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  • Essay / Analysis of Emma's Personality in the Movie Clueless

    Jane Austen's many novels contain a complexity of thought and depth of character that sets them apart from other stories; Emma is no exception to this general rule. In fact, Emma's most winning trait might just be the roundness of its characters. Each character displays unique behaviors that reflect most individuals' realistic mix of good and bad habits. The one-dimensional character development that occurs in Clueless, a 1995 film adaptation of Emma, ​​constitutes a fascinating contradiction. Clueless's simplistic approach to plot and characterization enhances and detracts from Emma's original story. Regardless, Clueless's take on Emma's personalities is effective in that it expands the full range of possible interpretations of the novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay At the forefront of any discussion of Emma is Austen's interesting, multidimensional portrait of her protagonist, Emma. While Austen claimed to be writing about a character that "no one" except herself would like "very much", Emma nevertheless seems attractive and good. The very first sentence of the novel describes her as "beautiful, intelligent, and rich" and displaying some of the "best blessings of existence" (Austen 37). She has the “sense,” “energy,” and “wit” that others lack, and the care she takes for her father is admirable (Austen 49). While Emma also seems very class-conscious and a bit naive, Austen clearly establishes Emma as a character with only the best intentions. Austen does not hesitate to point out Emma's faults; however, she avoids dwelling on it. For example, when Mr. Elton declares his love for Emma, ​​she is "insulted" by the "arrogance" of this social "inferior"; she goes on to complain about the presumption of one of such modest connections (Austen 154). This, along with Emma's various other hierarchical remarks, highlights Emma's aristocratic and superficial side. At the same time, Emma's qualities constantly shine through. She admits the "worst" mistake in the Elton incident was her own and regrets "shining light" on something as serious as love, showing true remorse and awareness of the wrongs of her role as matchmaker (Austen 155). This pattern repeats throughout the novel; Emma seems blind to her faults but redeems herself as soon as she recognizes them. Because of her good situation and good fortune, Emma is only forced to acknowledge her faults when she herself wishes to do so. The fact that Emma willingly, sincerely, and willingly tries to improve herself says a lot about her character. Clueless presents a portrayal of Emma that places more emphasis on the negative aspects of her personality. Cher, a Beverly Hills version of Emma, ​​seems overly shallow and superficial, and almost everything she does is motivated by self-interest. She sets up Mr. Hall and Mrs. Geist partly for entertainment, but mainly for Mr. Hall to improve his grades, thus showing his selfish nature. Her condescension becomes evident when she declares, “Ooh, project!” seeing Harriet; his desire to use his popularity for a “good cause” underlines his arrogance. While walking around her high school campus identifying the different social groups, the reader sees the same social consciousness that Emma emphasizes. Perhaps the most surprising moment in the film is when Cher tells Lucy that she doesn't "speak Mexican." Although Cher apologizes to Lucy, she doesn't understand why that would be.