Perception and Deception in Jane Austens' Emma
ENN203J: Jane Austen 28/02/2013
ASSIGNMENT 01: Emma
STUDENT NUMBER: 51004623
The misunderstandings with regard to perception and deception in Jane Austen’s novel Emma undeniably suggest something sinister about human nature, given the negative effects it has on those that fall prey to such conjecture. However, the misunderstandings may also render the novel comedic to a certain extent because of the ironic amusement throughout, which involves complete misunderstandings from characters on all sides. Austen’s renowned overall irony throughout these misunderstandings and her use of sharp social commentary that is extremely entertaining, witty and clever also adds to the amusement of the novel. This Essay will discuss different scenarios and use different examples from the novel to show how the different outcomes of such distorted perception and deception suggest something sinister about human nature.
It can be observed that some of the more sinister and destructive traits of human nature, namely: speculation and conjecture play a big part in this novel, unfortunately often leading to complete misunderstandings and despondency. Although speculating about other people’s lives and relationships is typically a common trait of human curiosity; there is a vast difference between innocent speculation and going above and beyond the innocent making of guesses by adding substance to assumptions and allowing personal preferences and desires to completely blind one’s judgement. It is evident throughout the novel that some characters are determined to promote their conjectures and turn them into facts; it is this somewhat menacing interference that often has a damaging heart throbbing effect on its victims.
“Seldom, very seldom, does truth belong to any human disclosure.” It can be argued that this quotation could be taken as the novel’s motto. This novel is filled to the brim with disguises and mistakes, especially where Emma Woodhouse is involved, although she is
ASSIGNMENT 01: Emma
STUDENT NUMBER: 51004623
The misunderstandings with regard to perception and deception in Jane Austen’s novel Emma undeniably suggest something sinister about human nature, given the negative effects it has on those that fall prey to such conjecture. However, the misunderstandings may also render the novel comedic to a certain extent because of the ironic amusement throughout, which involves complete misunderstandings from characters on all sides. Austen’s renowned overall irony throughout these misunderstandings and her use of sharp social commentary that is extremely entertaining, witty and clever also adds to the amusement of the novel. This Essay will discuss different scenarios and use different examples from the novel to show how the different outcomes of such distorted perception and deception suggest something sinister about human nature.
It can be observed that some of the more sinister and destructive traits of human nature, namely: speculation and conjecture play a big part in this novel, unfortunately often leading to complete misunderstandings and despondency. Although speculating about other people’s lives and relationships is typically a common trait of human curiosity; there is a vast difference between innocent speculation and going above and beyond the innocent making of guesses by adding substance to assumptions and allowing personal preferences and desires to completely blind one’s judgement. It is evident throughout the novel that some characters are determined to promote their conjectures and turn them into facts; it is this somewhat menacing interference that often has a damaging heart throbbing effect on its victims.
“Seldom, very seldom, does truth belong to any human disclosure.” It can be argued that this quotation could be taken as the novel’s motto. This novel is filled to the brim with disguises and mistakes, especially where Emma Woodhouse is involved, although she is
References: Barbara Hardy, A Reading of Jane Austen. London: Peter Owen, 1975 Jane Austen, Emma. London: Collins Classics, 2010 SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Emma.” SparkNotes LLC. 2003. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/emma/ (accessed February 25, 2013).