Jane Austen's Emma Research Paper

Jane Austen’s Emma tells the story of Emma Woodhouse, an extremely wealthy twenty year old, who prides herself in being an excellent matchmaker. Austen is known for writing courtship novels and Emma is no exception. One of the major themes of the novel is marriage. The opening scene of the novel even takes place immediately after a wedding. Even though marriage is a central theme to the novel, the heroine refuses to marry. Despite her declaration that she will not marry, Emma does end up marrying, which many critics feel is an unsuitable ending for her. Emma marries Mr. Knightley, who is seventeen years her senior and has primarily been an authority figure in her life. In many ways, Mr. Knightley has been more of a father to her, than her own

She possesses “a most affectionate, indulgent father, and had . . . been mistress of his house from a very early period” (5) The use of words like “affectionate” and “indulgent,” imply that Emma’s father spoiled her. He never told her “no” and therefore she did as she pleased. Rather than assuming the leading role in the house, Mr. Woodhouse often looks to Emma as the mistress of Hatfield. She has the privilege of making her and her father’s decisions. The parental-child relationship is reversed between Emma and Mr. Woodhouse, with Emma often seeming like the parent. Though much older than his daughter, Mr. Woodhouse: “could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful” (7). Emma is more mature than her own father, who is supposed to serve as a role model and teacher for her. Mr. Woodhouse is inferior to Emma and therefore cannot be the authority figure, that a parent is expected to

Emma’s governess, Miss Taylor, also failed to be an authoritative figure in Emma’s life. Miss Taylor acted more as Emma’s close confidante and best friend, rather than her teacher. “The mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked” (5). Similarly to Mr. Woodhouse, Miss Taylor allowed Emma to do whatever she liked. Both Mr. Woodhouse and Miss Taylor were inferior to Emma. During a discussion with Miss Taylor, Mr. Knightley even says, “You are better placed here, very fit for a wife, but not at all for a governess…You might not have given Emma such a complete education as you powers would seem to promise, but you received a very good education from her…” (30). Miss Taylor was as unfit a governess, as Mr. Woodhouse was a father. They learned from and listened to Emma, when she was supposed to be the student and listener. Clearly, Emma has had more authority than her authority