I think Miss Taylor's education of Emma was complicated. I do think she was too lenient with her, but I don't think she would've been allowed to have been any other way. Mr. Woodhouse does nothing but indulge Emma and I think Miss Taylor was expected to do the same. I imagine Emma to have been a strong-willed child and I suspect she may have complained to her father if Miss Taylor were ever too strict on her. So, I think Miss Taylor did what she was supposed to do: provide an education and upbringing for Emma (and her sister, of course) in a manner that gave, perhaps, little true guidance. It's said repeatedly that Emma waffles about with her accomplishments: she reads little, she paints little, etc., which I think also reflects this. Look at Jane Fairfax as a foil: she is much more disciplined. I certainly think if Emma were raised with a firmer hand she might be less full of herself and superior
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Funny, although I agree that Miss Taylor was much too lenient, I never got the impression that Emma would have gone running to Mr. Woodhouse to complain. I know you don’t like Emma, and she certainly does have her flaws, but I think she was intelligent enough to realize that those correcting her were right, but too headstrong to follow their instruction - this might be because I know this hypothetical person who hypothetically does the same thing, but only hypothetically . Should I add that I like Emma despite her presumption and arrogance? The point being is that Emma was going to do what she wanted, consequences be damned. Again you’re right when you say she might have been less full of herself had she had a firmer upbringing
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I guess I didn't really mean that Emma would go 'tattling' to Mr. Woodhouse, but that she would've voiced her opinion (even as a child) if she felt she wasn't getting her way. It's really difficult to say 'what-if' in this sort of situation because, again, I don't Emma was ever anything *but* indulged, so who can tell how she'd react if she wasn't? I guess I shouldn't be jumping ahead so far, but one of the benefits to her marrying Knightley is that he may not always be so indulgent. He never hesitates to make his opinion known to her, at least.
I see how you (and others) like Emma; she's very likable other than her arrogance and what goes along with that. For me personally that level of arrogance just can't be brushed aside, which is why I dislike her.
I don't think Miss Taylor was ever called a governess either. In fact, I just read the part this morning where Emma is acquainted with Mrs. Elton and she refers to Mrs. Weston as having been Emma's governess. Emma is extremely affronted by this -among other things, of course
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I just started listening to Emma again and I have to admit you’re right Tara. Emma is arrogant. She really does feel superior to people around her. I just finished reading “Governess - The Live and Times of the Real Jane Eyres” and that made me realize that not only is she arrogant, what she does, or nearly does, to Harriett boarders on cruelty, whether intentional or not. Women in Harriet’s situation in life were not on good social footing and Harriet could have easily ended up another Mrs. Bates or Jane Fairfax, either having to live in poverty or having to go as a governess. Harriet herself says “But then, to be an old maid at last, like Miss Bates!” and “But still, you will be an old maid! and that's so dreadful!” to which Emma replies “Never mind, Harriet, I shall not be a poor old maid; and it is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old maid! the proper sport of boys and girls, but a single woman, of good fortune
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Don’t get me wrong, I still like Emma and I think there is a lot of goodness in her, but she needed more guidance at an early age. I imagine this is one of JA’s lessons to be imparted in the book. It reminds me a bit of Mr. Darcy in P&P who said, “As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit.” (page 259) As shown with her presents to the Bates, her kindness towards the sick family and the acknowledgement that if Mr. Martin had been a rung lower on the social ladder she might have been useful to him, Emma was also given good principles and knew that she had a duty towards the people of the neighbourhood, but was left to exercise her good will as she pleased instead of having it directed as it should have been. I think she was probably also too sheltered. The “Governess” book goes into how the governesses of the time all had to be ladies, i.e. be from aristocratic homes themselves so that they were brought up as ladies
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I see how you (and others) like Emma; she's very likable other than her arrogance and what goes along with that. For me personally that level of arrogance just can't be brushed aside, which is why I dislike her.
I don't think Miss Taylor was ever called a governess either. In fact, I just read the part this morning where Emma is acquainted with Mrs. Elton and she refers to Mrs. Weston as having been Emma's governess. Emma is extremely affronted by this -among other things, of course ( ... )
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