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Learning From Emma’s Errors
Because smart people make mistakes too
With the recent film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma arriving in theaters to acclaim from audiences and critics alike, I felt compelled to not only see the film (twice), but also reread the book again.
Emma remains my favorite of Jane Austen’s works. The recent film adaptation is a worthy introduction to the story, even if it cannot encompass all the details of the book. My delight with story can likely be found in my unending delight in the two principle characters: Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightley.
With Emma, as a character, I find myself enchanted. She is described at the beginning of the story as, “handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings in existence; and had lived nearly twenty one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”
Through the story of the novel, we encounter precisely what situations can, and will, distress and vex our heroine. They are, more often than not, similar to situations which vex and distress us. The reality is, no matter the change in accent or clothing (personally I’d love to see high collars make a return), people are people through every day and age.
