Close Reading Of Emma

Close Reading and Context #2: Emma

In chapter ten of Jane Austen’s Emma, we encounter [Emma] speaking to [Harriet]. [Emma] expresses that [she does not see the point of marriage because she already has the benefits from being single.] More exactly she says the following: [“Never mind, Harriet, I shall not be a poor maid; and it is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be ridiculous, disagreeable old maid! The proper sport of boys and girls, but a single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else”]. This passage makes it clear that [Emma is arrogant and would rather live the single life even though she is doubting

Ironically Emma tries to match make Harriet with a man even though Emma does not see anything in marriage. She tries to set her up with Mr. Elton which as the reader seeing Emma is completely lost in what she wants and what is expected. The plot consists of Emma constantly deceiving herself, when the real enemy is herself. She does not express her feelings and oddly misses out on gestures from other people. The look sets the tone of irony and sympathy of what goes on in Emma’s life. The themes: the importance of marriage, the rank of social class, and the obstacles of expression draw into why this excerpt becomes important to the book. The excerpt foreshadows Emma because she banters to Harriet that she does not want to be as pathetic as Mrs. Bates, even though she describes it as her future. It makes the reader feel sympathetic for Mrs. Bates situation. Emma cares about her independence and she sees marriage as having to rely on somebody else. She feels that marriage takes away the confidence of standing alone as a woman and thinking for herself. Feminism is a big part of Emma’s character because many of the women in during this time period are raised on traditional views of marriage