Literary Analysis Essay on Emma by Jane Austen

Introduction

Emma is a novel by Jane Austen and was published in 1812. The story is set in Highbury, England, during the 9th century and presents an intelligent woman who misplaced confidence in a matching abilities and romantic misadventures. Austen concentrates on gender roles and female power as a representation of different types of marriages. Austen uses three main marriages involving Emma and Mr. Knightly, Harriet Smith, and Mr. Martin. Austen is very creative as she uniquely uses Emma's wedding to bring social and economic equality within society. The novel revolves around to answer the questions, who benefits either socially or economically in the marriage, as shown by Austen's heroines.

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Gender roles became an issue of concern in Great Britain in the nineteenth century. Women seem to be left behind as men dominated the public sphere. Austen employs comedy of manners to show classes of feminism and how women could be empowered (Perry 186). The comic is used to display some behaviors of fashion and mainly set of classes. Austen presents wonderful characters who correctly give the themes of classism and gender roles well during the nineteenth-century era. Gender roles are deeply rooted in the set of customary and legal constraints (Perry 186). It is false for the society that believes women are less intellectually and physically capable than men. Feminism is much concerned with women's achievement of equality to personal actions, choices, and interactions.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, women were considered passionate creatures because most of their actions were highly criticized in society (Perry 187). The leading three roles allowed to him were being single, married, or windowed. Marriage is a natural state according to the then society as women were expected to raise children and take care of them. Women were also supposed to take responsibility for their husbands. Marriage would dedicate the roles of women to serving the community, preserving the husband and upbringing of their children. Gender roles played essential roles

At the place of the novel set, Emma has the freedom to do whatever she thought was right. She knew very well that she would never marry, nor will she want money unless she wished to. The novel compares her independence with the freedom of Jane Fairfax (Perry 190). Fairfax has no choice but to marry, although she thinks life is putting her on the slave trade. This is the development of action that Mr. Weston as Miss Taylor resigned from. Their nature of acting does not fault these characters. Emma describes Miss Taylor as a friend with intelligence, who is well informed, gentle, and much useful to her. Jane is well educated and has accomplished her remarkable elegance. Without the first determination of finances, Miss Taylor and Jane do not see the marketable value for marriage (Perry 195). The men around them determine the two women's benefits. Jane eventually lives with Frank Churchill, which now reminds her of the embarrassment she got with the gift of a piano.

It was a sign of Jane's dependence on Frank and generally showed how women depend on men for materials. However, she is not comfortable with her engagement with Churchill, although she is forced to bear with it. Her aunt disapproved of her as said Jane had a lower status, which causes sleepless nights because she can't be involved frankly with Frank. She does not a freedom to reject or break her engagement with Frank since she thinks it is the way she could be secure with her prosperous future. Jane has no value for her life as she is accorded to men. Austen uses Emma to bring the aspect of jealousy and superiority over Jane.

Women are considered incapable of advancing this society outside marriage. Emma's goal was to arrange a beneficial match for Harriet. Everyone thinks Mr. Weston does an excellent service by marrying portion less Miss Taylor. Taylor was unable to secure a comfortable provision, and she wanted to marry another man because she thinks Weston would not be able to provide for her. It was a way of the novel highlighted the impact of low social status and no financial independence for men. Women are unable to sustain themselves without men even if they were employed. The lifestyle of their fellow women influences the way they live.

As stated by Austen, men are favored in the workplace as women are only doing prostitute with all other jobs given to men, which were a case of criticism in the novel. On the other hand, men are also affected by low social status as they are also treated differently by women. Austen also shows how much men have subtitled to criticism of gender differences regardless of the class they are in (Brown 335). Austen compares the positions of women and men working in society. The novel further notes that it does not matter the social status for men; a women will always be ranked below.

To begin with, Robert Martin and his slight lover represented a lower class for men. Martin goes to Knightley to seek advice, which was the most behavior for men in society. Martin was a poor farmer, and he is confident and also able to provide for his potential wife. Robert wanted to prove a point for Mr. Knightley for financial security. Although Miss Taylor is working to be self-sufficient, she does not have the means to settle down even after working for sixteen years. Even though Martin is younger, he has acquired the ways to provide for not only his potential wife, but also his sisters and mother (Brown 328). Martin is kind-hearted and hardworking as he is decided to marry after making sure he has provided for his family.

For low status for mean was also represented by Mr. Elton. His lower status is compared with that of Emma. However, this does deter him from pursuing her. Mr. Elton believes Emma is sending him encouragement, unlike Martin, who does not also consider their social class even though Emma has not thought of him as a suitor (Jane, 2015). Harriet is willing to marry Elton as she even proposes to him. Austen notes that also though Elton was much praised for his appearance, he does not appear particularly wealthy, he was eager to find a wealthy bride.

