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1mbevel1972
I've been asked to speak to the Jane Austen Society. I've been asked to speak about Emma. What I'm wondering is: what? What would make an interesting topic, not just for a group of enthusiasts, but for people just interested in interesting things? I'd love to read any suggestions shared.
2susanbooks
Congratulations & what a great question. I look forward to hearing what people say.
I know for me, my most successful lectures are ones I'm enthused about. So my talking about, say, the influence of English trade policy on Emma, would be awful. So I'm throwing the question back at you. What intrigues you about the book?
I know for me, my most successful lectures are ones I'm enthused about. So my talking about, say, the influence of English trade policy on Emma, would be awful. So I'm throwing the question back at you. What intrigues you about the book?
3TheoClarke
Themes that suggest themselves to me are:
Matchmaking in Georgian England
Joan Aiken: Emma's other biographer
Georgian Leatherhead
Matchmaking in Georgian England
Joan Aiken: Emma's other biographer
Georgian Leatherhead
4Andrew-Constantine
A few thoughts which you may well already have noted somewhere else:
- Miss Bates in her gossipy ramblings keeps on showing a rather better understanding of the plot than Emma does.
- Jane once wrote to the effect that single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor, which is one very strong argument in favour of matrimony. After her father's death Jane, Cassandra and their mother were supported by the financial contributions of their brothers. Without these, the Austen women could easily have fallen down the social scale ... rather like the Bates women.
- Jane was reported to have said that after the action of the novel had taken place, Jane Fairfax would die in childbirth. How many of Jane's sisters in law were to die in this way - 3 or 4?
- Emma's father was a rather nasty man, and extraordinarily selfish, but his true character is carefully disguised by Jane so he comes across as merely concerned for others.
- As with some other 'important' characters in her other novels who Jane wishes us to not to take too seriously, Mr Perry while often quoted by Emma's father is not allowed to speak directly.
- The dedication of 'Emma' to the Prince Regent was brought about by James Stanier Clarke who being a very competent amateur artist may have painted an accurate watercolour full length of Jane in his 'Book of Friendship'.
- Miss Bates in her gossipy ramblings keeps on showing a rather better understanding of the plot than Emma does.
- Jane once wrote to the effect that single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor, which is one very strong argument in favour of matrimony. After her father's death Jane, Cassandra and their mother were supported by the financial contributions of their brothers. Without these, the Austen women could easily have fallen down the social scale ... rather like the Bates women.
- Jane was reported to have said that after the action of the novel had taken place, Jane Fairfax would die in childbirth. How many of Jane's sisters in law were to die in this way - 3 or 4?
- Emma's father was a rather nasty man, and extraordinarily selfish, but his true character is carefully disguised by Jane so he comes across as merely concerned for others.
- As with some other 'important' characters in her other novels who Jane wishes us to not to take too seriously, Mr Perry while often quoted by Emma's father is not allowed to speak directly.
- The dedication of 'Emma' to the Prince Regent was brought about by James Stanier Clarke who being a very competent amateur artist may have painted an accurate watercolour full length of Jane in his 'Book of Friendship'.
5susanbooks
Oh, James Stanier Clarke! I've spent many a classroom half hour telling that story. Maybe that would be cool for the Austen Society? It's certainly hilarious & evidence of Jane's great patience & tact.
ETA: and evidence, too, that mansplaining existed long before our time.
ETA: and evidence, too, that mansplaining existed long before our time.
6mbevel1972
Ah. Therein lies the rub, so to speak. I...'m not crazy about "Emma." I'm a Mansfield Park man from way back. (I countered with "Mansfield Park," but was told (a) of all, no one reads that book; and (2) of all, "Emma," the novel, has a Milestone Birthday in December.)
I'm fascinated by morality -- both exhibited and aspirational. I'm thinking *that* may be the direction I take the talk: Is Emma Woodhouse moral? Does she become so? And how does the morality of the Regency lend itself to the sort of metastasized morality of the Victorian era?
I'm fascinated by morality -- both exhibited and aspirational. I'm thinking *that* may be the direction I take the talk: Is Emma Woodhouse moral? Does she become so? And how does the morality of the Regency lend itself to the sort of metastasized morality of the Victorian era?
7mbevel1972
(I'm learning how these message threads work)
TheoClarke:
I like the Joan Aiken angle -- mostly because I had never heard of her until I just read her name here and am wondering about a presentation that looks at the various ways Emma herself shows up in other art: How is she handled by Austen? How is she handled by filmmakers? How is she looked at by other writers?
This was good! Thanks.
TheoClarke:
I like the Joan Aiken angle -- mostly because I had never heard of her until I just read her name here and am wondering about a presentation that looks at the various ways Emma herself shows up in other art: How is she handled by Austen? How is she handled by filmmakers? How is she looked at by other writers?
This was good! Thanks.
8mbevel1972
JAMES STANIER CLARKE!
That topic may have just pushed itself into the lead -- especially since I'm giving another talk (for the same month-long library program) on The Regency and the Terrible Georges (+ William).
TERRIFIC! This is great. Thanks.
That topic may have just pushed itself into the lead -- especially since I'm giving another talk (for the same month-long library program) on The Regency and the Terrible Georges (+ William).
TERRIFIC! This is great. Thanks.
9MarthaJeanne
>6 mbevel1972: What? Emma's fine, but I'm with you on loving Mansfield Park.
BTW To get the link, just type the > and message number without a break.
BTW To get the link, just type the > and message number without a break.
10susanbooks
I fell in love with Mansfield Park when I read Lovers' Vows, the play they rehearse. The novel came alive for me then.
As for not loving Emma, I'm as taken aback as Lady Catherine de Bourgh on one of her worst days!
As for not loving Emma, I'm as taken aback as Lady Catherine de Bourgh on one of her worst days!
