Falling in Love with the Least Expected

Falling in Love with the Least Expected

~Blog Post #5~

Topic H

May 15, 2015

Mary Kate Mooney

            The honest and critical relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley is very similar to the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. In each novel, the characters have a sibling-like, argumentative relationship, where they do not have much regard for the feelings of the other. Mr. Knightley does not hold back when he is criticizing Emma and "[is] one of the few people who [can] see faults in [her]" (Austen 6). Emma also does not hesitate to speak her mind regarding Mr. Knightey. As a reader, I would think they were brother and sister the way they go back and forth commenting about the other. Mr. Knightley seems to see Emma as young and immature, and he feels the need to criticize her and teach her right from wrong, especially when it comes to matchmaking. Benedick and Beatrice have a very similar relationship. They are constantly arguing about pointless matters and commenting witty remarks. They do not hesitate to point out flaws and make fun of one another. In addition, both Emma and Beatrice are against the idea of love and marriage. They both believe they will remain single forever, and they accept it. However, in the end, they both fall in love with the man you'd least expect. Emma realizes her love for Mr. Knightley and Beatrice confesses her love to Benedick. Both create a major twist in the plot and surprise the reader. It made me think that maybe it's the person who recognizes your flaws and accepts them that can love you the most. 

Emma's Evolution ~Blog post #5~

Emma's Evolution

~Blog post #5~

Topic B

May 14, 2015

By Emily Edicola

From the beginning to the end of the novel, it is evident that there is a major change in Emma. An example of the growth her character depicts is when she transforms from an ignorant matchmaker to a caring, cautious bystander. In the beginning, she states that she was "introducing her to good company" when trying set up Harriet and Mr. Elton (129). Emma's does a bit of meddling to get them together because she believes that what she's doing is the best choice for everyone involved. Though her intentions are good, Emma oversteps because of her ignorance towards the ways Mr. Elton has tried to show his true feelings. Once Emma realizes his true feelings are for her and not Harriet, she finally starts to see that it was "foolish" and "wrong" to be so involved in setting them up (128).  This is the first time that Emma is beginning to recognize that getting so involved in other peoples' business is not the best choice. She even comes to the eventual conclusion that she will "do such things no longer" (128). As the novel progresses on, Emma is faced with deciding her feelings for Frank Churchill. Emma begins analyzing a statement he made about Harriet and thinks for a second about matching them together. Instead of immediately making up her mind, she thinks through her decision and is reminded of what happened with Mr. Elton. She decides to "not dwell upon it" because she understands the effects of "indulging such speculation" (250). It's significant to note that Emma turns away the opportunity to go back to her old ways and to what may seem comforting to her because she is now taking her past experiences into account. She is viewing the world around her for what it really is, instead of seeing what she wants to and trying to make "everything bend to it" as she had before (126).

~Blog post #5~ The Crown Inn

The Crown Inn

~Blog post #5~

Topic F

May 14, 2015

By: Natalie Lindquist

            The passage describing Frank’s pause at the Crown Inn seems to have a deeper significance than just a rest stop. The Crown Inn was considered “an in considerable house, though the principal of the sort, where a couple of pair of post-horses were kept” and was very intriguing to Frank (186). Frank appears to have a connection with this place because “he was immediately interested” and “he saw no fault in the room” (186). This room seems to be very significant to Frank and also appears to be more than just a room. Possibly this was a place that his father and mother used to come so maybe he feels the presence of her while he’s there. The reasoning for this is “he would acknowledge none which they suggested” because “it was long enough, broad enough, handsome enough” and “it would hold the very number for comfort” (186). The way this passage describes this place is in almost in too much detail for just being a place to look at. Frank “seemed to have all the life and spirit, cheerful feelings, and social inclinations of his father, and nothing of pride or reserve of Enscombe” which seems to have been brought out of him when he arrived at the Crown Inn (187). I think that this place is described in such great detail because it has a greater significance to not only Frank but to the other main characters as well. I predict that some sort of big event, like a wedding, will happen here, maybe with Frank and Jane, to honor this place and how it is significant in the bigger picture. 

