《爱玛》英文读书报告Reflections on Emma.docx

爱玛英文读书报告Reflections on EmmaReflections on Emma Emma is a typical novel of Jane Austenno fierce conflicts, but attractive narration, detailed description and vivid characters, which are her deft writing skills and features of her novels. Although there is only flat narration, it involves little suspension unconsciously, which arrests the readers. In conclusion, Emma reflects the times in which Jane Austen lived. In the 19th century England, complex and confounding social hierarchy and the interplay between the varying social classes are prevailing. Emma dissuades her friend Harriet from marrying the peasant, Robert Martin in that she holds the opinion that Martin is in a lower class than Harriet. Thats the reason why she encourages Harriet to love Mr. Elton, a clergyman in possession of wealth. Usually, literature is a mirror of the then society. Emmas behaviour can be explained by her status. Jane Austen slightly satirized the society she lived in through this work. In addition to social hierarchy, she also disproved self-righteousness and self-assertion. In the next part, I will focus on characters analysis according to my own perception. Emma Woodhouse, a clever, wealthy and charming young lady, but somewhat spoiled by her father and her nanny Miss Taylor, is the heroine of the novel. In my view, she is warm-hearted and she addicts to match-making for her friend, Harriet. Although she deems that she is always right on every issue, she listens to Mr. Knightleys advice. When he points out her offensive words towards Miss Bates at Box Hill, she immediately apologizes to Miss Bates by a visit. However, Emma is a little bit imaginative, to some degree, she is self-righteous. She disagrees Harriets marriage with Martin, regardless of their deep love. She introduces Mr. Elton to Harriet so that Harriet can have a decent life. But, Mr. Elton shows interest in Emma, more 1 accurately, Emmas large wealth, instead of poor Harriet whose identity remains clandestine. That also causes Harriets love in pain and in vain. It seems that Emma helps Harriet to find an appropriate husband who has the ability to give Harriet a wonderful life, but what she has done just make the simple matter more complicated. Moreover, Jane Austen put her irony cautiously in the relationship between Emma and Frank Churchill. In other words, both of them take advantage of each other. When other people find that Frank Churchill admires Emma, Emma still keeps her promise of not marrying, so inwardly she refuses falling in love with Frank Churchill. Meanwhile, Frank Churchill has a secret engagement with Jane Fairfax, a good-mannered young lady. In order to distract others attention, he camouflages himself as an admirer of Emma, at the same time, he treats Jane Fairfax coldly. Here, Jane Austen satirizes those people who think themselves are intelligent that they are able to control others at their will, on the contrary, they cant benefit from what they already done. George Knightley, in the depiction of the author, is a truly gentleman who is well-bred, genteel and righteous. He treats Martin as his friend, ignoring their social class disparity. He is the only person who opposes Emmas absurd match-making, and he always provides reasonable suggestion. Thus, one discerns that his love towards Emma is not blind. Maybe Jane Austen expresses her attitude about love through Mr. Knightley, that is, love includes improve, and it means mutual progress. Comparing with Mr. Darcy, the protagonist in Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Knightley respects the lower class while Mr. Darcy looks down on people inferior to him. Therefore, Mr. Knightley seems to be a consummate character, in which conveys Jane Austens hope of the English society: no absurd self-approbation and self-assertion of the higher social class. 2 Harriet, she really appreciates Emmas friendship because she thinks that Emmas high social status is incommensurate with her lower class. Because of her appreciation, Harriet dares not to refuse Emmas concern for her marriage and never opposes Emmas improper match-making. Thats the irony of social hierarchy. In the novel, Harriet is a young girl without her own thoughts. She defers to Emmas arrangement to refuse Martins proposal but to consider Mr. Elton as a future husband, though she loves Marin thoroughly. Jane Austen herself never married, but she criticized hesitation and illusion in love, together with such person like Harriet who depends on others to decide for them. Similar with Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen shows that true love never changes and people usually get hurt in love before they understand and cherish true love. Every work is the authors observation and reflection of the society, Emma is no exception. Its the combination of Jane Austens efforts and achievement. Its the traditional and typical Austen-style for its special, delicate description from the perspective of a female author. To some extent, Emma is not only a microcosm of the English society in which Jane Austen lived, but also the treasure in literature because it contains realism. 3