that she has never experienced love, but it would be a different story if she were to fall in love. Emma says “… few married women are half as much mistress of their husband’s house as I am of Hartfield; and never, never could I expect to be so truly beloved...
Emma has been described as a classic feminist novel. Even though Emma was written before any true women’s right movements had taken place, Emma Woodhouse takes on many masculine characteristics and has much more power than many other young women in the late 18th century. Readers see the luxuries that Emma Woodhouse has, and Emma is fully aware that she answers to no one. She is fortunate enough to not have to worry about primogeniture or an entailment because there are no close male relatives. Because Emma has a high opinion of herself, and because she does not have any socioeconomic reason to get married, she is not a stereotypical Austen heroine.
Emma’s privileged attitude starts at a young age with a father that never denies her anything and a governess that is only a few years older, neither of which give good discipline if any at all. The only person who redirects her in any meaningful way is George Knightley, her brother-in-law, father figure, and eventually love interest.
Emma and Mr. Knightley’s constant disagreements show that Emma can stand her ground to a socially high ranking male, and in several cases plays Devil’s Advocate. One argument in particular, after Emma discourages Harriet from accepting Mr. Martin’s proposal and Mr. Knightley encourages it, Emma “… still thought herself a better judge of such a point of female right and refinement than he could be…” (48). Even though Emma is a woman and sixteen years Knightley’s junior, she argues with him in a very masculine way, without any regret or submissiveness and believes herself to be right without a doubt.
Emma defies social expectations because she has no desire, or need, to get married. Emma tells Harriet that she has never experienced love, but it would be a different story if she were to fall in love. Emma says “… few married women are half as much mistress of their husband’s house as I am of Hartfield; and never, never could I expect to be so truly beloved...