Blog #20

Blog #20

I would like to begin this blog with the statement that while I do enjoy the book, Emma, I feel that it is composed if a lot of unnecessary fluff. This feeling is supported by the fact that the topic written about in this book is based off of the life of a Victorian-aged community in the country side. The most exciting things going on during this time were such things as "bridge tables" and "dinner parties", granted when one's life revolves around such mundane activities it is reasonable to say that a book written about them wouldn't be very interesting on the surface.

That being said, I have begun to realize that the fundamental form of communication and social construct within this novel is based off if this idea of "visits". It seems as if the entirety of the society is embedded in either the act of "visiting" or talking about who visited who and when and where. I readily accept the claim that this idea seems so novel to me because I unfortunately live in the age when text messages replace love letters and spotify playlists replace midnight serenades by the man of your dreams. Perhaps this is why i am having such a hard time grasping the consequence or severity of some of the issues presented within this novel. It behooves me to think that one person should be forbidden to marry another person because someone does not approve, or that one must have scheduled and chaperoned visits coordinated by an appropriate mutual friend before any sort of marriage proposal can be drawn up. Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to live in the Victorian age. Corsets, dresses, tea, and dashing young men in coattails have been a part of every little girl's dreams since she heard her first fairy-tale.

I have called to attention all of these things for my own personal purpose of discovering if there perhaps is a deeper meaning behind this book. Did Jane Austin write this book with the underlying notion of commentating on the state of the current political party? Are there gender or racial digs hidden underneath the description of Emma's dress? I do not seem to think so based on my reading of the first volume of the book, but in a way i am hoping that there is something more. I would rather this not be a "gossip girl" of the 18th century.