Just like Elton, Jane had good looks and personality, although her choices were very different. Jane had a good quality and was a potential wife. Austen compares gender roles concerning peoples' class within society. Women are denied choices and opportunities, not as men, even when they are readily available (Jane, 2015). Social status was determined by a combination of family background as well as wealth. In this context, women are denied the chances of improving their situation with their hard work. Marriage is, above all, oneself strife as all these families are connected to wealth, inequality within the relationship.

The marriage relationship between different characters creates a hardship relationship between marriage and social status. Emma has none of the usual inducements of women to marry, and she believes married women are half as mistresses of their husband's house (Jane, 2015). Before this moment, Emma wants nothing because she believes marriage would not bring change to her. Emma is determined to maintain her position of independence, and she is very close with her father, whom she values so much because he contributes to her decision making. Unmarried status for Miss Bates forces her to accept increasing poverty without a husband taking care of him.

Mr. Woodhouse appeared dependent on his relationship as he has ultimate control over Emma. The novel is full of gender politics of marriage and disapprovals for the wedding. For instance, the story refers to the 'poor Miss Taylor". Emma, for the first, releases her feelings for Mr. Knightley when she was thinking about the silly things and break off one's family circle grievously (Jane, 2015). She first thought about her father and the relationship between Hartsfield and Donwell. Mr. Woodhouse feels Emma's determination is a real obstacle for his marriage plot (Brown 330). Emma's relationship with her father highlights male dominance, as well as the roles played by parents.

The novel is full of passionate interactions between couples showing the roles played by different genders. Arguments and disagreements are also present; Emma is not afraid to challenge Mr. Knightley. Knightley believes gender is what makes him wiser than Emma the time he reprimand her (Jane, 2015). As a matter of surprise, Emma allows Knightley to direct his opinions and thoughts to her. Emma does not realize Miss Bates's cruelty, and therefore she is hurt by the words from Miss Bates.

In the novel, Emma does not seemingly embrace the construction of characters because Jane and Emma are comparable in some aspects, specifically on their choices. Martin and Elton are exposed to some opportunities despite being ranked with low status within the society. Emma shows how men have dominated, although she feels she can outdo in her marriage. Her supernatural choices demonstrate the criticism of mistreatment among women and particularly in support of protofeminism.

Austen uses Emma to represent the strong, single, and independent woman who is struggling with social, economic pressure while on her marriage. She fulfills the feminism dream as she explores various roles of the main character (Brown 331). Emma was delighted by her intimate affair with Mr. Knightley, who had accurate assessment knowledge from her interference. Mr. Knightley was angered by the fact that Emma had done to two individuals.

Emma feels that Harriet has the right to choose want she wants. Her advice Harriet to refuse a farmer as she pointed out that she needed a good temper. Knightley feels Emma is destroying her friend's character and prospects (Brown 333). Both Emma and Knightley are stubborn because they hold that they are right by intervening Harriet's ambitions for her man of choice. In other parts of the novel, specifically in chapter twenty, Emma is seen to have a sense of heart where she sacrifices her enjoyment for the sake of others. She corrects herself as taught by Mr. Knightley on how to possess a developing impulse of self-correction.

In chapter twenty, Miss Bate is considered as the masterpiece of comedy. She imagines spinning together romance and perceiving the world through her fancy. She manufactures and hides her story of love for a while, which proved her innocence for men. Emma is biased by her vanity and imagination (Brown, 335). Emma attempts to evaluate Jane, although she was very biased with the fact that it was her fault to reserve others. In the end, Emma reveals her weak will of inequality as she remains subservient.

Jane is very dependent on good grace, just like an orphan, which shows if her friend's father had not taken her, she would have remained the same for life. However, she is very hardworking because she grabs the chance and gains many talents when she was taken to school. Through hard work, education opens her to opportunities for employment, which helps her cater to some of her financial issues. She then becomes socially accepted by society. Finally, she reveals her responsibility for her guardians' charity, especially by giving to the community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I feel the novel has successfully explored various gender roles through the generation of the characters employed. For instance, Jane's character is used to represent oppressive dominance within society. Her marriage is a test of delight in fantasy and freedom; Austen uses this character in sympathy to exploit the uniqueness of feminism in the community. In the entire novel, the marriage between Emma and Mr. Knightley was the most problematic union where the feminist provides a powerful political critique in the face of her marriage.

The novel is full of passionate interactions between...