Emma: week 3

[charlatti]

VII, chapters 1-9, in which we meet Frank Churchill, at last, and Jane Fairfax, who receives a mysterious piano.

How's the reading going? Does Jane deserve Emma's dislike? Does Frank deserve her esteem?

The one thing that struck me in this section was how Emma expected Harriet to be completely over Mr. Elton and got annoyed when Harriet wasn't. Emma acknowledges it at some point, something about how she had talked Harriet into love and now had to talk her out of it, but she still seems to have no patience with it. Is it just because she's embarrassed she was wrong?

[aurora]

Emma's attitude toward Harriet here bothered me, too. I read it as immaturity and self-centeredness, to be honest. As for Jane Fairfax, I think Emma sees her as competition (again along the immaturity lines). She likes to be the center of attention.

From this post, it sounds like I don't have much respect for Emma, but I really do like her character. I think she just acts a lot like an immature, spoiled 20-year-old who hasn't really had to work for anything in her life. I think there's a good heart underneath those negative qualities.

[rootbeerfloat]

I agree that Emma sees Jane as competition. Also, Emma is used to everyone adoring her, and Jane makes no such effort.

And I think Emma's treatment of Harriet speaks more to her not really seeing Harriet as a person, but just a way to occupy her time. Once she's moved on to not matchmacking Harriet with Elton, she assumes Harriet will move on also because it's all about Emma.

[briedrew]

I think there's a lot in this section that highlights Emma's immaturity. I felt bad for Harriet, she's probably confused and hurt and not really sure why she's either of those things. But I do think it's just immaturity on Emma's part and nothing vindictive or cruel.

[marytini]

For some reason I think I was confused when Jane was first introduced. I seemed to think that Emma had no ill thoughts towards her, but then saw that she didn't think very highly of her. Perhaps jealousy.
I agree with aurora about Emma acting like a 20yr old...can't really fault her for that.
I have thoughts about Frank, but they are more of an overall opinion after finishing the book, so I'll save them for now.

[lemondrop]

I'm behind, but I'll comment on what I've read.

I absolutely think Emma is immature. She's 20 in the 1800s. That's the equivalent of 40 in 2012. (OK, maybe an exageration, but I've made my point. LOL) I thought her interest in hooking Harriet up was generosity or maybe just her "duty" as the woman of the house, but I now think that other people, particularly those lower in class than she, are her playthings. So when Harriet doesn't immediately move on, she's quite bothered by it.

I think her dislike of Jane is that she's "competition" but also that she lives a charmed life for an orphan. I see Emma as believing Jane doesn't deserve a nice life.

[hopecounts]

Yes I agree Emma's immaturity is highlighted in this section.
I think she's closer to a 20 yr old now a days then the average girl of the time.
She's chosen to live as her father's spinster daughter rather than marry as most girls her age would have. And to some extent that requires a certain amount of immaturity either by nature or in terms of how she's treated. It would only encourage her natural immaturity.
None of that excuses her behavior but I think expecting her to act as more mature simply because of when she lived is inaccurate due to her circumstances.