Tolog Review: Emma

Emma
by Jane Austen
reviewed by Tara Pugliese

Possibly Jane Austen’s most relatable masterpiece, Emma reads as a lighthearted “rom-com” detailing the female fascination with romance and their careful attention to social standings. Emma Woodhouse, the Queen Bee of her town (Highbury), enjoys good society, reading, and match-making. When her longtime governess and loyal companion leaves for married life (a relationship the young socialite orchestrated herself), Emma finds herself desperate for a friend and relief from boredom. Eventually, this independent heroine discovers the perfect project to occupy her days – a project which happens to parallel a typical teen soap opera (think Mean Girls); Emma decides to mentor the needy Harriet Smith.

Harriet, a local girl with no fortune or family, quickly reveres Emma and they soon embark on a convenient friendship beneficial to both parties: Harriet receives the chance to raise her social status and Emma gains an outlet for playing her favorite role as Cupid. Thus, what ensues results in a complex, romantic mess involving several very conflicted characters. These lovers include wise Mr. Knightley (a family friend of the Woodhouses), social climbing Mr. Elton (the neighborhood gold-digger), kind Robert Martin (a local farmer), perfect Jane Fairfax (whom you cannot help but despise), and infamous Frank Churchill (an adored ladies’ man). 

With love comes other emotions often felt by single men and women searching for their true love: envy, hatred, jealousy, anxiety, hubris, and self-consciousness. Moreover, these universal feelings are accompanied by actions common for one with a crush: scheming, trickery, daydreaming, and abundant over planning. If any of these human experiences seem familiar, then you have noticed the genius of Emma; despite its time period set two centuries ago, the abiding novel still guarantees satisfying moments of relatability. 

As with Jane Austen’s other novels, Emma utilizes artfully crafted, clever language to consistently engage the reader. Furthermore, Austen once again employs one of her most noteworthy literary devices – dramatic irony. As in 'Pride and Prejudice', this witty tactic keeps the reading cringing throughout, desperate for ignorant characters to finally notice the reality of their situations. Causing added frustration is the role dramatic irony plays in the novel’s many romantic relationships (several intertwined)... as if love was not confusing enough. 

Additionally, Austen implements comedic relief to allow the reader an opportunity to laugh between the more substantive events. Essentially, if you find Kevin Hart humorous, take a look at Emma for an abundance of comical scenes certain to rival any stand-up special! This said, do not assume that 'Emma'’s humor qualifies the work as a mere “beach read”; Austen still provides a comprehensive interpretation of the complexity of human behavior, a feat she accomplishes flawlessly and one at the center of Emma.