"I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."
~~ Bob Dylan, songwriter
"We may feel powerless, but we are not."
~~ Chris Hedges, Presbyterian minister
"You gotta love livin' baby, 'cause dyin' is a pain in the ass."
~~ Frank Sinatra, singer
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---------------- [Emma excerpt, Review] ---------- ...look down upon her friend, so well understanding the gradations of rank below him, and be so blind to what rose above, as to fancy himself shewing no presumption in addressing her! -- It was most provoking.
[And here Emma realizes, contemplating the various points of view, that perhaps Mr. Elton -- doesn't know what he doesn't know...!] :
Perhaps it was not fair to expect him to feel how very much he was her inferior in talent, and all the elegancies of mind.
The very want of such equality might prevent his perception of it;
but he must know that in fortune and consequence she was greatly his superior.
He must know that the Woodhouses had been settled for several generations at Hartfield, the younger branch of a very ancient family -- and that the Eltons were nobody.... [end, excerpt]
Then Emma reflects some more on her matchmaking efforts with Mr. Elton and Harriet Smith, and realizes that it was "foolish," "wrong," "to take so active a part in bringing any two people together. It was adventuring too far, assuming too much..."
Seeing things clearly, she is "quite concerned and ashamed," and resolves "to do such things no more."
She thinks some more, and since she's still ticked off (and outraged!) at Mr. Elton and his presumption, she sort of tries blaming him, in her own mind, but then has to be honest with herself -- "if she had so misinterpreted his feelings, she had little right to wonder that he, with self-interest to blind him, should have mistaken hers."
Then she contemplates having to explain things to Harriet and she just dreads it, she doesn't want Harriet to be hurt, and she knows she will be. Trying to work through that, Emma's thoughts wander down a familiar trail, trying to think of a new boyfriend for Harriet - !
"'...I am sure I have not an idea of any body else who would be at all desirable for her -- William Coxe -- Oh! No, I could not endure William Coxe -- a pert young lawyer.'
She stopt to blush and laugh at her own relapse...."
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Miss Emma Woodhouse knows she would be unable to "endure" a pert young lawyer -- as her friend's husband ... -- well, you know, who could...? (LOL)
The segments of Jane Austen's Emma recently blogged here are a small part of the novel. More characters enter: Mr. Elton's (obnoxious and funny) wife from Bath; Mr. Weston's son (from a first marriage), Frank Churchill.
(After Mr. Weston's first wife died, her family, the Churchills, volunteered to raise him and that's why he has their name. This doesn't "happen" in the novel, it's given as backstory.)
People in Highbury are always talking with eager anticipation of when Frank Churchill will visit his father and everyone in the village will have a chance to look at him, and meet him.
Mr. Knightley is of the opinion that Frank Churchill does not visit his father often enough, and when he does promise, in letters, to visit, the plans are later changed and the visit postponed by the capricious Mrs. Churchill (who holds the purse-strings on Frank's inheritance.
Emma believes Frank Churchill is making the best efforts he can to come for a visit with his father.
Efforts do not count as highly with Mr. Knightley, who thinks Frank should man-up and put his foot down with the Churchills, and pay his father a proper visit.
Mr. Knightley and Emma have one of their arguments/discussions on this subject.
The people in this little town go about visiting each other, having tea, having dinner, talking about various aspects of daily life, "paying civilities" -- talking of Frank Churchill, etc.
When the Westons receive a letter from Frank, and when Mrs. Bates and her daughter Miss Bates receive a letter from their relative Jane Fairfax (elegant and accomplished, but without any inheritance), these letters are shared with friends and neighbors -- sometimes read aloud.
(Life before Internet, TV, radio, phone...)
Mr. Knightley always thinks Emma should be a kind friend to Jane Fairfax, as they're the same age, but Emma has some sort of negative feeling toward Jane, though she won't admit it. She finds Jane cold and overly reserved. Emma thinks Jane is, as a modern woman might say, "hard to know."
So there's a lot more to the book -- I've only showcased a small slice. It's been made as a film several times -- in the U.K., they seem to re-film the works of Jane Austen on a regular basis! They take pride in their novelists, and their traditions, and their Tradition Of Great Novelists....
Some of these movies, or videos of individual scenes, can be watched on You Tube. I don't know if I recommend them or not -- a good novel is kind of a personal experience. In the visual version, anything a viewer doesn't enjoy as far as actors, or costumes, or directing style can be a ruinous distraction from how good the novel is.
("Ruinous?" Am I starting to write like Jane Austen? Lol -- hopefully, maybe a little! That would be terrific!) (To write like Jane Austen, and dance like Tina Turner...)
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