Explore the effects of the form and structure of Emma.
Austen’s crafting of Emma through form and structure allowed her to create a humorous and ironic social commentary by creating the world of Highbury which emulated the virtues and vices of the Regency era. Norman Page calls Austen’s work a “triumph of style” as it achieved complex social commentary whilst maintaining an entertaining narrative with realistic characters instead of caricatures using techniques such as free indirect style and prose syntax which characterise Austen’s work.
Emma is narrated from the point of view of a third person omniscient narrator who gives insight into Austen’s own opinions and views with subtlety often adding humour and irony to the situation. This is demonstrated …show more content…
Throughout the novel, although there are exceptions, Emma’s point of view dominates allowing the audience to develop a deeper relationship with her and closely follow her progression as a character and causes the audience to like her despite her flaws. This shifts in the final chapter where the audience is denied access to Emma’s voice making her appear more distant and passive perhaps to demonstrate how her status as a married woman has changed the dynamics of her situation and made her more passive. This shows how Austen’s manipulation of narrative and character voice can change the tone and atmosphere of the story and …show more content…
An example of this is Mr Knightley’s proposal “As a friend!"—repeated Mr. Knightley.—"Emma, that I fear is a word—No, I have no wish—Stay, yes, why should I hesitate?— I have gone too far already for concealment.—Emma, I accept your offer— Extraordinary as it may seem, I accept it, and refer myself to you as a friend” the use of dashes and unfinished sentences creates a sense of nervousness allows the audience to see the dialogue is hurried and filled with anxiety which increases the emotional tension and impact of the scene. The dashes and unfinished sentences also add a sense of immediacy and spontaneity which make it seem more realistic and plausible as a passionate proposal of marriage. An earlier conversation of Mr Knightley’s displays how Austen’s use of dialogue aids her complex characterisation; when Mrs Weston and Mr Knightley discuss Emma and Harriet’s growing relationship Mr Knightley mentions how “Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family” revealing more of Emma’s character but also displaying how well Mr Knightley knows her and his ability to compliment and criticise her making their marriage later appear more plausible as they appear more
Austen’s crafting of Emma through form and structure allowed her to create a humorous and ironic social commentary by creating the world of Highbury which emulated the virtues and vices of the Regency era. Norman Page calls Austen’s work a “triumph of style” as it achieved complex social commentary whilst maintaining an entertaining narrative with realistic characters instead of caricatures using techniques such as free indirect style and prose syntax which characterise Austen’s work.
Emma is narrated from the point of view of a third person omniscient narrator who gives insight into Austen’s own opinions and views with subtlety often adding humour and irony to the situation. This is demonstrated …show more content…
Throughout the novel, although there are exceptions, Emma’s point of view dominates allowing the audience to develop a deeper relationship with her and closely follow her progression as a character and causes the audience to like her despite her flaws. This shifts in the final chapter where the audience is denied access to Emma’s voice making her appear more distant and passive perhaps to demonstrate how her status as a married woman has changed the dynamics of her situation and made her more passive. This shows how Austen’s manipulation of narrative and character voice can change the tone and atmosphere of the story and …show more content…
An example of this is Mr Knightley’s proposal “As a friend!"—repeated Mr. Knightley.—"Emma, that I fear is a word—No, I have no wish—Stay, yes, why should I hesitate?— I have gone too far already for concealment.—Emma, I accept your offer— Extraordinary as it may seem, I accept it, and refer myself to you as a friend” the use of dashes and unfinished sentences creates a sense of nervousness allows the audience to see the dialogue is hurried and filled with anxiety which increases the emotional tension and impact of the scene. The dashes and unfinished sentences also add a sense of immediacy and spontaneity which make it seem more realistic and plausible as a passionate proposal of marriage. An earlier conversation of Mr Knightley’s displays how Austen’s use of dialogue aids her complex characterisation; when Mrs Weston and Mr Knightley discuss Emma and Harriet’s growing relationship Mr Knightley mentions how “Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family” revealing more of Emma’s character but also displaying how well Mr Knightley knows her and his ability to compliment and criticise her making their marriage later appear more plausible as they appear more