Posted by Laraine on July 22, 1997 at 17:04:43:
In reply to Re: Emma the Strong - a Fresh View posted by Jen K on July 22, 1997 at 16:21:38
]]...being stuck in Higbury with all her intelligence and lack of decent companionship has caused such boredom as to actually incite this kind of well-meaning mischief! ... Am I the only one who never thought of this?
There are a couple of critics I know of who explore Emma's boredom as issue--Johnson and Sulloway. Let me know if you want full references to the books (I don't have it with me now, but I'll get it if you'd like.)
I agree that Emma is very bored, and that Harriet is the one who loses because of it (at least temporarily), but on the other hand, if Harriet doesn't resent it...
I read something recently that said that we wind up liking Emma because that narrator likes her and Mr. Knightley likes her, and those are irresistable forces in Emma. What do you think of that?
Laraine