Posted by Kathy F. on July 29, 1997 at 23:34:55:
In reply to Re: Emma as Mrs. E. posted by Kali on July 29, 1997 at 01:00:40
] But the very strangest thing about her is her "raving about poor Jane Fairfax". It's clear that she married Elton for selfish reasons, but what can she possibly get from her? Is it just the same kind of "affection" as Emma's for Harriet? And do we not see in her the same kind of faults as in Emma?
] I doubt Mrs. Elton gives a whit about Jane, really...like Emma, she thinks too well of her opinions and her abilities, and assumes that everyone else must be so in need of her help as to actually DESIRE her assistance! Note especially her desire to serve as Mr. Knightley's "Lady Patroness"!
] Indeed, we see in Mrs. Elton some of Emma's worst qualities, magnified - and I believe that left to her own devices, Emma is very much in danger of becoming as selfish, ignorant, and tunnel-minded as Mrs. E herself.
________
In one copy of Emma I've picked up, the introduction (which told the ending, so there was little point in reading the story after that--part of the joy of reading is not knowing the end until the end {exasperated sigh}) mentioned that you're not supposed to like Emma at first, and that it's only Mrs. Elton's introduction--because she is so much worse than Emma ever thought about being--which saves Emma in the readers' estimation.
You can take that explanation or leave it, I suppose. I tend to give it a great deal of credit, but the man also spelled "Bennet" (when referring to P&P) as "Bennett" note: 2 Ts is wrong!, so what did he know? :-)
Kathy