Final Emma Discussion

Throughout Jane Austen's novel Emma, the main protagonist Emma remains steadfast about her decisions and remains very stubborn. Yet, I believe that as the novel progresses Emma becomes increasingly compassionate, but dependent on others. Emma has transformed from a selfish person in the beginning of volume three to a compassionate person. She went was very mean and disrespectful to Miss Bates; Emma was so disrespectful that Mr. Knightly told her about how wrong it was to mock Miss Bates. Miss Bates is a kind person that is in danger of losing the standard of living that she is used to, since women back in the Regent Era could not inherit property. Yet Emma was insulting towards Miss Bates, but after this incident Emma started becoming more compassionate. Emma went to visit the Bates the first thing the very next day and felt even worse about her actions when she saw how kind Miss Bates was acting. By going to see Miss Bates, Emma was adopting Mr. Knightly's beliefs. Mr. Knightly believed that it is cruel to offend a kind destitute women and Emma used Mr, Knightly as her conscience. By using Mr. Knightly as a conscience, Emma becomes more compassionate, but becomes more dependent on him. Later Emma found out that Jane remained in her room, due to a headache. Emma found out that Jane has accepted a governess position and felt sorry for her, which is a major change in Emma since she dislikes Jane. Also, Mr. Knightly has a favorable view on Jane, so Emma is changing her opinions to be identical to Mr.Knightly, as a result Emma becomes even more dependent on Mr. Knightly. Furthermore  Emma becomes ashamed of her earlier conjectures about Jane's relationship with Mr. Dixon, even though at the time she was laughing about what she did. Moreover, by questioning her actions towards Jane, Emma is starting to lose her selfish ideals and is starting to become increasingly compassionate. Emma attempts to provide assistance to Jane, inviting her to Hartfield, sending her healthful foods, and attempting to visit her. Yet, Jane refuses Emma's invitations, and says that she is ill. instead of being angry over Jane's constant refusals, Emma only feels sadness, which shows that Emma is becoming a nicer person. Later in the novel, Emma finds out that Frank Churchill and Jain Fairfax are secretly engaged. Instead of being angry at Jane, Emma feels concerned over Harriet's feelings, which shows that Emma is becoming more compassionate. Emma felt so concerned that she dreaded telling Harriet the news, and was relieved when she found out that Harriet was not in love with Frank, though Emma becomes upset when she finds out that Mr.Knightly is Harriet's crush. Later when Emma and Mr.Knightly become engaged, Emma is filled with worry over Harriet's feelings and her father's well being. Emma decided to postpone the marriage until her father passes away, because she is concerned over her father and is becoming a very compassionate person. Yet by not being able to have the ideal marriage that she desires, Emma shows that she is dependent on her father's opinions of her. In addition, by getting married, Emma becomes the property of Mr. Knightly which makes her less her independence. In addition, Emma decides to write a letter to Harriet explaining her impending marriage with Mr. Knightly and decides to send Harriet off to London to give her time to adjust. Emma becomes such a compassionate person that she forgives Frank easily after she has read his letter. Although throughout the novel Emma was a very selfish person, towards the end of the novel she becomes a very compassionate person and worries over others' feelings, but loses some of her independence in the process.