Thoughts Theories of Character and Characterization

Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family. At ten years old, she had the misfortune of being able to answer the questions which puzzled her sister at seventeen. She was always quick and assured: Isabella slow and diffident. And ever since she was twelve, Emma has been mistress of the house and of you all. In her mother she lost the only person able to cope with her. She inherits her mother’s talents and must have been under subjection to her Austen, 1988: 30. Mr. Knightley says that Emma’s being spoiled as the cleverest of the family and unrestricted doing are making her to think that she is always clever, she has no faults, believes that she is always true. That kind of condition drives her to become self-centered. This can be shown through the conversation between the two “To be sure – our discordancies must always arise from my being in the wrong.” “Yes,” said he, smiling – “and reason good. I was sixteen years old when you were born.” “A material difference then,” she replied – “and no doubt you were much my superior in judgment at that period of our lives; but does not the lapse of one-and-twenty years bring our understandings a good deal nearer?” “Yes – a good deal nearer.” “But still, not near enough to give me a chance of being right, if we think differently.” “I have still the advantage of you by sixteen years’ experience, and by not being a pretty young woman and a spoiled child.” “That’s true,” she cried – “very true. Little Emma, grow up a better woman than your aunt. Be infinitely cleverer and not half so conceited. Now, Mr.Knightley, a word or two more, and I have done. I must say that no effects on my side of the argument have yet proved wrong” Austen, 1988: 79 - 80. It shows that when somebody encounters Emma’s thoughts and believes, she will eagerly prove them. And, when somebody seems to lay across her way, she will become aggressive to sweep him aside. These are aimed to fulfill her self- satisfaction.