"Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich"

At the crossroads of the Enlightenment and Romanticism, Jane Austen writes her novel, Emma, filled with ordinary people, places and events, unlike other novels of the time.  This was the time in history when reading novels became one of the main forms of entertainment for many people, but especially the middle class. This highlights an idea of the Enlightenment regarding literacy and the popular press where individuals gained access to learning for themselves on a personal level.  Of course, many new works were too expensive to buy, but around this time period, methods for sharing and borrowing the latest fiction came about including libraries, reading clubs, and subscriptions.  These methods are all still alive in our day as we see the sharing of literary works.  

Persuaded.

In Jane Austen’s novel, Persuasion¸ the importance of social class in the early 1800s is demonstrated by the measures characters take to preserve their status.  Sir Walter is forced to "let" his primary residence in Kellynch Hall to avoid further economic harm, and he intends to do so discreetly to avoid negative repercussions.  However, he later openly regards the Admiral and his wife as his "tenants" as it seems fit to his advantage.  Austen ends the book novel with Anne and Wentworth wed and in good social standing, reflecting her own consideration of the importance of social class.

Admiral and Mrs. Croft give insight to how roles of men and women have changed individually and collectively, as in marriage.  Admiral Croft was just that--an admiral. He wasn't a wealthy landowner or member of the aristocracy, nevertheless he represents an evolving group of those who would be considered “gentlemen.”  Mrs. Croft likewise defied the norm and accompanied her husband on his voyages rather than stay at home.  In the 21st-century we see an increasing number of women embracing and pursuing what might be considered male roles, whether through education or careers or social interactions.

Anne & Lady Russell

Persuasion is heavily evident in the novel, specifically with Anne.  These persuasions frequently result in negative consequences until a strong-willed character, Louisa, is seriously injured because she would not be persuaded.  In the end, Anne herself, speaking of the decision to not marry Wentworth initially, acknowledges, “I must believe that I was right, much as I suffered from it, that I was perfectly right in being guided by [Lady Russell],” because she felt it her duty to obey who she considered a maternal figure.  Many readers think Anne was right to have waited and allow herself to be persuaded by Lady Russell given that she was so young and would have to elope without her father’s consent.  On the other hand, some are frustrated with her submission to Lady Russell’s advice and wish she wasn’t so easily persuaded.

Image Source: persuasion1995-1 (via Kalafudra)

Austen's Final Debut

Persuasion, Jane Austen's last novel, was written during the time of the Napoleonic wars which affected the English social and economic circumstances.  The book ties these aspects in with its characters.  The situation of Captain Wentworth, a naval officer who earns a lot of money, demonstrates the “shift in the balance of power” between the aristocracy and middle class, and there’s a thread of nationalism intertwined in Austen’s novel (Cantor).

Austen has a lot to say about the aristocracy.  It isn’t them in and of themselves that she disapproves of but rather that the “aristocratic status was in effect self-justifying" (Cantor).  These perceptions are portrayed through the characters’ and their dialogue.  As in Pride and Prejudice, characters aren’t always who they initially seem to be, which can be good and bad.

Another prevalent theme is marriage and the social circumstances women faced in a patriarchal society.  In current society in many parts of the world, women aren’t limited by social circumstances or marital status; they are free to obtain education, pursue careers, own land, and much more.  There’s a stark contrast between this and the 19^th-century perspective of women.  The famous first sentence of Pride and Prejudice indicates, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”  One of the ideas this statement implies is that social status was tied closely with economic status.

The form and genre of her writing reflect the novels of the 19^th-century in its non-heroic protagonists, less formal tone, everyday content, and personal experience.  Jane Austen drew upon her own personal experience in writing her novels. 

Image Source: Persuasion (via Girl ebooks Blog)

Cantor, Paul A. "A Class Act: Persuasion and the Lingering Death of the Aristocracy." Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism, edited by Kathy D. Darrow, vol. 222, Gale, 2010. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/H1420097305/LitRC?u=byuprovo&sid=LitRC&xid=5bc9435d. Accessed 19 Oct. 2018. Originally published in Philosophy and Literature, vol. 23, no. 1, Apr. 1999, pp. 127-137.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match

Jane Austen’s novel, Emma, takes place in history during a time known as Regency.  This time period gets its name from when George Augustus Frederick of Wales was appointed Regent to his father King George III. Regency is well-known for impressive architecture and arts, and was also a great time when the wealthy flourished.  There are many characters in Emma, who are all well-to-do, and the ones who are not are somewhat at the mercy of the them that are.  Class structures are very obvious in the novel. The idea is woven throughout the novel as many socially insignificant women are caught up in the allure of money, and go after men in whom they have no love interest.  This was a common practice during this time period, because for some, the only way to gain social status was through marriage.  In fact, there is a point in the book where the protagonist Emma, discourages her friend, Harriet Smith, from marrying her true love because of his lack of wealth and low social status. 

We also get a glimpse into the life of a women living in this time period.  Emma has much going for her; she is intelligent, beautiful, and has a great deal of energy.  However, the extent of her abilities go only as far as playing match-maker for her friends, because at this time, the role of women was seen as somewhat confined. So Emma makes the best use of her abilities that she can as she attempts to guide her friends to their own happily ever after.