Comparison of Jane Austen's Emma and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen's protagonists, Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudiceand Emma Woodhouse in Emma, have three distinct similarities. Both thegirls come from the same types of families with similar societal status.They have similar personality traits that are good. The protagonists alsohave comparable flaws that threaten their happiness. By both novels' ends,the protagonists reconcile with their flaws and discover their true loves,thus overcoming obstacles to marriage. Jane Austen's characters Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice andEmma Woodhouse in Emma have similar familial and social status. Elizabethis the second daughter in the Bennet family. Similarly, Emma is the seconddaughter in the in the Woodhouse family. Elizabeth Bennet's father admireshis daughter as seen in an early exchange between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. ". .. they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has somethingmore of quickness than her sisters'' (2). In a like manner, Mr. Woodhouseadmires Emma. In the opening paragraphs of Emma the narrator states: "Shewas the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgentfather . . ." (3). In society, Austen informs the reader of the social
Her problem is not pride and prejudice, butstubbornness and pride. In addition to examples of Emma's cleverness, Austen remindsreaders throughout the novel of Emma's intellectual prowess. The faults in both girls couldvery well keep them from finding happiness and their true loves. Knightly and she joins him inmarriage. She cannot admit her feelings for Mr. She was always quick and assured" (32). In creating the protagonists Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse, JaneAusten gives them many of the same characteristics. Knightly until her friendHarriet says that she believes that he is in love with her. Austen is more upfront in informing the readers ofEmma's familial situation. This description leaves readers with the impression that she isprivileged and has never had to want for anything. Though Elizabeth is a beautiful girl, full of honesty, virtue andintelligence, her biting tongue and her predisposition for making hastyjudgments cause her trouble. In the first sentence Austen introducesreaders to Emma as clever. At tenyears old, she had the misfortune of being able to answer questions whichpuzzled her sister at seventeen. "The realevils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too muchher own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; thesewere the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments" (3).
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