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Essay / Theme of Transformation in Emma - 1224
Emma also transforms into a real woman by correcting her original negligence. Trollope states that "in every passage of the book she is responsible for a certain folly, a certain vanity, a certain ignorance, or even a certain wickedness" (7)19. Due to her ignorance of her neighbors' attitudes, Emma interferes in their lives in a way that makes them unhappy, because "she has often been careless" (Austen 359)20. Mr. Knightley predicts the outcome of Emma's plans at the beginning of the novel when he states that "[you] are more likely to have done yourself harm than to do them good by interference" (Austen 8)21 and also that “[v]anity working on a weak head produces all kinds of mischief” (Austen 53)22. Not only is Emma stubborn towards her actions, but she is also neglectful towards herself when she convinces herself, "I cannot really change for the better" (Austen 73)23. On other matters concerning her plans for others, Emma's consideration fails because of her own selfishness and restraint of pride, for "the more she thought about it, the greater was her sense of opportunity" ( Austen 27)24. Another form of Emma's neglect is a form of manipulation, primarily through her control over Harriet Smith. Emma is “obstinate, manipulative, arranger or rather poorly arranger of the lives of others. Most of the time she fails to see things clearly and truly, and her self-knowledge is uncertain” (Goodheart)25. “One of the significant effects of harassing Emma's snobbery is to highlight her romantic notions about Harriet's origin and destiny” (Brooke)26. Although for Harriet, Emma's "help" reveals optimistic results and a suitable husband, Harriet is unable to defend herself against Emma, but if "[i]f he wanted to make up his mind……mid paper......fourth edition (2010): 1-9. Literary reference center. Internet. January 15, 2014. Howells, William D. “Heroines of Nineteenth-Century Fiction.” Harper's Bazaar XXXIII-26 (1900): 516-23. Rpt in 19th century literary criticism. Ed. Janet Mullane and Robert Thomas Wilson. Vol 19. Detroit: Gale, 1938. 8. Print. Kohn, Denise. “Reading Emma as a Lesson in “Ladyhood”: A Study in the Domestic Bildungsroman.” » Literary Essays 22.1 (1995): 45-58. Literary Reference Center. Internet. January 15, 2014. Paris, Bernard J. “Critical readings: Emma”. Critical Insights: Jane Austen (2010): 69-104. Literary reference center. Internet. January 15, 2014. Trollope, Anthony. “Trollope on ‘Emma’: a new note.” Nineteenth-Century Fiction, Vol IV, No. 3 (1949): 245-47. Rep. in 19th century literary criticism. Ed. Janet Mullane and Robert Thomas Wilson. Vol 19. Detroit: Gale, 1988.7. Print.