In the novel we see that Harriet and Mr Martin would be a suitable match, however Emma guides Harriet against marrying Mr Martin, as she believes that Mr Elton would be better suited. Us as the viewer though can see that Mr Elton and Harriet would be unsuitable because of their different social classes. Emma misjudges the feelings Mr Elton has for Emma, and believes that Mr Elton is referring to Harriet. Emma does not see the error of this match until Mr Elton confesses his love for Emma, and She then realizes how mistaken she was and this does unsettle her. Austen highlights the theme of social class throughout the novel, particularly in terms of Emma’s friendship with Harriet Smith.
However if the responder were to read Fay Weldon’s Letters to Alice on first reading Jane Austen, the connections between the two would shape and then reshape the responder’s understanding of both texts. The two texts are connected most obviously through Weldon’s commentary and analysis of Austen’s writing and social and historical context. However the two texts are also connected through their didactic purpose, examination of values, use of epistles and their female author’s status and feminist messages. Whilst all of these connections do enrich each text, it is to a limited extent as both texts also work in isolation. Aunt Fay writes to her niece Alice in the hope of teaching her about Austen and her writing and what better way to do that than by direct reference to Austen’s most successful text, Pride and Prejudice?
Austen recognises the individual’s social standing as a significant distinguishing factor affecting acceptance in society through the use of tone. To be of high social class, one must have not only wealth but respectability and the family that they are born into. Emma highlights this value when she is mentoring Harriet and forces her to reject Mr Martin as a suitable husband for the woman of higher class Harriet is to become. Austen ensures Emma’s direct language and firm tone have a heavy impact on Harriet. “Dear Harriet, I give myself joy of this.
Good afternoon/ Good morning class and teachers. In this speech I will explore the ways that the director, Amy Heckerling has transformed and re-contextualised Jane Austen’s popular novel ‘Emma’ into the satirical, humourous, parody film, ‘Clueless’. Storylines are often familiar in terms of plot, theme and purpose across many cultures and eras. There are common themes and plots that are used again and again within texts. While particular characteristics vary, the essence of the narratives are frequently simply reworked and adapted to suit different needs, times, circumstances, values and locations.
The transformation of a text enables the ideas within that text to be explored as new insights into significant concerns and values are examined resulting in contextual change. Jane Austen’s 19th century Emma is appropriated into Amy Heckerling’s 20th century film Clueless by undergoing contextual shifts to accommodate a new audience. By doing so Heckerling is able to make new meaning in a text that explores universal and timeless issues such as class system and education and demonstrates that while there have been changes in context, class stability and femininity are still valued but have been reshaped to created new meaning. In Emma Austen presents the class system of the 19th century as a significant concern. The novel depicts a rigidly structured world based on wealth, property and status.
Is it possible her attitude and confidence were really not all that unusual for the time period, but highlighted due to the skewed social recognition of gender? To help explain Elizabeth I’s atypical fame during this period in history, and in order to judge for ourselves the spirit of who she truly was, we should first understand the typical roles of women and the status of women during this early modern period in Europe. We’ll also need to understand her origins. And then of course we’ll need to understand the time period and what she faced as a ruler. [pointment led to Elizabeth’s mother’s beheading when she was just two (Briscoe).
Wilde explores the subject of morality frequently within the play and the conflicting ideas surrounding the topic. Wilde particularly explores the idea of women ‘falling from grace’. This can be seen in the character of Mrs Arbuthnot. The character is quite obviously a good, strong woman who has taken her misfortunes in stride and not let them bring her down too much, as well as raising her son to also be a good person. Many people would argue that the blame for her misfortune should solely lay on Lord Illingworth, who, it is obvious to the audience, used her for his own pleasure and satisfaction, abusing her love and trust.
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen does not offer a harsh critique, but rather highlights the flaws in society in her opinion, using comparisons. Through these comparisons she states her opinion that the social norms of her time are not always correct. Her critique of the society isn’t biting because she points out the flaws according to her opinion and uses righteous examples to warrant her view. She uses examples of different marriages and personalities to persuade the reader of her viewpoint. From the first sentence in the book, ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife’, it is known that the novel will be exploring the theme of marriage.
King Creon states that “a sharp tempered woman, or for that matter a man, is easier to deal with than the clever type who hold her tongue.” Medea is, in fact, clever enough to hold her tongue and stay quiet. She says, “those who live quietly, as I do, get a bad reputation.” Medea shows her intelligence repeatedly, first in her negotiations with Aegeus. Her cleverness is shown most prominently, though, as she is consistently subtle to the public about her despair and her hatred of Corinth and society. If she spoke out, she could be punished or called a criminal, but instead she is just socially ostracized and must be allowed to continue her daily life. Because of her intellect, Medea is seen a threat to society.
However, Angela’s inner beauty is anything but beautiful. She treats others as if they are beneath her just because they are not as beautiful as she is. This ultimately leads me to loath her character because to me, outward appearance is nothing but looks, like an empty shell –which is only there for display. This was the first impression I got about Angela –vain and empty. Her personality deteroritates from her looks and it is easy to judge her on her actions without knowledge of her motives.