Emma Woodhouse - Fighter for Equality

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Emma Woodhouse - Fighter for Equality Written by Antoinette (5/3/2008 4:16 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Beg to differ., penned by Rachel G

I understand the difficulties of illegitimacy in that time and place and the desire to increase ones social position and wealth through marriage. I don't understand why putting these ideas first in considering whether a friend should marry the woman he loves doesn't make you a snob. As I have been trying to say throughout this entire Group Read it is a snobby time and Highhbury is a snobby village. But the beginning of this thread imagines that Emma's snobbery is her own creation that she "gets it" from no one. Actually she gets it from everyone, eats, sleeps and breathes in a world where a person's value is determined at birth. A concept even Mr. Knightley can subscribe to.

If anything Emma is the radical egalitarian of Highbury. She thinks the "unfortunate circumstances" of Harriet's birth should not get the in the way of her marrying a man of wealth and consequence. A total snob would never have befriended Miss Smith let alone plotted her marriage into the Churchills. Yes, yes she thinks these things because she wants to play matchmaker. But nevertheless when it fits her idea of what's best she rises above the snobbery of her age. While on the other hand, despite his basic goodness, Mr. Knightley will often sink down into the snobbery of his age. They are both captives of Regency England.

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How childish! MarianneR (4/29/2008 4:18 p.m.)

Midsummer Madness Tarn (4/30/2008 12:49 a.m.)
Childish yes - also pretentious? Rachel G (4/29/2008 7:07 p.m.)
- If there was a fashion for it JulieW (4/30/2008 6:00 a.m.)
- The cool restraint of Mr Knightley MarianneR (4/30/2008 3:24 a.m.)
  - Agreed Laraine (5/1/2008 8:17 a.m.)
  - Absolutely! ;-) (nfm) Moni (4/30/2008 3:55 p.m.)
  - Wonderful moment! (nfm) Nicki (4/30/2008 3:48 p.m.)
  - Absolutely! Rae (4/30/2008 2:50 p.m.)
    - Exactly the right word for him! ;-) (nfm) Moni (4/30/2008 8:12 p.m.)
- It also makes me a tad queasy Nancy Ann (4/29/2008 9:12 p.m.)
  - Agreed, nan duval (4/30/2008 7:21 a.m.)
    - Emma & Augusta mirror one another. Rachel G (4/30/2008 10:08 a.m.)
      - Absolutely agree   Tarn (5/1/2008 2:02 a.m.)
        
        Caricature, Conscience & Social Status.   Rachel G (5/1/2008 2:49 p.m.)
        
        Why Not Mr. Knightley?   Antoinette (5/2/2008 5:22 p.m.)
        
        Mr. Knightley is not much of a snob   Robbin (5/2/2008 8:07 p.m.)
        
        Not At All   Antoinette (5/3/2008 3:54 p.m.)
        
        Your assertion was Mr. Knightley is a snob   Robbin (5/5/2008 12:48 a.m.)
        
        Harriet   BarbaraB (5/7/2008 12:07 a.m.)
        
        Beg to differ.   Rachel G (5/2/2008 7:47 p.m.)
        
        Emma Woodhouse - Fighter for Equality   Antoinette (5/3/2008 4:16 p.m.)
        
        Hmm...   Rachel G (5/3/2008 6:37 p.m.)
        
        I agree! (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/4/2008 1:12 a.m.)
        
        Jinx! Well said! (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/2/2008 8:10 p.m.)
        
        I could imagine   MarianneR (5/2/2008 3:45 a.m.)
        
        Well said, and her sister...   Moni (5/1/2008 5:28 p.m.)
        
        Well said. (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/1/2008 12:49 p.m.)
      - Extremes   Antoinette (4/30/2008 12:40 p.m.)
        
        Spiteful   Rachel G (4/30/2008 1:05 p.m.)
        
        The People of Highbury   Antoinette (5/2/2008 5:29 p.m.)
        
        A less fashionable seaside resort?   Graciela (5/4/2008 10:12 p.m.)
        
        Fashion was the root cause of the joke   JulieW (5/6/2008 5:50 p.m.)
        
        Good reading, JulieW...   Moni (5/6/2008 9:14 p.m.)
        
        Snobs, networking & less worthy females.   Rachel G (5/3/2008 5:59 a.m.)
        
        Another example for you   JulieW (5/3/2008 7:38 a.m.)
        
        The Coles' invitation to Emma   nan duval (5/3/2008 7:49 p.m.)
        
        Thanks for making this practice clearer. (;D) nfm   Robbin (5/3/2008 12:16 p.m.)
        
        Thanks for this, Julie W. nfm   Rachel G (5/3/2008 8:29 a.m.)
        
        Throwing stones at Emma   Robbin (5/3/2008 2:37 a.m.)
        
        Not What I Said   Antoinette (5/3/2008 4:30 p.m.)
        
        I agree - well said! nfm   Rachel G (5/3/2008 6:03 a.m.)
        
        Emma and Mrs E parallels   Dorothy A (4/30/2008 5:27 p.m.)
        
        IMO Emma is in more danger...   Moni (5/5/2008 4:35 a.m.)
    - Suckling JulieW (4/30/2008 7:37 a.m.)
      - May be wildly off, but...   Rae (5/2/2008 6:50 a.m.)
        
        Who is Nelson? Sir Nelson? -nfm   Elbè (5/2/2008 4:37 p.m.)
        
        Horatio   JulieW (5/2/2008 4:41 p.m.)
        
        Thanks JulieW! - love learning new things ;) -nfm   Elbè (5/3/2008 2:58 a.m.)
        
        Ah!   JulieW (5/2/2008 7:58 a.m.)
      - Names in Emma   MarianneR (5/1/2008 8:15 a.m.)
        
        IMHO Jane Austen played with names   JulieW (5/1/2008 8:28 a.m.)
        
        Agree---here's another   BarbaraB (5/3/2008 2:14 p.m.)
        
        Gypsies and hawking   Elbè (5/3/2008 4:05 p.m.)
        
        Maple Groves, of course! Never thought of it! (nfm)   MarianneR (5/1/2008 2:14 p.m.)
        
        Fascinating, JulieW;-)...totally agree (nfm)   Moni (5/1/2008 12:17 p.m.)
      - Thanks, Julie W nan duval (4/30/2008 7:07 p.m.)
Childish nan duval (4/29/2008 6:41 p.m.)
- She hasnt a clue about donkeys...... JulieW (4/29/2008 7:08 p.m.)
  - I often wonder about that Antoinette (4/30/2008 12:56 a.m.)
    - They were not taxed JulieW (4/30/2008 5:16 a.m.)
  - Ha! I love it! Nancy Ann (4/29/2008 9:06 p.m.)
  - Wonderful! Rachel G (4/29/2008 7:16 p.m.)

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