A Book Review on Emma
by Fancy
I’m a great fan of Jane Austen, and I finished Emma recently.Austen is a genius writer, what a pity that Emma should be her last book in her life.The novel portrays a typical middle-cla British young girl named Emma, who declares that she will never marry but has a great paion for fixing up others.As a bad matchmaker, Emma finds her friend Harriet may fancy Mr.Knightley who has been her closest friend for more than a decade, but she realizes in a flash that she has long been in love with Mr.Knightley.Of course the novel has a happy ending with two suitable marriages.
Not like the other novels, the heroine Emma is not a kind of girl who has the best manners or a perfect personality.Actually, Austen herself said, \"I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself, will much like.\" And I think, Emma maybe not tender enough and even a bit of self-willed, but she can reflect on herself and change into a more rational woman after Mr.Knightley points out her mistakes.That makes the story more realistic and convincing.
Emma’s change is not so obvious but readers can feel it.It implies the society of the 19th century is changing too.
The first change is about Emma’s strong sense of cla.Emma makes friends with Harriet who is a bastard and tries to improve her position and arrange a better marriage.Emma persuades her to refusing farmer Robert Martin at first, but they are wed and the wiser Emma supports the couple ultimately.It is a snobbery society where money and position mean everything.Luckily, changes are on the way.
The second change is Emma’s attitudes towards people.Emma may be a spoiled girl as well as her father who “was fond of society in his own way.”[p12] She doesn’t like Jane who might be more educated and elegant than her.What’s more, she looks down upon the poor while flattering the rich on the public places.As a matter of fact, it’s a common phenomenon at that time.However, Emma and Jane become good friends finally.To the poor, she opens her heart and treats them much more like neighbors.Isn’t it an exciting signal of the equality of human nature?
I love the characters Austen created and quite admire her.Comparing with Pride and Prejudice the novel is much more realistic and the writing style is more mature.However, Emma can’t be perfect.Some readers criticize it for lacking of story and Romance.After all, there are a hundred Hamlets in a hundred people’s eyes.But, itreally worth a reading and help us reflect on ourselves and the society.
