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 Bennet̢۪s 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 Austen̢۪s 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 don̢۪t love her in the same way as we do Emma. Elizabeth is simply
a flatter character. I̢۪ve said nothing about Elizabeth̢۪s 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 Elizabeth̢۪s 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
Emma̢۪s 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, Elizabeth̢۪s 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
Austen̢۪s 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, I̢۪m afraid, knowing what we know about Austen̢۪s novels,
makes one wonder why, exactly, is there a lingering resentment?
Shouldn̢۪t we believe that Emma has reformed herself? We should be satisfied
that all is right in Highbury, shouldn̢۪t we? Unfortunately, I find
this is not the case and the answer lies in the character of the
novel̢۪s namesake. We are assured of Emma̢۪s 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 Emma̢۪s relief at Harriet̢۪s engagement. She is as happy for
herself as she is for Harriet, having seemingly been let off the hook
for inadvertently encouraging Harriet̢۪s 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 Emma̢۪s 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. Elizabeth̢۪s faults, in presupposing Mr. Darcy̢۪s
guilt in Wickham̢۪s situation, lie in relying too strongly upon the
products of her own sense and intellect; Emma̢۪s 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 12:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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