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At the end of the day, it's hard to not feel satisfied when your main character learns and grows.
All I can say is, Emma is the first Austen book I've read and that was back in high school. At that time I had no idea who Jane Austen was and thought this nearly 500 page brick was an absolute nightmare. By the end of it, like everyone else on this forum, I thought it was extraordinary. Only through such a flawed character can you bring out so many themes in this novel.
i love the book, and i both love and hate the main character. she reminds me of myself.
True, Emma is selfish and extremely class conscious, but she's likeable because she's so ignorant to all her faults. Her devotion to her father makes it easier to sympathize with her as well. And her quick judgements and cleverness make her a very entertaining character. I think her imagination, though it distorts her reality, is so childlike and innocent.
Emma fixed everyone else up, but thought no one would ever be good enought for her. I think the reason Jane Austen made Emma a "know it all" was so that she could fix her up with Knightley in the end and show her how wrong she was about true love. I always wonder about the sequel to these stories - how was married life:yawnb:
I must agree, I love the story much more than the character 'Emma'. Emma does seem to be very nosy and does get involved where she shouldn't. The fact that she directs Harriet's desires elsewhere when she clearly wants to marry Robert Martin, for me, is close to unforgivable. Poor Harriet's seems to fall 'in love' with three men...two . Robert Martin, Mr Elton, and Mr Knightly, of whom, two, Emma does not approve of, therefore, Harriet, of course, can not marry. Of course, it all turns out fine, but it too a lot longer to get there that it would have done, had Emma not interfered.
I don't know about other people but I don't think I would not especially like a friend like that.
I maybe being a little too harsh on Emma...Obviously, I do believe her intentions are honourable, she does seem to want Harriet's happiness. But she seems to put her own pleasure above her friends, i.e, taking Mr Knightly for herself. This seems quite selfish to me. The fact that Harriet was really in love with Robert Martin, and Mr Knightly had no feelings for her is irrelevant. In addition, Emma's slating of Miss Mates is terrible behaviour, and definitely inexcusable.
I highly dislike her at the beginning. However after round about when she realises she screwed up with Harriet and Mr Elton, I begin to like her :)