We have for your amusement

We have for your amusement the rebuttal portion of the Jane Austen Cage
Match. To read our original essays go here.

Here is Robert's rebuttal:

It is ironic that Kathy chose to emphasize the strengths of Elizabeth Bennet’s character and the challenges she chose to face as the basis for her argument that Elizabeth is a more enjoyable person to read about than Emma Woodhouse. I believe that it this simple “plucky underdog” theme that makes both Elizabeth herself and Pride & Prejudice that much less satisfying. I noted that Elizabeth’s many virtues come “pre-packaged.” She is undoubtedly strong and sensible, unquestionably courageous and possessed of great moral character, intellect and wit. But this is so from the very outset. There is little growth in her character because she faces little internal challenge. Elizabeth is Austen’s surrogate. And while Austen uses Elizabeth as a vehicle for commenting on the personal and social struggles of the world around her, doing so with great style, wit and grace, they remain external struggles. As a result, of course we admire Elizabeth. We cheer for her. But denied a more intimate emotional connection via internal crisis and resolution, we don’t love her in the same way as we do Emma. Elizabeth is simply a flatter character. I’ve said nothing about Elizabeth’s faults because they are not that critical to the enjoyment of her character, even though they serve as a mechanism to develop the central crises of the plot. While Elizabeth’s impulsiveness and judgementalism cause her to misjudge Wickham and prejudice her against Darcy, again, we never dig into her psyche far enough to gain the same emotional satisfaction at seeing her come face to face with them as we do with Emma’s self-blinding vanity. Elizabeth must admit to her mistakes and overcome the damage caused by them, but she need not face the issue of whether her faults are fundamental – she need never face the awful question of whether she is a good person. Such deep introspection simply is not required to resolve the plot. Of course, Pride & Prejudice is not that kind of story. As I said, Elizabeth’s struggle is not with herself, but with the world around her. But again, this is why I like this book, and Elizabeth herself, less than Emma. The unquestionably good heroine, a rebel within her own home, uses her wit, wisdom and strength to protect her weak and clueless friends and family, foil the villainous plots of The Establishment, and cause the God-like rich and handsome hero to pay for his early haughtiness, go through a period of penitent anguish and, in the end, worship her on her own terms. Not to be unkind about it, but these are the fantasies of the young – self-centered, simple and idealistic. Austen spent many years working on Pride & Prejudice before it was finally published. I believe the characters and plot never quite escaped their youthful origins. By contrast, Emma, written at the height of Austen’s powers, is a more mature work, a character study of great internal complexity and ultimate emotional depth yielding a heroine much more satisfying to the reader.

And, once again, here is mine.

If, as Robert claims, “there is a certain ‘pitchfork and torches’ character to most criticism of Emma,” it’s only because one wants to use a pitchfork to judiciously poke the esteemed Miss Woodhouse. This urge also lingers long after the book is finished. Which, I’m afraid, knowing what we know about Austen’s novels, makes one wonder why, exactly, is there a lingering resentment? Shouldn’t we believe that Emma has reformed herself? We should be satisfied that all is right in Highbury, shouldn’t we? Unfortunately, I find this is not the case and the answer lies in the character of the novel’s namesake. We are assured of Emma’s goodness, yet she is vain, and her goodness is, at times, given with an eye partially turned toward how well goodness would further her schemes. She may take Harriet Smith under her wing, a kind act to be sure, but it is only to further her wishes for Mr. Elton. Emma is intelligent but she is lacking in the area most needed to complement intelligence: common sense. Enter Mr. Knightley, possessed with an overabundance, and we have found the perfect foil for Miss Woodhouse: someone to correct her when she strays. We feel her shame after the Box Hill incident, but we are told before she says those shameful words that “she could not help herself,” implying she knew it was wrong, but uttered them anyway. Ultimately, the incident that leaves me the most dissatisfied is Emma’s relief at Harriet’s engagement. She is as happy for herself as she is for Harriet, having seemingly been let off the hook for inadvertently encouraging Harriet’s feelings toward Knightley. Now that Harriet is settled, she is free to be happy for her own engagement without any lingering traces of guilt. Had Knightley known about said encouragement, what would he have said to Emma then? If Elizabeth Bennet is “pre-packaged” and her conflict comes from without, then what are we to think about the conflict in Emma? That rich girls have lessons to learn too? Who pays the most for the errors of Emma’s ways? Not Emma. While Elizabeth has her flaws, she has at least formed her character to an extent that she may rely upon her sense to know when she has gone wrong. I do not believe one can say the same of Emma, who would be lost in a world of vanity were it not for Mr. Knightley. Elizabeth’s faults, in presupposing Mr. Darcy’s guilt in Wickham’s situation, lie in relying too strongly upon the products of her own sense and intellect; Emma’s faults lie in not having enough sense to know better. One gets the impression that Mr. Knightley will forever be correcting his wife; if Emma has truly learned the errors of her ways, why should this be the case? Pride and Prejudice is a satisfying novel because of the character of its protagonists, who will take the lessons they have learned to heart. Can we say the same of Emma?

Coming soon to a blogging wrestling match near you on TUESDAY, TUESDAY, TUESDAY!...the Bonus Reply round, after which, we will finally shut up and then you may be the judge of our little contest.

UPDATE: Robert finally got back from a big lawerly lunch and posted them over at The Llamabutchers.

Posted by Kathy at July 1, 2004 12:55 PM | TrackBack