Literary Merit

The book I choose was Emma by Jane Austen due to how mainstream Jane Austen has recently become. In the past year two movies have been made around her life and the message her books send. I found the novel enjoyable, but the society the characters live in seems highly unbelievable. I have read other Austen books, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, and society is always a critical theme. Emma embodies the society through her vanity and insistence to be a matchmaker. Although her intentions are admirable at first, her connection to the rest of the world outside of her high society makes her blinds to the wants of others.
The theme of marriage becomes a priority in the actions of the characters. They do not marry because of love, but for successful matches in society. The marriage between those who are not equal suggests hardship for the couple. Once I read this I connected it to speculation that Jane Austen’s only love was a man out of her social class and when the opportunity for them to be together came she declined because she knew their social differences would cause hardship not only in their marriage, but to their families as well.
Although at times Emma’s belief in society is too much to handle, her personality is as a heroine to readers. Her independence and persistent causes much of her conflict with Mr. Knightley when he exposes her flaws. She is admirable in her intentions to help find her friends what she believes is happiness. Their society tells them a strong, well planned marriage is the ultimate goal and that being in high marriage of society the woman gains power and independence which was not typical of women to have in their age.