Austenprose

“Never mind, Harriet, I shall not be a poor old maid; and it is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable, old maid! the proper sport of boys and girls; but a single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else. Emma Woodhouse, Emma, Chapter 10

I am all anticipation of the airing of the 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma next Sunday, March 23rd on Masterpiece Classic. Of the three film versions of Emma available, I think that screenwriter Andrew Davies and director Diarmuid Lawrence have captured the closest interpretation of Jane Austen’s original intentions of plot and characters. This version has been called darker, and more surly, and that is exactly why I think that Jane Austen would have approved. She was concerned after the publication of Pride and Prejudice in 1813, that it was “rather too light, and bright, and sparkling; it wants shade“. I think that she made up for it with Emma!

Emma Woodhouse is Jane Austen’s only heroine that is not troubled by finances. She has every advantage of money and position being the mistress of the first house of consequence in Highbury. Coupled with the death of her mother at an early age, and her unchecked upbringing, she thinks a rather too well of herself for her own good. This personality foible is the premise of the novel.

The interesting mix of social and financial advantage, and unregulated nurture has created a unique heroine that Jane Austen warned her family of prior to the novels publication in 1816; “I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like.” And I must confess, that at times I do not like Emma a bit, wanting to apply a swift kick to her backside when her snobbish and directorial instincts pop up.

Loving to hate Miss Woodhouse is one of the most endearing aspects of Emma to intrigue readers and critics for close to two hundred years. The novel has over the centuries been praised for its astute and unique characterizations. Its diverse range of human personality strengths and weaknesses are so encompassing that one can find a bit of our friends, family and ourselves within the Highbury community. Who does not know a chatty Miss Bates or a valetudinarian such as Mr. Woodhouse within your acquaintance? I for one know a spoiled and officious young lady who makes Emma Woodhouse an angel!

Cast preview

Emma Woodhouse (Kate Beckinsale) Single. Heroine. Age 21. Daughter of Mr. Woodhouse of  Hartfield near Highbury. Sister of Isabella. Mother deceased. Handsome, clever and rich, who proclaims never to marry, but wants to match-make for all other unattached singletons in Highbury. Her notions of suitable couples drives her neighbor Mr. Knightley to distraction, resulting in his attempts to correct her missapplyments.

Mr. Henry Woodhouse (Bernard Hepton) Gentleman. Widow. Leading citizen of Highbury and owner of Hartfield, it’s largest estate. Elderly father of Emma and Isabella. Some say he is a hypochondriac, but according to experts, he is a valetudinarian. Excessively kind and caring of others needs. Loves gruel, a soft-boiled egg and a small serving of twice baked apple. Chief concerns; mewling infants, the weather, and the inconvenience of others marrying.

Mr. John Knightley (Mark Strong) Bachelor. Gentleman. Hero. A sensible man of about 37. Owner of the estate of Donwell Abbey which is about one mile from Hartfield. Frequent and welcome visitor of the Woodhouse’s. Local Magistrate, landlord, and all-around good citizen. His brother John married Isabella Woodhouse. Only person in Highbury who sees Emma’s faults and has the strength to attempt to correct them.

Mrs. Anne Weston nee Taylor (Samantha Bond) Married. A sensible woman who until her recent marriage to Mr. Weston, was Emma’s governess for sixteen years. Surrogate mother and dear friend to Emma and Mr. Woodhouse. unfortunately, she does not see Emma’s faults, and does not agree with Mr. Knightley that there is room for improvement. Her flexible and overly kind nature may account for Emma’s wilfulness.  

(Captain) Mr. Weston (James Hazeldine) Widow, but married Miss Taylor at the opening of the novel. Gentleman. A retired Captain, and recently wealthy owner of the estate Randalls, which is in the vicinity of Hartfield. Father of Frank Weston Churchill, by his deceased first wife Miss Churchill. Confidant and friend of Mr. Knightley. Gives a Christmas party at Randalls giving great distress to Mr. Woodhouse, since he must travel by carriage in the snow!

Mr. Frank Weston Churchill (Raymond Coulthard) Bachelor. Son of Mr. Weston, by his first wife. Adopted son of his late mother’s brother, Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, of Escombe. His long-awaited arrival in Highbury is a much-anticipated event. Secretly connected to another young lady in Highbury, he dances and flirts with Emma, diverting the community’s attention away from the real reason he is there. A favorite of the community, but Mr. Knightley sees through his façade.

Rev. Mr. Philip Elton (Dominic Rowan) Bachelor, but married during the novel. The attractive, well-mannered, and ambitious Vicar of Highbury, he sets his heart on Miss Woodhouse, who is way above his station in life. Marries wealthy Miss Hawkins of Bath on the rebound. She is a piece of work, and together they remain spiteful and manipulative toward Emma, never forgiving her for wanting him to marry Harriet Smith. 

Miss Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton) Single. 17 years old. The very pretty and unaffected natural daughter of somebody. Emma takes her under her wing and attempts to polish her manners and broaden her education, wishing to connect her with a match beyond her station in life. Gentle and obliging, she is often used for Emma’s officious match-making amusement. Mr. Knightley at first thinks she is a bad influence on Emma, but later  changes his mind.

Robert Martin (Alistair Petrie) Bachelor. Young industrious tenant farmer of Abbey-Mill Farm. Loves Miss Smith, but his proposal of marriage is declined because of Emma’s influence. Mr. Knightley values his tenant, but Emma feels that his station in life is below her notice, and not equal to her dear friend Harriet. He proves his love to Harriet by reading The Romance of the Forest instead of agricultural reports, and in the end, stays true to his heart.

Miss Hetty Bates (Prunella Scales) Spinster. Impoverished daughter of the late Rev. Bates and Mrs. Bates of Highbury. Sister to Jane Bates who married Lieut. Fairfax, and aunt to their daughter Jane. Garrulous to the point of distraction, she talks excessively about everything, and often does not make any sense. She represents everything in Emma’s mind that Emma thinks that she is not; - a ridiculous poor old maid.  

Miss Jane Fairfax (Olivia Williams) Single. Orphaned daughter of Lieut. Fairfax and Jane Bates. She was raised in some style by Col. Campbell of Ireland. She has recently moved to Highbury to reside with her relations, the Bates’. Elegant, and a highly accomplished pianist and singer, Jane is the only person in Highbury that Emma envies. Impoverished, she must work and is destined to become a governess. Jane is secretly engaged, but to whom, I will not reveal. 

Mrs. Augusta Elton nee Hawkins (Lucy Robinson) Married. Youngest daughter of a Bristol merchant, and sister to Selina. Wealthy and unrefined to the point of pretension. Boastful and domineering, she annoys Emma with her desire to form a musical club to improve the residents of Highbury. Her overt officious attentions to Jane Fairfax, are distressing to Jane, and vexing to Emma, who thinks that Mrs. Elton is “self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred.”

Please mark you calendars and set your watches for the Masterpiece Classic presentation of Emma, on Sunday, March 23rd at 9:00 pm on PBS, starring Kate Beckinsale as the irrepressible Emma Woodhouse, and Mark Strong as the only man in Highbury capable of putting her properly in her place. The glorious costumes and striking settings will surely amaze and delight, and the sparkling dialogue is sure to entertain.

*Images of the 1996 Emma courtesy of the Emma Adaptations website.