Speech-Comparison_of_Emma_by_Jane_Austen_and_Film_Clueless

Is there merit in studying texts from different places and different times' This question has been a topic of discussion throughout history and has now been raised in our comparative study of Jane Austen’s novel Emma and Amy Heckerlings’s post-modern film Clueless. It is through these two texts that extensive knowledge and understanding can be ascertained by studying different places and times to allow for a perspective to be gained from both the past and present allowing for a holistic and fuller view of the values of romance and marriage in different contexts. The two texts effortlessly present these parameters of romance and marriage through the themes of social status and self-knowledge. Jane Austen’s novel Emma was composed in 1815 during the Regency Period. It was a time of great confidence and optimism in England with the British overpowering Napoleon but also of great change with the Industrial Revolution underway. Social values were also on the verge of change where upper classes were attempting to place emphasis on the distinction between the rich and poor, etiquette and gentleman like behavior, as new urban families threatened the traditional values of the upper class. This particular value is represented in Austen’s novel, which is set in the large village of Highbury. An example of this is when Emma dissuades Harriet from a match with Mr. Martin as she believes he is of a lower class, defining him “of low origin, in trade and only moderately genteel”, reiterating insular behavior of the upper class. Amy Heckerling’s film Clueless also operates in a microscopic world. It is set in the late 20th century in Los Angeles and is depicted as post-industrial, materialistic and a consumer driven body. The commercial- like setting of Clueless is vital to allow characters to interact and establish values. This idea is observed through a montage of moving camera shots and blurred backgrounds to reflect the commercial and consumer values of the protagonist, Cher. In the film, females characters rather than aspiring to marriage as they do in Emma instead aspire to have relationships such as Josh’s mother whom is with “husband number four”. A theme relevant to both Emma and Clueless that enables the audience to acquire a fuller perspective of romance and marriage in the two different contexts is social status. In Emma social status is affected by one’s family background, wealth and most importantly who one could marry. In English society it was only acceptable to marry into ones own class. An example of this is occurs after dinner when Mr. Elton confesses his love to Emma, however he is rejected as Emma believes he loves Harriet. Mr. Elton is shocked at the idea that he could have feelings for a woman that is not of “an equal alliance” and he emphasizes his disgust through his endless dialogue and repetition of “Miss Smith, Miss Smith”. This scene shows that romance between two people of different social classes was not considered acceptable. Similarly, in Clueless ones social status is based on a certain criteria including ones image, popularity and wealth. Heckerling divides the school into rigid social groups and using panning shots along with Cher’s overvoice as she introduces them to Tai, saying “They’re the Persian Mafia: you cant hang with them unless you own BMW’s” and their “the loadies, who no respectable girl would date”. Cher is explaining to Tai that there are social rules within the school, which dictate who she is able to date. The study of these two texts, which are from different times shows that the factors on which social status are based on have changed, but social status is still a dominating factor in society A theme that was particularly influential in regards to romance and marriage throughout both texts was self-knowledge and is evident throughout the course of the novel as Emma matures. An example of this comes to light during the Boxhill picnic where Emma insults Miss Bates, however later is reprimanded by Mr. Knightley for her “insolence” to a women “of her character, age and situation”. This is the turning point of Emma’s character, as the following day she decides to call upon Miss Bates to show genuine interest in her well-being. This leads to Emma being forgiven. From this point on as Emma gains a greater degree of self- knowledge and the omniscient narrator is removed and the reader is moved into first person narrative. This scene is followed by Mr. Knightley’s approval of Emma’s behavior ‘as he looked at her with a glow of regard’ allowing room later for a romantic development. Similarly, this concept is developed in Clueless when Cher is watching the news and when asked by Josh why she is watching the news she replies, “I care about the news”, showing that she is becoming less self-absorbed and trying to gain his approval which leads to the development a romantic relationship with him. The study of these two texts from the different times show that maturity and growth in an individual and the will to become a better person inspires true love. Overall, my study of Jane Austen’s novel Emma and Amy Heckerling’s film Clueless has led me to understand that there is true merit in studying texts from different places and different times. Both texts though in different contexts present universal and unchanged values which at the same time are contrasted, highlighting societal change in romance and marriage.