Q2 Emma

This week I continued reading Emma. I really enjoy this book but find it hard to read for long periods of time due to the language and length of each section. I am now on page 70 of the book. One part of the book I liked was when Mr. Knightly said to Mrs. Weston about Emma, “She always declares she will never marry, which, of course, means just nothing at all. But I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man she cared for” (5, 37). I thought a lot about this quote this week because while talking with my friend one day she claimed she would not date anyone in high school. I immediately thought of this quote in Emma. My friend, like Emma, may be able to make that claim now and mean it with all her heart. But when a man comes along that captures my friend or Emma’s attention, they will probably go back on their word. The ironic part of Mr. Knightly saying this is that he goes on to fall in love with Emma. He may have even loved her when he said this. Mr. Knightly thinks that when Emma meets a man that captivates her, she will marry him. Mr. Elton will come along and propose but Emma will refuse because he does not interest her. But when she begins to see Mr. Knightly in a new light, she is horrified to find that Harriet likes him. In the end, Emma and Mr. Knightly marry even though she has known him for a long time and even though he sees so many faults in her. Perhaps my friend also already knows that man she will love. She just needs to see him in a new light.