Emma Woodhouse in various adaptations of the novel
Emma is unlikable for a couple reasons, mostly her treatment of Miss Bates, but also because unlike the other heroines, her life seems charming at first glance. She is wealthy, she had a devoted parent in Mr. Woodhouse and a loving mother-figure in Mrs. Weston. She has a massive home, and no need to marry. Most women of the era would kill for that deal, but there are real drawbacks that make Emma’s life both difficult and her forbearance admirable.
Emma devotes her entire life to the comfort of her father, going so far as to almost give up on marrying the love of her life because Mr. Woodhouse cannot stand it (She could not bear to see him suffering, Ch 55). She invites Mrs. and Miss Bates over to her home consistently because he likes them, even though they are not really good company for her:
These were the ladies whom Emma found herself very frequently able to collect; and happy was she, for her father’s sake, in the power; though, as far as she was herself concerned, it was no remedy for the absence of Mrs. Weston. She was delighted to see her father look comfortable, and very much pleased with herself for contriving things so well; but the quiet prosings of three such women made her feel that every evening so spent was indeed one of the long evenings she had fearfully anticipated. (Ch 3)
She does everything she can to make sure her father is not distressed, including not enjoying Christmas visits so she can referee her sister and brother-in-law (Ch 11). Her life is one of constant sacrifice to his eccentricities and she gets very little back out of the relationship, her father, “could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful” Ch 1.
Emma has nothing in her life beyond Hartfield and Highbury. Her sister lives only half a day’s journey away but she cannot visit her. She can walk to Donwell Abbey and yet hasn’t been there for two years (most likely on account of her father). It is understandable that she is bored, which has led to her meddling, but it is also understandable that she is loath to give up the very few female friends she has (I only want to keep Harriet to myself Ch 8) and why she gets annoyed with Miss Bates. She has no variety in her life or escape from her irritations. When she finally visits Box Hill, only a few miles from her own home, she has to arrange a babysitter for her own father.
Emma has good intentions even if her ideas are wrong. She thinks Harriet can do better than Robert Martin and stay in a higher class of society (with her.) Is this idea misguided? Yes. But that doesn’t mean the intention didn’t originate in kindness. Emma may be the Lady Russell (Persuasion) to Harriet Smith as Anne Elliot, but I sincerely believe that both of these women thought they were giving good advice.
Lastly, I think it is fair to ask ourselves why Emma is far more hated than Darcy, even though they share many traits. Both Darcy and Emma are snobby/arrogant, do not like being criticised, meddle in their friend’s love lives, are generous to the poor and their servants (Mrs. Weston is an employee who Emma treats like family, Emma both visits the poor and sends an entire hindquarter of pork to the Bates); devoted to the care of their families; and are disgusted by associating with vulgar people. Yet Darcy is loved and Emma is hated, even by the end of the novel. Yes, Darcy apologises better and he saves Lydia, but he is a man and he has far more power than Emma ever will in Regency society.
I will admit, it is hard to accept how Emma treats Harriet at the end of the book and I do personally prefer the 2020 version where she apologises to Robert Martin, but I also think it is unrealistic. Emma has to operate within her allowable limits: she isn’t even on friendly terms with the Martins, she cannot visit them. She also can’t send Robert Martin to London to meet Harriet so Mr. Knightley does it instead. For all of Emma’s wealth and power, she is still a woman.
Anyway, to me: Emma: Faultless in spite of all her faults
(This message was sponsored by Mr. George Knightley)
More:
Jane Austen’s Brave Refusal to Reform the Rake
The Problem with Portrayals of Mr. Collins
The Unwritten Proposals in Jane Austen’s Novels
Imagining Jane Austen’s Heroines (with period portraits)
Who is more Physically Attractive? The Hero or Villain in Each Austen Novel…
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