1. Beautiful
Emma’s physical appearance is beautiful. From the beginning of the novel, the author gives a description about Emma
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of
existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her Austen, 1988: 4.
So, Emma, the protagonist, is beautiful, clever and rich young lady with a happy disposition. She is almost twenty-one years old and the second daughter
of Mr.Woodhouse. The other minor character also look at Emma as a beautiful type of person.
Harriet says, “I do so wonder, Miss Woodhouse, that you should not be married, or going to be married So charming as you are” Austen, 1988: 69. Indeed,
Emma is a young woman who experiences all comforts life has to give.
2. Spoiled
Emma is presented as a woman who is spoiled, besides all her comfortable situation. As the author continues describing Emma
The real evils indeed of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself;
these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. Austen, 1988: 4
It becomes more clear and clear that Emma is a spoiled girl when the other character, Mr. Knightley, says something about Emma.
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.
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