Interesting thread; brings up issue of Emma's reliability...

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Interesting thread; brings up issue of Emma's reliability... Written by Delories (4/6/2008 2:37 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Is Emma a liar too?, penned by Lila

...as a narrator, which imo is very important in this novel. Important to note here is that Emma-as-narrator occurs in two ways: direct reported speech, as in the example cited by Lila, and when we get it indirecty, as in Chapt. 9: "[Mr Elton addressed his words] more to Emma than to Harriet, which Emma could understand. There was deep consciousness about him, and he found it easier to meet her eye than her friend's."

The latter can be mistaken as the ON's voice (being cast in the third person), but it's not: it is Emma's inner thoughts. Even though I think it's safe to say that the ON is a reliable narrator, I don't think that Emma always is: we've already noted her tendency to see what she wants to see.

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Is Emma a liar too? Lila (4/4/2008 9:45 p.m.)

I have a theory... Elbè (4/10/2008 2:05 p.m.)
- Good will? Mia I. (4/10/2008 6:32 p.m.)
  - So interesting... Moni (4/20/2008 7:27 a.m.)
"That is the case with us all, papa." Tarn (4/7/2008 1:16 a.m.)
Interesting thread; brings up issue of Emma's reliability... Delories (4/6/2008 2:37 p.m.)
Emma loves her abilities… Robbin (4/6/2008 12:36 a.m.)
- Indeed, well said. nfm nan duval (4/6/2008 8:50 a.m.)
- insightful and well put, thanks! nfm Ivonne (4/6/2008 5:57 a.m.)
- Nicely Said BarbaraB (4/6/2008 12:54 a.m.)
Liar is too strong, I think Jean B (4/5/2008 1:52 p.m.)
- How could Emma not be consciously lying? Tracy W (4/5/2008 9:19 p.m.)
  - That's the last time I defend Emma Jean B (4/7/2008 1:04 p.m.)
    - If I understood you Laraine (4/8/2008 8:56 a.m.)
  - LOL!!! My thought exactly!!! nfm Lila (4/6/2008 7:14 p.m.)
- What we call it is probably partly influenced Nancy Ann (4/5/2008 7:11 p.m.)
Say rather, a sophist Tarn (4/5/2008 4:59 a.m.)
certainly not the truth of it... Ivonne (4/5/2008 1:04 a.m.)
- 'She did not always feel so absolutely satisfied with herself' Joan Ellen (4/5/2008 8:21 a.m.)
More self-deception than lying, IMO; Emma has lots to learn. nfm Mary-L (4/5/2008 12:34 a.m.)
- How is it self-deception? Tracy W (4/5/2008 6:05 a.m.)
  - She recalls her good intentions, not her actions. nfm Mary-L (4/6/2008 12:17 a.m.)
    - Emma was lying about her intentions, not her actions Tracy W (4/6/2008 6:27 a.m.)

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