The Unfortunate 'but...'

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The Unfortunate 'but...' Written by BarbaraB (1/31/2011 3:14 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Not really :), penned by Reeba

Emma, by either information gained, clever observation or just her general intelligence tends to see the positive characteristics of the Martins/Robert. Unfortunately there is always that 'but':

1. "A better written letter, Harriet (returning it,) than I had expected," but his sister must have written it for him.

2. Mr. Knightley thinks well of the Martins, but they must be coarse and unpolished. Okay, as an aside, I understand that farmers were generally viewed this way for eons but the farming revolution as well as the industrial revolution were on the move by this time IIRC. Smart gentleman farmers such as Mr. Knightley who employed smart rental farmers like Robert Martin, who were industrious and stayed abreast of new farming techniques, were becoming upwardly mobile and getting themselves educated. How she would not be aware of this living next to Mr. Knightley all her life is beyond me but supposing she didn't. As she gains information about Mr. Martin and his family it becomes obvious that the Martins are an exception to the coarse, unpolished people, which was the accepted view of farmers for so many years. This family has an obviously warm and comfortable home with a thriving farm with the best bids on their wool than anybody in the country (county). They have, at least, an upper maid and a shepherd with plans to hire an indoor guy seemingly as their finances continue to improve. The daughters have been educated at Mrs. Goddards. If the girls have been educated, it stands to reason that Robert has had schooling and he reads Agricultural Reports as well other books apparently related to his work as well as fiction, verse & poetry. Emma is blinded by her prejudice for Mr. Elton and against Robert Martin so she makes no effort to adjust her perception.

3. When they meet Mr. Martin on the road, Mr. Martin looks at Emma respectfully, and she sees that he is neat and looks like a sensible looking man but he is clownish and totally without air.

I have noticed throughout the book so far that when Emma makes a good observation, if it does not suit her plans, she changes or adjusts information to bring it in line with the way she wants it to be. Heaven forbid we should let facts or the truth get in the way. :)

I wonder that when she realized that the Martins were a family associated with Mr. Martin and that he thought well of them that out of respect for a long family friend she didn't refrain from criticism of them in any way but...

Anyway, just something I've noticed. :)

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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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