Privilege or Prison: Limitations of the Gentry in Emma
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC 201
Start Date
17-5-2012
End Date
17-5-2012
Abstract
“Privilege or Prison: Limitations of the Gentry in Emma” enters a literary debate regarding the privileged life of Emma Woodhouse in Jane Austen’s novel, Emma. On one side of the debate is the belief that it is Emma’s privilege that causes the troubling situations she finds herself in, while the other side argues that Emma is not as privileged as she first appears. By researching critical essays on the subject, as well as examining Emma’s actions through her relationships with other characters in the novel, this analysis demonstrates that privilege for Emma comes at a personal cost. While she may have all the comforts money and status can secure, her life is quite constricted by the rules of the society in which she lives as well as the demands of her relationship with her father. Consequently, even though Emma may appear to be making independent decisions throughout the novel, the people around her heavily influence her choices, taking away the very freedom her level of privilege should allow.
Recommended Citation
Nilsen, Cassandra, "Privilege or Prison: Limitations of the Gentry in Emma" (2012). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 13.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2012/oralpresentations/13
Additional Mentoring Department
English
Privilege or Prison: Limitations of the Gentry in Emma
SURC 201
“Privilege or Prison: Limitations of the Gentry in Emma” enters a literary debate regarding the privileged life of Emma Woodhouse in Jane Austen’s novel, Emma. On one side of the debate is the belief that it is Emma’s privilege that causes the troubling situations she finds herself in, while the other side argues that Emma is not as privileged as she first appears. By researching critical essays on the subject, as well as examining Emma’s actions through her relationships with other characters in the novel, this analysis demonstrates that privilege for Emma comes at a personal cost. While she may have all the comforts money and status can secure, her life is quite constricted by the rules of the society in which she lives as well as the demands of her relationship with her father. Consequently, even though Emma may appear to be making independent decisions throughout the novel, the people around her heavily influence her choices, taking away the very freedom her level of privilege should allow.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Christine Sutphin