Character and Setting in Emma - Essay Example

?Character and Setting in Emma Jane Austen’s novel Emma was published in December 1815, which explores the concerns and difficulties of a gentle ladyliving in England. Emma Woodhouse was “handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition” (Austen, 1). Nothing delighted her more than snooping into other’s romantic lives. She faced some unexpected consequences when she attempted to arrange suitable matches for her friend Harriet Smith. Harriet Smith on the other hand was of unknown origin, not having any class, good natured but not so clever, impressive, pliable and grateful. Jane Austin’s novel concentrates on human relationship revolving around the main character Emma and the importance of Highbury setting to the characterization of the Heroine. Relationship between Emma and Harriet With the witty and charming heroin Emma, Jane Austen’s work was flawless with exploration of human relationship. The major subject of Jane Austen’s Emma revolves around the natural power of human relationship. Austen in this novel compares the healthy and unhealthy relationship between Emma and Harriet. The relationship between Emma and Harriet was an epitome of unhealthy relationship where the teacher Emma exploited, manipulated and neglected her student Harriet. Emma took Harriet under her wings and wanted to teach how to adjust with her choices of acquaintances. Emma was more concerned about her own desires rather being concerned about what would be best for Harriet. Chapter seven of the novel lays special reinforcement to the relationship between Emma and Harriet Smith. Harriet depend upon the decision and suggestion of Emma whether to marry or reject Robert Martin. Though she had some opinion and decisions of her own but could not go by them since Emma’s opinion was more important. This shows how much important role Emma plays in the life of Harriet. They had friendship but between unequal. When Emma advised her to reject Robert Martin, Harriet was disappointed and said “You think I ought to refuse him, then” (Austen, 44) but did not have the courage to go against Emma’s decision. This clearly reveals that Harriet was totally dependent on Emma’s decision and trusted her blindly. Moreover beside this Emma’s encouragement towards Harriet to marry Mr. Elton developed theme like reason versus thoughts, social responsibility versus selfishness and arrogance. Settings The Novel of Jane Austin, Emma has its setting in a provincial community, which involved the gentry of the region. She chose a small tiny town named Highbury where everybody knew everything about anyone staying over there. This revealed that everyone was aware of the peculiarities and odd habits of each individual in the town. One was unaware of the local’s geography. The closeness of the town Highbury to its estates “Hartfield, Donwell Abbey and Randalls” were clearly revealed in the novel as the fact that London was sixteen miles away. However the description of the physical aspects of the town was not given except that of the Donwell, which was given with a purpose to portray Emma’s reaction. The presence of “Richmond road” can be felt from the description that Harriet met the gypsies on the Richmond Road but no other details were found. The presence of an embankment over where the companions scuttles was also derived from the description. Emma and Mr. Woodhouse’s house was the geographical center around which the whole novel revolved. The drawing room or something equivalent was the primary setting of the novel. The scene of Box Hill or even the shrubbery walk where George proposed Emma was simply an open-air drawing room. The novel mainly concentrated on the social involvement and human relations. It did not give any clear description of the vegetation or terrain or any connection that leads to the description of the geography of the place. Instead the novel had an evident presence of the description of drawing and dining rooms, rooms for dancing and scenes of carriage and equipment of entertainment. Important of the Highbury setting to the characterization of the Heroine Emma Woodhouse was a witty and charming lady of 21 years of age. Emma never followed other’s guidance but only listen to her own. She lived with her father in a gorgeous house that was considered to be the second to Donwell Abbey in size and importance. The social judgment made by Emma was always linked to the standards of her hometown Highbury. Emma was sure that she would be framing the standards of the town since she managed the social calendar of the town. Emma’s determination in teaching her friend Harriet, proper society etiquette showed a very positive image of Emma’s character. This act of her clearly revealed that Emma was confident enough about her abilities to revise the book of Highbury etiquette. Emma did not want to apply the concept of love on her. She was determined that everyone else would fall in love. She thought that if girl has got money, they do not need man. But this changed when Emma fell in love with Mr. Knightley. She became much more respectful. Emma’s love and affection for her family was in the right place. She took care of her father, focusing on each and every minute requirement of her father. She took her father out for walk, finding guest who may accompany her father to dinner and easy his worries and sudden illness but never complained against that. Even she took the decision of not marrying until her father dies (Austen, 15-17). This clearly revealed Emma’s unconditional love towards her family. She even treated her governess Mrs. Weston like her own mother and created a kinship bond with the people whom she loves. Emma demonstrated trust and respect for good friends who never wavers. Emma understood the heart of the people in Highbury society. Emma felt that everybody should fall in love, but her imaginations and thoughts never had a concrete base in reality. She believed that a woman has only certain part to play in the society. The women were not entitled to work. The women could only work if she chooses to become mother or governess. Even she believed that girls were not supposed to inherit any property, it was the male who inherits it. All believes and thoughts that Emma had were due to the influence of the Highbury’s society. Emma did not imagine owning a land. She understood that her rights and power were restricted. If she would have been poor then she would have worked as governess or if she had the power to own land she would have owned the whole of Europe. Since she knews her limitations, so she believed herself to be a matchmaker. Though there was no Social club in Highbury but Emma imagined herself to be the part of the social club. She organized the dinner for her father whenever her father called guest for the parties. Emma ensures that all the guests were fed properly and no one was returning hungry. Whenever Mr. Westson plans for a ball, it’s again Emma who decided the venue and plans everything to organize the ball. Emma was regarded to be the queen of Social Scene. Highbury was not a very big social center, but Emma always knew who is doing what in the city. She always used to judge every people on her society scale. She was the society queen so she felt that it was her duty to make everyone aware of their stand on the social scale. This she used to do, not because to avoid their parties but to have a say for turning them down. Thus it can be concluded that though Emma might be unsuccessful, snotty or a worthless friend but still people cannot stop liking her and that what makes her to be the eponymous heroine of Austen’s novel. Reference Austen, Jane. Emma: A Novel. R. Bentley, 1841 Read More