From what I got out of Chapter 1 is Jane getting readers more familiar with the characters of the book, especially Emma. She also describes the relationship between Emma and her father fairly well. In some ways, I could see how this relates to some of our Hmong women. In the earlier years, Hmong young women live at home until they've been asked for their hand in marriage. Her father has some detachment issues when his eldest daughter gets married and moves away. Aside from this, Emma came across as snobbish to me, kind of like a Ms. Know It All. She would be someone that I couldn't find myself being able to associate with. I can't stand girls like that. I do, however, have respect her for her adoration of her father. I'm quite familiar of Jane Austen's background. In a certain aspect, I would say Ms. Austen does have similarities to her character, Emma. For example, both view marriage as not so much of an opportunity for themselves.
Thoughts?
My view in life is that someone who tries to make matches is hoping to have someone else make one for her as well. So, Emma's interest in match-making for Ms. Taylor and claims to be interested in making one for Mr. Elton eventually--those are really just signs that she is hoping someone would find her a suitor as well. But that's just my opinion about life.
But Emma's match-making is not a complete match-making. Look at what Mr. Knightley says about it near the end of the chapter. Emma claims she had hoped that Ms. Taylor and Mr. Weston would work out since they first met. But she has not done much to encourage the relationship, has she? She does say she has
smoothed out certain things. But Mr. Knightley does not seem convinced that those were enough for match-making. They don't talk about what really constitutes match-making--how many steps are involved, what one really has to do more to consider it one's success in it, etc.They just love to fight with each other, it seems. But Mr. Knightley seems to think Emma has not done enough to deserve calling it her match-making success. Jane Austen does not go deeper into Emma's efforts. Instead, she turns the conversation back to a report on the wedding--just about who cried and who didn't.
Authors really are not that different from their protaganists--or main characters. So, I agree with you, HisMystery, that Jane Austen is very much like Emma.
They are interested in putting other into marriages but seem to forget about themselves, correct?
Anyway, Emma's relationship with her father is very intimate, although she seems to think that her father is no match for Ms. Taylor (or Mrs. Weston). Emma addresses him as "papa," and seems to speak softly to him every time. But Jane Austen tells us that her father just can't carry the same conversation with Emma that Ms. Taylor is able to do--even intelligence-wise. Mr. Woodhouse is easily depressed, etc. And there is no one else in not just Hartfield where Emma's house is but all over Highbury--the larger town-like village that Hartfield is also a tiny part of. That is why Emma misses Ms. Taylor so much. Jane Austen calls this moment a "sorrow" for Emma. However, the intimacy between Mr. Woodhouse and Emma are probably unmatched in many other families, either.
I find it interesting that Emma's 21 years in Highbury has gotten her no other friends in that village except for Ms. Taylor. As we are told, Ms. Taylor raised both her and her sister since Emma was five. She was more fond of Emma than with Isabella. Upon Isabella's marriage several years later, Ms. Taylor became closer to Emma. That closeness lasted about 7 years before Ms. Taylor finally married Mr. Weston and moved out. But even before she moved out, there was very little disciplining she imposed on Emma. They were friends such that no others have had, Jane Austen describes. Someone she could say anything to without fear, it seems. Emma respected Ms. Taylor's judgment but also dictated her own. In short, she could speak her mind and yet no one would mind or told her she was wrong. That's probably why Jane Austen says Emma has thought a little too well of herself and that such is sure to "threaten alloy to her many enjoyments" in life. (Such personality devalues her enjoyments in life, that is.) Sounds like she is not going to get along with people. Just look at her fight with Mr. Knightley at the end of the chapter. Perhaps that's what we are going to see more of Emma?
