As Emma and her family navigate this challenging path, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
After her experience on Box Hill, Emma is forced to assess her actions more carefully. In their conversation with Knightley, Austen employs free indirect discourse as a literary technique to summon Emma’s consciousness through third-person narrative voice.
Emma’s Argument
Emma Argue with Principal Figgins engages in an argument with Principal Figgins that disrupts a school assembly. Despite being told she should back down, Emma insists on her right to express herself freely despite Principal Figgins’ attempts at mediation. This conflict raises issues surrounding maintaining an orderly environment within schools as well as how students’ rights must be balanced with their responsibilities.
She contends that Elton’s feelings for her aren’t genuine, which shows both her selfish attitude and lack of understanding for him.
Austen was a pioneer of dramatic presentation. Her ability to present characters so realistically that readers believe them as real people was unrivaled by any novelist of her time. Additionally, she was an advocate for anarchism, free love/sexual freedom and women’s rights; criticizing marriage for its hypocrisy and oppressiveness while believing individuals should decide for themselves whether they remain together or part ways.
Knightley’s Argument
After their conflict over Harriet and Robert Martin, Emma and Knightley become involved in an argument over their respective perspectives of class and family ties. Knightley emphasizes the sensibility and inner qualities of his friend while Emma believes external status should take precedence.
Austen’s dialogue here goes beyond simply discussing class; rather, it demonstrates Emma has matured over time and no longer displays such arrogance in her dealings with those around her.
She still defends Emma’s status quo view, but is less quick to make generalized and unverifiable statements that are both accurate in principle yet vague in their application. Austen shows incredible debating skills here by employing ventriloquism to present Emma with morally “correct” arguments while underlining Emma’s view. It was truly brilliant.
Emma’s Response
Emma’s encounter with Principal Figgins highlights the tension between students’ right to free expression and school administrators’ obligation to maintain order during assemblies, and upholding discipline and authority within an educational environment. This dialogue also raises broader issues surrounding discipline and authority in educational settings.
At the end of it all, it becomes apparent that Emma will never change her opinion of Mr. Martin; however, she softens her attitude toward Harriet and offers advice about how she might word her rejection letter. This event marks an important turning point as Emma examines her beliefs regarding social status and relationships within herself.
Austen has created an extraordinary argument scene. Whether you read her text or watch Autumn de Wilde’s 2020 adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn, it will leave you considering power, privilege, assumptions and standards of behavior.
Knightley’s Response
Knightley begins to articulate his argument against Emma’s insistence on expected and restrictive gender roles and, specifically, her interference with Frank’s romantic life.
His argument draws on Adam Smith’s notion of an impartial spectator and asserts that wise individuals do not interfere in other people’s affairs, leaving it up to individuals themselves to decide the appropriate course of action.
He insists he doesn’t want a wife who criticizes him and his friends and family publicly; yet he remains angry with Emma for interfering with Harriet’s situation and insulting Miss Bates. This scene marks a turning point in their relationship; Emma begins showing more respect for the limitations of her power and knowledge while learning to use sympathetic imagination more effectively – something Mr. Elton finds “mortifying and humiliating,” particularly after Mrs. Weston pushes him into dancing with Harriet against his will.
