by Giovanni Ferri

Created on: January 14, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

As indicated by the novel's title, Emma is its central protagonist and the focus from which we either see or miss the drama. Chapter one introduces Emma Woodhouse and immediately allows the reader to see many of her faults. We are told that she is handsome, clever, and rich' and seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence', the word seemed already implying that there is something less than perfect in Emma's seemingly ideal world.

It is quickly apparent that Emma is spoilt; having lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her'. Emma is also selfish, clearly seen when Miss Taylor, Emma's governess and friend, married. We are notified that it was on the wedding day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any countenance' and how was she to bear the change?' between a Mrs Weston half a mile from them, and a Miss Taylor in the house'. Emma's objectification of Mrs Weston highlights her selfishness and causes her to appear an almost grotesque figure at this point. Ironically, it was Emma who made the match' between Miss Taylor and Mr Weston, and so her meddling nature is also revealed early on.

Jane Austen spoke of Emma as a heroin whom no one will like except myself' and consequently justifies Emma's behaviour in the novel. In this same first chapter in which we have met Emma as a monster, Austen also tells us that Emma's mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses' and so we realise that Emma has been spoilt by, and takes after her father, Mr Woodhouse, who is also self centred and never able to suppose that other people could feel differently from himself'. He seems a lot older than his years and is preoccupied with food and especially health, these self delusions rub off on Emma, resulting in her having to work her social life around her father's needs .
Mr George Knightley is another key character, who from chapter one is established to be the voice of reason. Emma shows their intimacy by telling her father that we always say what we like to one another', and Knightley ends the chapter by telling Emma to allow Mr Elton to chuse his own wife', therefore pointing out to Emma her interfering manner.

Emma's problem is hubris, a feeling of excessive pride and self love which was responsible for the downfall of many Classical protagonists, perhaps most famously Oedipus from the tragedies of Sophocles. Lionel Trilling writes in his essay Emma

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