Downplaying Emma's virtues?

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Downplaying Emma's virtues? Written by Ramya (1/31/2011 9:03 a.m.) in consequence of the missive, Not sure I buy that -- what evidence do we have of a, penned by AnnetteJ

At this point in the novel, the narrator has intentionally enlarged Emma's faults, but her virtues are apparent too. Three of the things you mentioned do show that Emma has a good heart. In the very first chapter, we see Emma making a generous effort to keep up her father's spirits even when she is upset herself. I think it is no mean feat to be a patient daughter to poor Mr. Woodhouse- he would drive me up the wall, personally! In Chapter 12, we don't see Isabella showing the same generous understanding towards her father.

Her love and affection towards her governess speaks highly of both Emma and Mrs. Weston. With her snobbish attitude, one would think Emma would treat Miss Taylor as a subordinate, life-long companion or not. We don't hear of the Governess treated with such affection at Mansfield Park. The only person who thinks of her governess with any gratitude is Fanny. (MP 16)

I think Emma's visits to the poor are commendable too. She doesn't do charity from a distance. She actually visits them and the distresses of the poor were as sure of relief from her personal attention and kindness, her counsel and her patience, as from her purse. Ch. 11. We don't hear of Elizabeth Bennet making such personal visits to the poor. Anne Elliot (my favorite Austen heroine) makes personal farewell visits to all the people in the parish before leaving Kellynch and visits her friend Miss Smith who has come under reduced circumstances (P 5, 17), but all Marianne does is say farewll to the trees of Norland. (S&S, 5) ;-)

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The Martins (longish) Nina RG (1/27/2011 2:55 p.m.)

The Martins and Emma Bridget D (1/28/2011 7:07 a.m.)
- I agree Nina RG (1/28/2011 8:46 a.m.)
  - Harriett and the Martins Bridget D (1/29/2011 2:43 a.m.)
    - Worser and Worser BarbaraB (1/29/2011 10:38 a.m.)
      - I agree as well! (:D) nfm Robbin (1/30/2011 3:34 p.m.)
      - I Agree Patricia AA (1/29/2011 11:58 a.m.)
      - Emma's treatment...   Reeba (1/29/2011 11:06 a.m.)
        
        Emma and Robert   Bridget D (1/29/2011 3:32 p.m.)
        
        I'll Just Say This...   BarbaraB (1/29/2011 5:49 p.m.)
        
        Emma's opinion of the Martins   Patricia AA (1/30/2011 9:17 a.m.)
        
        The Martins *were*...   Reeba (1/30/2011 3:24 p.m.)
        
        Harriet and talk   Bridget D (1/30/2011 2:10 a.m.)
        
        A good one. :-D   Reeba (1/30/2011 8:41 a.m.)
        
        I did not mean to imply necessarily physical interaction...   BarbaraB (1/29/2011 12:05 p.m.)
        
        Treatment   Reeba (1/29/2011 3:15 p.m.)
        
        Assertions Emma does not really believe?   Robbin (1/30/2011 3:26 p.m.)
        
        Emma   Bridget D (1/31/2011 1:20 a.m.)
        
        Wrongheaded indeed.   Patricia AA (1/30/2011 5:19 p.m.)
        
        It's the degree.   Reeba (1/30/2011 4:28 p.m.)
        
        Run the man down   Robbin (1/30/2011 11:03 p.m.)
        
        Not really :)   Reeba (1/31/2011 3:39 a.m.)
        
        Man of Information   Robbin (2/3/2011 10:24 p.m.)
        
        The Unfortunate 'but...'   BarbaraB (1/31/2011 3:14 p.m.)
        
        Mr. Knightley, a sensible man   Stephanie (1/31/2011 9:07 p.m.)
        
        Actually, I did write....   Reeba (1/31/2011 3:52 p.m.)
        
        very manipulative   Nikki N (1/31/2011 5:46 a.m.)
        
        Manipulation.   Reeba (1/31/2011 9:43 a.m.)
        
        To me, they are out and out lies -- even when   AnnetteJ (1/30/2011 4:08 p.m.)
        
        Emma   Bridget D (1/31/2011 1:22 a.m.)
        
        Not sure I buy that -- what evidence do we have of a   AnnetteJ (1/31/2011 7:20 a.m.)
        
        Evidence.   Reeba (1/31/2011 9:08 a.m.)
        
        Downplaying Emma's virtues?   Ramya (1/31/2011 9:03 a.m.)
        
        Anne is my favorite Austen heroine as well. Emma just   AnnetteJ (1/31/2011 11:18 a.m.)
        
        You Have Peaked My Interest In Harriet   BarbaraB (1/29/2011 7:16 p.m.)
  - Clownish here means ... Reeba (1/28/2011 9:18 a.m.)
This another reason why I love the group reads... jeffrey (1/27/2011 4:02 p.m.)
- The Martins sound like people most of us would like to AnnetteJ (1/27/2011 5:40 p.m.)
  - Disliking Emma - the reader's dilemma Melinda Mary (1/27/2011 5:53 p.m.)
    - Appreciating Emma Sarah Yorkshire (1/28/2011 6:54 a.m.)
      - Emma's Behavior BarbaraB (1/28/2011 2:39 p.m.)
      - Perhaps that's what... Reeba (1/28/2011 9:10 a.m.)
      - I like her too Nina RG (1/28/2011 8:36 a.m.)
      - Well, I guess that is one way of looking at her. I have   AnnetteJ (1/28/2011 8:29 a.m.)
        
