I’ve had a hard time writing about Emma. On the one hand, it’s a Jane Austen novel, so I loved the characters, pacing and dialog. On the other hand, it’s Austen’s masterpiece, and her conservative philosophies, while difficult to overlook in her other books, are impossible to overlook here.

As one would expect from an Austen novel, the plot centers on young people searching for marriage partners. Emma is the daughter of a gentleman and has a large independent fortune (which makes her a desirable potential spouse). However, she is determined that she will never marry. She is strong-willed, funny and has an independent streak that sometimes ends in trouble. Her mother is deceased and her older sister is married, so she runs her father’s household. I really like Emma, and can easily imagine her as a friend.

The story moves through endless teas, visits, dinner parties, one ball, several picnics and more than one misunderstanding. In many ways, reading the book is like watching an 200 year-old episode of Three’s Company, with much better writing and crisper dialog. Or like reading the script to the movie Clueless, which was based on Emma. As I read the book, I kept exclaiming, “Emma is so stupid!”

However, (and this is a mild spoiler for those who have not read the book), Emma’s spirit is tamed in the end, when she accepts a marriage proposal. Emma admits that she has a lot to learn from her future husband and looks forward to growing into womanhood at his side. She rejects several of her wilder moments earlier in the book and wishes that she had only taken his guidance earlier as it would have saved everyone trouble. In sum, Emma gives up her independent ways and a significant chunk of her personality when she accepts this proposal. I was disappointed, although not surprised. I need to watch the A&E Pride & Prejudice video to recapture my Austen-love.