Surprise Significance Topic F

One passage that had a lot of imagery was the one that described the party the Cole’s had that Emma at first didn’t want to go. Because she had no interest, I figured the event wouldn’t play a large role in the plot but I was wrong. Right when the characters arrived at the party the story line seemed to hesitate, and Jane Austen really made it a point to go all out in describing the setting and scene. She described things like the “fortune and style of living,” “the number of servants,” and things as insignificant as “their new dining room” (Austen, 195). I think the only reason she would spend so much time on one particular setting is because she is foreshadowing something else that might proceed to happen in the near future. We discussed this in our group discussion and we all came to agree that the Cole’s home must be significant for the characters in some way. My prediction is that maybe a secret love that one of the characters has been hiding will finally be revealed either at the party or the next time they’re at the Cole’s (if they go again.) I guess we’ll find out shortly!

Remarkable Realizations

Remarkable Realizations

~Blog post #4~

Topic A 

May 8, 2015

by Emily Edicola

A quote that I found that truly shows Emma's growth during the book is when Emma realizes Mr. Elton's feelings are for her and not Harriet. She states, "It was foolish, it was wrong, to take so active a part in bringing two people together" (128). This quote shows a significant development in Emma's character. She was so ignorant the entire time she's trying to set up Harriet and Mr. Elton and now she is seeing things as they are. She knows that it was not a good idea to play matchmaker with the two of them and even admits she had "taken up the idea" and "made everything bend to it" (126). She saw the hints that Mr. Elton tried dropping but instead of seeing the truth, she saw what she wanted to see and made Harriet believe it as well. It is apparent that she truly does feel remorse for what she has done when she promises to "do such things no more" (128). Even though her intentions were good, the way she went about trying to get them together was wrong. I think that Emma has learned from this situation how tricky and hurtful it can be to play with others feelings, as well as to try and see things for what they really are. 

Mirrored Personalities, Topic I, 5/7/15

As I am reading this novel, I noticed a couple things about Emma that remind me of myself. Although I very much dislike her character, I can’t help but realize that some aspects of her personality are similar to mine. For example, I find that Emma seems to be in a dream, or in her own little world where she sees things how she wants to see them and beats to her own drum. She thinks she can handle life by herself, and seems to live in this unrealistic version of her own reality. I, myself, kind of do this. I just float on in the real world, while my mind is constantly in some other land dreaming or zoning out. I also think I can handle other people and big tasks alone, but the reality is, like Emma, I’m not always as independent as I like to think I am. Emma “has too much of her own way” as the narrator describes, proving that she basically does live in a warped reality (Austen, 8). In the real world no one gets everything they want. She seems to get bored easily, a lot like myself, and is always looking for a new project or thing to work on. Mr. Knightley even says “she will never submit to anything requiring industry and patience,” as she is to indecisive (Austen, 37). Emma thinks it is her job to “arrange everyone’s destiny” and “improve” people, looking at them as tasks to get done (Austen, 387 and 24). I also waste a lot of my time worrying about other people and trying to keep myself occupied, so having come to these conclusions, I must admit I am sort of similar to Emma even if I may not like her. 

Complicated Relationships

Complicated Relationships

~Blog post #4~

Topic E

May 7, 2015

By: Natalie Lindquist

            An important scene is the setting of the party and the events that occur after the party in chapter 14-15. The significance of the setting is how the party goes from high spirits and everyone enjoying themselves to becoming awkward. The scene following the end of the Christmas Eve party begins with Mr. Elton acting concerned more about Emma than Harriet, which takes Emma off guard. Then they find each other alone in the carriage and Mr. Elton professes his love to Emma and immediately proposes. Emma could not believe that “Mr. Elton, the lover of Harriet, was professing himself her lover” (122). This is significant because Emma has been trying to set up Harriet with Mr. Elton due to the fact she did not approve of Harriet’s attraction to Mr. Martin. So, setting her up with Mr. Elton would almost suffice as way to get her mind off of him and forget that Emma is the reason they cannot be together. But this scene is a turning point in which she learns that Mr. Elton has strong feelings for Emma, not Harriet. Emma thought that this whole period of time when she was matchmaking them that Mr. Elton was attracted to Harriet but instead the tables have turned and Emma is the one he loves. Emma tried to believe that he was just drunk and unaware of what he was saying by “trying to stop him; but vainly, he would go on, and say it all” (122). This is a very significant scene and setting because Emma was trying to match make Mr. Elton and Harriet but when she learns of Mr. Elton’s burning love for her she must find a new plan to set up Harriet.