Character Analysis Of Fake Smiles In 'Emma'

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Fake Smiles Do you ever laugh at a joke that is not funny or fake a smile when a situation is uncomfortable? The honest answer for most people is yes. You flash a fake smile for a few seconds in order to avoid an awkward situation. Imagine having to force a smile every day to hide your true feelings. In the novel, Emma, Miss Bates lives a façade to conceal her many insecurities and true unhappiness. She appears to be cheerful and full of life but she is crumbling inside. Miss Bates is the epitome of the saying, things are not always what they seem. Miss Bates is a positive woman with an even more positive attitude. A prime example is when Emma Woodhouse, a snobby, self-centered young lady, publicly insults Miss Bates. While playing a friendly …show more content…
She puts on a brave face for so long that she is unable to find her former, content and youthful self. Miss Bates worries about money, social status and people’s opinion of her too much that it consumes her and becomes all she can think about. She tries to distract herself with constant chatter and social interactions, but it is only a matter of time before the fake smiles wear off and she cracks. Unfortunately, she does not share her pain and hurting with anyone, so it builds up over time. This leads to depression and a numbness that is beyond a point of fixing. She is not close with anyone in town because of her unwillingness to open up and her lack of wealth, which creates a barrier between her and others. She is on another level that nobody dares to swoop down to, and she is fully aware of it. There are many reasons to explain why Miss Bates behaves the way she does. She has been through a great deal of loss and is forced to accept that her life will never change. Miss Bates lives a façade with many complicated layers that the people in Highbury are never aware of or see. The saying, things are not always what they seem, could not be more fitting for Miss Bates. She lives her life through lies and fake smiles, acting as if she is the happiest woman in the

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