Shame Emma Woodhouse: Jane Austen\'s Sublime Mimic

¶ … shame Emma

Emma Woodhouse: Jane Austen's sublime mimic and dramatist

In the famous 'Box Hill' scene of Jane Austen's novel Emma, the protagonist Emma Woodhouse shames the poor, garrulous spinster Miss Bates with a cruel jest and nearly loses the man she loves (but does not know she loves), Mr. Knightley. Emma was warned against such verbal displays earlier in the novel. "For shame, Emma! Do not mimic her [Miss Bates]. You divert me against my conscience. And, upon my word, I do not think Mr. Knightley would be much disturbed by Miss Bates. Little things do not irritate him," she is reproached by her old governess Mrs. Weston (Chapter 26). Over the course of the novel, Emma Woodhouse, "handsome, clever, and rich," as she is referred to early on, must be educated to be worthy of her genetic and financial inheritance (Chapter 1). A critical component of her education at the hands of Mr. Knightley is to learn to be a better mimic of truly the 'better sort' of people and ultimately find her true self. She begins the novel an imitator of the heroines of romantic novels that she reads and dashing, irresponsible aristocrats like Frank Churchill. She ends the novel a sadder, wiser woman more in touch with reality and no longer simply obsessed with the drama created in her own mind. At Box Hill, Emma finally abandons her role as a mimic of a character in a great drama, or a witty social dilettante, and accepts the reality of the world around her.

Emma's talent for mimicry can be seen early on when Mr. Knightley remarks upon how Emma is forever drawing up lists of books to improve herself, which she never gets around to reading. Emma's efforts at drawing and playing music, later in the novel, also highlight her lack of application: she can draw a convincing likeness of her friend Harriet Smith or play a pleasing tune, but her efforts are always superficial. Emma, always dwelling on surface appearances, sees herself as a matchmaker. She brags that it was she who created the match between her old governess Miss Taylor and the widowed Miss Weston. Emma's perceived talent is part of how she styles herself to the world: as someone who is clever at manipulating people. However, Emma's actual perception of reality and reality itself are often not commensurate. The fact that she has often assumed the role of mistress in her father's house has given her a sense of self-importance beyond her education. This can be seen in the language her elderly father uses to describe his daughter at one point: "I leave an excellent substitute in my daughter" (Chapter 8, italics mine). Emma has been called upon at an early age to play the role of a great lady, before she has had the moral education that Mr. Knightley will provide. She is only a substitute, not the 'real thing.'

This is particularly evident in Emma's 'adoption' of Harriet Smith, a lower-class girl whom Emma hopes to groom for a great romance with Mr. Elton, a man far above her in social status. Emma once again takes on the dramatic role of a matchmaker, and loves the fact that Harriet is so compliant and grateful: "Her [Harriet's] early attachment to herself [Emma] was very amiable; and her inclination for good company, and power of appreciating what was elegant and clever, shewed that there was no want of taste, though strength of understanding must not be expected" (Chapter 4). Emma even dissuades Harriet from marrying a farmer, Mr. Martin, who loves Harriet. Mr. Knightly believes this is a supremely stupid move, given the fact that Harriet is an orphan and is lucky to find a match anywhere. Emma self-styles herself as an educator of Harriet, along the lines of her adored former governess and Mr. Knightley, and fails miserably. Furthermore, Mr. Elton perceives Emma's advancement of Harriet's interests as Emma's mimicking the role of a lover, not of Harriet's friendship: "Miss Woodhouse! who can think of Miss Smith, when Miss Woodhouse is near!" (Chapter 15). Ironically, just as Mr. Elton perceives Miss Smith to be below him, Emma believes herself to be far above Mr. Elton.

Emma initially mimics the educating roles of her beloved governess and Mr. Knightley. Yet she is also impressionable enough to unconsciously mimic the less mannerly and genteel members of her society. For example, Mr. Elton eventually weds a rude and self-important woman whose role-playing of a great lady, despite the fact that she "brought no name, no blood, no alliance" to the union makes her an irritant to all of the inhabitants of Emma's social circle (Chapter 22). Emma describes Mrs. Elton as "self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred" (Chapter 33). Emma becomes emotionally attached to Frank Churchill, despite his superficiality, as evidenced in the exorbitant price Churchill pays for a haircut in London. But Emma unconsciously mimics both Mrs. Elton and Churchill when she makes fun of Miss Bates. Emma shows the ill-bred snobbery of Miss Elton and the careless indifference of Frank Churchill.