INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION
Emma Woodhouse is easy to dislike and hard to forgive.
Whether it’s her manipulation of Harriet Smith, her false accusations of
Jane Fairfax, or her aggressive attack of Miss Bates, Emma appears to be less a
heroine than a villain. But Austen
makes it clear that Emma is a character worth rooting for despite all of her
mistakes and missteps. Tony Tanner,
author of “The Match-Maker,” writes of Emma, “Her occupation is principally
concerned with tending a father who is the negative of a proper father, and
tending her fantasies, which, because she is so curiously lonely (Highbury and
Hartfield ‘afforded her no equals’), encounter more collusions than obstacles”
(Tanner 414). As Tanner displays in
this passage, Austen excuses Emma from her mischief.
First, Emma was raised with less than adequate guidance, and frankly her
high status did little in the way of teaching her discipline.
Second, discipline does find Emma, although a bit later in life, in the
form of Mr. Knightly, who’s wise and honest critiques of Emma speak for the
audience. Finally, combined with
her poor upbringing and the voice of Mr. Knightly, Austen shows Emma’s
acknowledgment of and remorse for her mistakes.
In short, Jane Austen’s Emma provides a heroine full of ignorance,
arrogance, and jealousy, but when push comes to shove Emma Woodhouse deserves
forgiveness and a chance for redemption.
Emma is able to consistently make mistakes without eliciting permanent scorn.
The door to forgiveness is always left open.
Emma displays ignorance and manipulation as she forces herself between
Harriet Smith and Mr. Martin, but Austen makes clear her good intentions.
Emma displays arrogance and jealousy as she slanders Jane Fairfax, but
Austen allows Emma to ride on the coattails of Frank Churchill subverting some
of the blame. Emma displays malice
and aggression as she needlessly ridicules Miss Bates, but Austen shows Emma’s
remorse and acceptance of her mistake.
Austen makes it clear that forgiveness is always possible, and with the
guidance of Mr. Knightly Emma can finally follow the path of true redemption.