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.
3. Generous
Emma is a generous type of person. It can be seen when she visits a poor family outside Highbury. As the author states
Though now the middle of December, there had yet been no weather to prevent the young ladies from tolerably regular exercise; and on tomorrow,
Emma had a charitable visit to pay to a poor sick family who lived a little way out of Highbury Austen, 1988: 69.
From the quotation above shows that Emma makes a charity work to other people. Besides, she also sends a handquarter of pork to Mrs. and Miss Bates,
therefore Miss Bates thanks for her kindness. When Emma hears that Jane Fairfax is ill, she decides to visit her and wish that her condition becomes better.
Her generosity lead her to become the person who also care for other people. She really cares about her father. She does not leave her father alone in
Hartfield, even though she finally married to Mr. Knightley. As her father comments, Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others”
Austen, 1988: 12. She cares about Mr. Elton, for she finds him a suitable wife. And she also
cares about Harriet Smith, an orphan, one of Mrs. Goddard’s older pupils and grew up at Mr. Goddard’s boarding school for girls. Emma took charge of
Harriet. She attempts to improve Harriet’s manner, knowledge, and also acquaintances. She tries to improve Harriet into a good society.
She would notice her, she would improve her: she would detach her from her bad acquaintance and introduce her into good society; she would form
her opinions and her manners Austen, 1988: 20.
4. Meddlesome
Another characteristic of Emma is meddlesome. Her meddlesome regard for her own judgement in matchmaking. In the first chapter of the novel, the author
describe that Emma loves to matchmaking in her neighborhood. Therefore, Emma becomes such a bull - headed girl to ignore her father’s comment in
asking her to make no more matches and foretell things, because he thinks they always come to pass. She tells her father that she is not going to make a match
for herself. I promise you to make none for myself, Papa; but I must, indeed for other
people. It is the greatest amusement in the world …dear Papa, you cannot think that I shall leave off match-making Austen, 1988: 9.
This becoming clearer when her father asks her once more “My dear, pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one’s family
circle grievously” Austen, 1988: 10. Emma refuse her father’s ask by saying Only one more, Papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton You like Mr.
Elton, Papa, -I must look about for a wife for him … I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I have of doing him a service Austen, 1988:
10.
Then she decides to match between Mr. Elton and Harriet Smith. She also influences Harriet in rejecting Robert Martin’s proposal by claiming that a
woman should always say no if there is a little bit of doubt. Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or
not, she certainly ought to refuse him. If she can hesitate as to ‘Yes’, she ought to say ‘No’ directly. It is not a state to be safely entered into with
doubtful feelings, with half a heart. I thought it my duty as a friend, and older than yourself, to say thus much to you Austen, 1988: 43.
