I grow older.
Generally, I enjoy Jane Austen's novels. Though, I will admit, I prefer their cinematic incarnations to actually reading the book. Like Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail, I get lost in all the thither's. One story I've hated since my first encounter (trying to read it) in high school has been Emma. For 10 years I've wondered what the deal is. Emma is a selfish jerk; why does everyone dote on her so? The story always leaves me peeved and annoyed.
Last night I watched the Gwyneth Paltrow version of Emma (though I must say Kate Beckinsale's Emma has been my favorite of all the Emma's I've seen trying to come to terms with this story). For the first time I enjoyed the story of Emma! And I think it's because I'm a little older.
I realized the story is about the pain of growing up, her realizing that she is a selfish jerk and trying to become a better person, her realizing that she is no longer a child doted upon but a woman that the people in her community look to as an example and the responsibility that comes with that. Of course, Austen has to throw in token male-as-moral-educator who then falls in love with his creation, Mr. Knightly. Emma is unlike other Austen heroines who start out "good"--Elizabeth Bennett, Fanny Price, etc.; you have to watch her transition to that point.
Seeing this story after I made the transition from childhood to adulthood has made a huge difference. Emma is 21 in the story. I see the ways she is acting like all of us acted when we were 21 and so sure of ourselves. I think the final transition from youth to adult is getting over the euphoria of whatever it is your society has determined makes you "legally" an adult (for us voting and drinking, for Austen "coming out"), getting over this and realizing that you haven't a clue what you're doing because this world is huge and you are little. Maybe that's a little stark, but I think there is a settling down-ness and a getting over self-ness involved, not to mention the whole "dying to self and living to righteousness" thing.
I guess I could enjoy Emma this time because I no longer share her pain, but remember what it was like and know that she'll come out alright in the end. Maybe one of these days I'll actually try to read the book again.
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After listening to Nick grumble on the phone one day I concluded, that when you are in your 20's you see yourself as being dished up problems. In you 30's, you have an inkling you might be part of the problem and in your 40's , you know you are the problem!!! lol. My friend , Therese Wall has a favorite quote of Winston Churchill, (whose initials are WC, by the way) "If you aren't liberal in your 20's you have no heart. If you aren't conservative in your 40's you have no brain!" I saw a lot of WC on our trip to Germany and it had nothing to do with Winston Churchill!!!
Sam has a new love (another random remark), Barbara Streisand.
Posted by: mom1 | 07.01.05 13:22
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You should read it; I love it, but agree with your assesement. But, my favorite JA book is Mansfield Park. Read it???
Posted by: beth | 07.01.05 14:15
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No, Sam!!! Okay, just had to say that in response to your mom's comment. In contradiction, Elizabeth Bennet does not start out "good." She starts out predjudiced. She won't give Darcy the time of day because he's proud and she doesn't realize she's as bad as he is. Over the course of the book she comes to realize what a fool she's been. But you're right about Fanny, she starts out good, she stays good, and she never does anything really wrong. This goodness is death to a character.
Posted by: linnea | 07.01.05 14:48
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Yes, Linnea, you are right. I guess Elizabeth Bennett's process is different than Emma's. I will maintain, though, that her follies seem to be a little more confined than the youthful blunders of Emma, which puts her in a slightly different light.
And, though I didn't actually READ Mansfield Park, I listened to every word read to me on tape, so it's as if I read it. And I will agree with my cousin that goodness is death to a character and Fanny Price is not my favorite heroine because of her blandness. She is just pitiable.
Actually, I prefer Mary in that book, their neighbor and would-be lover of Edmund. Because she develops the most, even though she doesn't quite achieve the high level of Goodness that Austen requires her heroines to have before they are rewarded with a "husband ex machina", as Linnea put it. (I still chuckle at the phrase.)
Posted by: Jeannette | 07.01.05 15:05
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As a male, I fear to tread into this discussion where women are talking about other women, even if the others are ficticious. But hey, it's public. You should all know that I could never marry an Austen woman. Life would be proper and stimulating and... stressful. Give me a dowdy Dickens dame anyday. Or at least a Wangerin woman.
I wonder, do I prefer those women because they were penned into existence by men? I think not. I could also do with one of Amy Tan's characters. Don't ask me why, exactly. I'm still processing.
Posted by: bob | 07.01.05 23:41