        Want to add that I do not dislike the character but I   AnnetteJ (1/28/2011 9:15 a.m.)
        
        21st Century Emma   Sarah Yorkshire (1/28/2011 6:10 p.m.)
        
        Emma wrongs the Martins   Robbin (1/28/2011 10:28 p.m.)
        
        Class differences   Ramya (1/28/2011 8:53 p.m.)
        
        For me, the class system of that time and place is   AnnetteJ (1/29/2011 9:40 a.m.)
        
        Rank   Bridget D (1/29/2011 3:27 p.m.)
        
        The word snob didn't even exist then.   Reeba (1/28/2011 6:52 p.m.)
        
        Yet Emma is a Snob by definition   Robbin (1/30/2011 9:57 p.m.)
        
        The concept...   Reeba (1/31/2011 11:00 a.m.)
        
        Class & Regard   Robbin (2/1/2011 1:06 p.m.)
        
        Class and the Martins   Bridget D (2/1/2011 1:06 a.m.)
        
        I cannot accept that   Ramya (1/31/2011 3:15 p.m.)
        
        gentry   Bridget D (2/1/2011 1:13 a.m.)
        
        ashamed of [Harriet] for seeming so pleased and so doubtful   Stephanie (2/1/2011 11:00 a.m.)
        
        Sure! :)   Reeba (1/31/2011 3:37 p.m.)
        
        Donwell Road   Robbin (2/1/2011 11:57 a.m.)
        
        Which makes [] good manners the more valuable   Stephanie (2/3/2011 3:01 p.m.)
        
        An Indifferent Acquaintance   Robbin (2/3/2011 10:00 p.m.)
        
        Thanks, Robbin...   gianni (2/14/2011 10:48 p.m.)
        
        Thanks & glad to see you! (:D) nfm   Robbin (2/15/2011 9:51 a.m.)
        
        Well!...   gianni (2/18/2011 11:24 p.m.)
        
        Miss Taylor is Too Indulgent   Jane Marie (2/15/2011 12:39 p.m.)
        
        Loved so ever indulgently   Miss Barbara (2/18/2011 3:26 p.m.)
        
        Gentled, indeed, I thank you nfm   Stephanie (2/11/2011 9:22 p.m.)
        
        Road vs assembly   Reeba (2/1/2011 12:33 p.m.)
        
        The Farmer and the Nobody   Robbin (2/3/2011 7:10 p.m.)
        
        Emma and farmers   Bridget D (2/2/2011 7:11 a.m.)
        
        Snob   Bridget D (1/29/2011 4:11 a.m.)
        
        Emma, Class and Mr Knightley   BarbaraB (1/29/2011 11:28 a.m.)
        
        Good point!   Sarah Yorkshire (1/29/2011 4:37 a.m.)
        
        Harriet and Emma   Bridget D (1/29/2011 7:39 a.m.)
        
        Mr Knightley also says Emma is bad for Harriet   kathleen (elder) (1/29/2011 7:47 a.m.)
        
        Harriet's station   Bridget D (1/29/2011 8:02 a.m.)
        
        I see it differently   Ramya (1/29/2011 9:40 a.m.)
        
        Haririet and Mrs Goddards   Bridget D (1/30/2011 4:58 a.m.)
        
        My opinion of Mr Knightley's comment...   Reeba (1/29/2011 11:12 a.m.)
        
        rank and falling   Bridget D (1/29/2011 3:37 p.m.)
        
        Agree   BarbaraB (1/29/2011 7:12 p.m.)
        
        Harriet rising in the ranks   Bridget D (1/30/2011 2:17 a.m.)
        
        The book is always available :-)   kathleen (elder) (1/29/2011 8:10 a.m.)
        
        Also linked below the header of this board (nfm)   Myretta (1/29/2011 8:18 a.m.)
    - I have often wondered... Reeba (1/28/2011 5:36 a.m.)
    - You are right about quiting Laurie J (1/27/2011 9:13 p.m.)
      - Encouragement to persevere with Emma and not give up!   jeffrey (1/28/2011 10:38 a.m.)
        
        Lol, be patient with Emma.   Patricia AA (1/28/2011 11:07 p.m.)
        
        This is not the first time I have read Emma but I always   AnnetteJ (1/28/2011 11:20 a.m.)
    - Emma's attitude toward the Martins Anne-Marie (1/27/2011 6:36 p.m.)
      - Exactly on her social level?   Kathleen Glancy (1/28/2011 11:14 a.m.)
        
        My mind   Robbin (1/28/2011 4:15 p.m.)
        
        Match-making poor Mr. Woodhouse   Ramya (1/28/2011 8:57 p.m.)
        
        Mr. Knightley and Miss Taylor   BarbaraB (1/28/2011 11:21 p.m.)
        
        Mr. K and Miss Taylor   Kirk (1/29/2011 11:08 p.m.)
        
        Now that you mention it ...   Sarah Yorkshire (1/30/2011 7:32 a.m.)
        
        Now that you mention it...   Kirk (2/3/2011 12:30 a.m.)
        
        And why isn't Mr.Knightley married yet?   Kathryn Ann (1/29/2011 6:19 p.m.)
        
        Why, vexed? nfm   Stephanie (1/31/2011 2:17 p.m.)

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