Blog #22

I began reading Emma by Jane Austin with the mental set that this book was going to focus around mundane activities that were commonplace in the regency era. I thought the majority of the book would center on such trivial activities as walks in the garden and taking tea. I was accepting of this because I have always found the regency era to be fascinating, nevertheless I was not necessarily looking forward to reading 400 pages worth of information about it. On one level I was correct about what this novel contained, however on another level I completely underestimated the potential complexity of this novel. The research that we have done in class regarding the different theories about what the novel is truly about have been fascinating to me. Such examples as the entire book being about the repressed sexual feelings of the characters during this time period, or the fact that Mr. Woodhouse is the major villain in the novel, and even that the archetypal ending was not for the sake of the readers but rather to show the never-ending plastic perfection of the micro chasm of society that this book dissects.

Looking back on major passages in the novel I have come to discover evidence here and there supporting each of these “theories” regarding the underlying theme and overall meaning of this novel. For example, in the first volume when Mrs. Bates and Miss Smith were over for dinner Mr. Woodhouse goes on a rant regarding the what his guests should eat and how much. The way in which this scene is worded is very subtly sexual. The description of a “very soft” egg and how Mrs. Bates should “not be afraid” of them. Granted, I came to this conclusion after hearing of this particular lens that the novel may be written in however I do agree that during this time period especially it is a strong possibility.

Another theory that I found particularly interesting and certainly unexpected was that Mr. Woodhouse is the main “blocking” or villainous figure and Mr. Nightly is more the father-figure to Emma. This theory agreed with me the most out of all of them. I found that it was easier to be supported by the novel and by looking back through the novel and the most important scenes a second time I was able to identify with this. It is evident that throughout the novel Mr. Woodhouse is continuously causing trouble and inconvenience to everyone around him. It is as if if Mr. Woodhouse cannot have it then no one can. Since Mr. Woodhouse does not have a wife anymore, he does not support marriage and believe only bad can come from it. Since Mr. Woodhouse cannot enjoy such delicacies as cake, no one else should be able to enjoy it. This pattern reoccurs throughout the novel and what is truly fascinating about it is the fact that Jane Austin gives the reader a glimpse of this side of Mr. Woodhouse in very small and very diluted sections. It is all very subtle which again reflects how, during this time, everything major was shown through some sort of subtle action.