less sweet than advertised

[horridporrid]

So Emma -- kind of a snob. There's a famous line about Emma (the book... well, and the girl, actually) that Jane Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." And I'd always wondered why Austen thought that way (Emma was silly but sweet, how could anyone dislike her?), but now I get it. I still do like her,

Comments

[ms_arithmancer]

Yeah, I could see why someone would be annoyed by Emma, but I always liked her anyway!

[horridporrid]

I think Austen did a great job at balancing Emma's bad behavior with her more redeeming qualities. And when she realizes she's wrong she feels real pangs of regret and guilt. Emma really isn't a bad person! ;D I'm up to the part where Mr. Elton is about to return with his new bride and Emma is fully aware that all of Harriet's suffering is because of Emma's manipulations. I appreciate her seeing that she did badly and vowing not to do it again and such.

On a completely different note, I have to say, it's really interesting reading the book for the first time but also being really familiar with the story. It's almost like giving it a second read. All of Frank Churchill's actions are so clear to me (he is incredibly clever at manipulating others -- giving Emma a taste of her own medicine, I suppose?) and it's great fun to read with the knowledge I have. :)