How Clueless Are You? My "Ten Token" Reasons To Love Emma Woodhouse

From Cher Horowitz back to Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse - "handsome, clever, & rich"... is that all? Alias Indiana says: "Ugh, as if!"

Article Edited: December 22nd, 2022

"The companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain" - Mary Shelley

Today's ten-token topic is focused on the multifaceted masterpiece from Jane Austen, it is the titular character of Emma Woodhouse from the 1815 Austen novel named,

you guessed it, Emma!

As I have not yet read the entire novel (don't sue me!), I'm going to be focusing on my favourite take on the character from Autumn de Wilde's first directorial feature film released in 2020.

Here's a shot of the two similar characters side-by-side (credit of Buzzfeed):

As I'm sure you're well aware, the iconic character of Cher Horwitz from the 1995 film "Clueless" was another branch off of Austen's stem. This was one of my favourite films in my earlier teens, drooling at the glory of being a popular girl - but also finding how to be kind at the same time. I was well-versed in the Cher-world before I ever saw the Wilde interpretation, leading to a lot of small realizations throughout the progression of the film. Quick shoutout to the Gimli International Film Festival as the beachside viewing of "Clueless" made me love it even more. I attended it with my friend Shayne Sveinson,

we both still send each-other anything "Clueless" to this day. Though this loosely inspired adaptation is fantastic in it's own right, the Wilde film sticks closer to the book-built material (see what I did there?)

Don't expect Paul Rudd heading into "Emma" though, sadly this leading man was absent...

Though the Wilde film may have been knocked down a few pegs due to the 2020 version's de-Ruddification, it is still one of my favourite films to date. With the amazingly crafted cinematography, the over-the-top outfit choices, and the incredible language used by the awkwardly lovable characters - I have to re-watch it at least bi-monthly.

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It's Time For The "Ten Tokens"

Without further ado, let's look at Emma Woodhouse (Wilde's Version)

(and why YOU should love Emma as much as I do...)

First Reason: Her Character Growth

Emma Woodhouse walks onto the screen in the 2020 adaptation with the narration stating that before the viewer stands "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich."

Though all of these are true, as the plot progresses, I fell in love the development of Emma's character. By examining her own actions (and the harm they cause), she ends up pushing through these superficial labels. She expands upon her own definitions.

Handsomeness turns to inner beauty as well as outward, her cleverness opens new channels for empathy, her wealth is switched over into a wealth of good will, etc.

Second Reason: Her Expansion of Empathy

Emma's relationship with Harriet acts as a guiding light towards her greater path towards self-improvement. If we're basing this off of the "Clueless" adaptation, the character type of "Harriet" (2020) is equivalent to "Tai" (1995). I would be slacking if I didn't just use the 1995 film's title as the key descriptor for "Harriet"... the "Emma" of either story just thinks she is... simply "Clueless". She begins as a project for Emma's unending drive to be a matchmaker, she wants the satisfaction of success and steals all social autonomy from Harriet in order to protect her from making the wrong decisions (in the eyes of Emma). This is especially relevant when romance rolls around, but Emma's arc towards accepting Harriet's own choice shows her ability to release control - especially in the favour of a true and dear friend.

When focused on the 2020 version specifically, this relationship is tightly interwoven with her friends-to-lovers progression with her childhood companion, Mr. Knightley.

Third Reason: The Remix of the Romance

Here's a tidbit of information that I didn't know heading into this article (as I previously stated that I haven't ventured into the book... yet): There was originally a 16-year age gap between Emma and Mr. Knightley... yikes. Obviously, within the mental sphere of 1815 when the novel was first published, this fact wouldn't have the same shock value as it does in the modern-day.

John Gordon (a former lecturer at the University of East Anglia) commented on this by stating, "the man would already be established in his career and able to provide a comfortable household with a living-in servant or two." The worldly status desired of these partners is definitely fulfilled by the character of Mr. Knightley, which is able to be emphasized without distraction in the film by Wilde's lack of focus on this age gap.

I love Mr. Knightley in the Wilde film, his transition from friend-to-lover doesn't feel rushed or ingenuine. In the Time article on this revamped romance, they stated that "his conversion from Emma’s mentor to her lover is slow and subtle", which I definitely agree with. His ageless appearance in the 2020 film allows his presence to feel less paternalistic, more like a guiding force for Emma to realize her own downfalls.

I mean, just look at them here... are you kidding me?

Fourth Reason: Her Incredible Hair

Okay, I would be kicking myself for weeks if I wrote this article and didn't mention those glorious pencil-sized-circumference blonde curls adorning the head of the handsome Emma Woodhouse. Do they seem like the upkeep would make my servant want to die? Yes. But if I were the rich & clever Emma (at the beginning of the story), I would simply not care! Her attitude may change along with her empathy levels towards the end of the story, but the amazing hairdo stays her signature throughout.

The buoyancy of her hair attaches to the bouncy nature of her youth, her sweet look on love. The hair is almost as iconic as the Elizabeth Bennet pearl up-do from the dancing scene, which is a HUGE compliment on Emma's behalf.

Here's the incredible look featured on Emma that I'm blathering on about:

Fifth Reason: Her Love For Her Family

One of the easiest ways to fall in love with Emma Woodhouse is to watch how she interacts with her father. He's definitely one of the most... eccentric parts of the film. She indulges his frequent calls for the mysterious "drafts" around the house, making him feel validated rather than like he is going "mad". Regardless of his seemingly ridiculous nature, her love for him redeems his quirks. To be fair, perhaps he simply reminds me of my own father. This learned habit within their relationship reminds me of this same kindness given to her father by Belle in Beauty & The Beast, similarly, this is a shared redeeming quality between the two characters.

She extends this even when Mr. Knightley (spoiler!) brings up the topic of where they shall live once they are a married match, offering his own home to Emma. She gracefully denies this and is happy to hear that Mr. Knightley would "quit the abbey" to join her at her own family home, as to not desert her father. This interaction also proves that our favourite Mr. Knightley is keen to change as well, it isn't just some nonreciprocal thing he expects from Emma but isn't willing to accommodate himself.

Sixth Reason: Her Perplexing Proposal

Emma's reaction to Mr. Knightley's marriage offer can go down in history amid the likes of Elizabeth Bennet's iconic "last man on Earth I would ever be prevailed upon to marry" monologue. At this point in the story, she is convinced that Harriet is in love with him instead. This causes a momentary bit of confusion, but is soon cleared by Mr. Knightley's confession that he has also had his hand in the matchmaking sector of Highbury, England. He had been trying to connect Harriet back to her love match, Mr. Robert Martin, a commonplace man in the eyes of Emma. Regardless of the man Harriet favours, Emma grew enough towards the apex of the story to allow her own feelings to be buried if it meant providing well deserved (and well-delayed) happiness to Harriet.

She was willing to allow the Knightley + Harriet match to take place because of her newfound ability to relinquish control. And then, the amazing moment of my favourite love speech in cinema (yes... including Pride & Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables,

AND Little Women)...

"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more."

Now THAT... is the proper way to do a proposal. I dream of the day I can make someone go speechless in the wake of a fantastical love bound for the pages of a "classic".

Seventh Reason: Her Unabashed Sass

If there was one word to describe Wilde's Emma, I would say "sassy". I mean this in the best possible way, her spark and wit add layers to the characters and enrich the viewing pleasure of the watcher. Comedic peeks through Anya Taylor Joy's performance as she dazzles with each turn of phrase. Her very blunt words sometimes get her into trouble, but they definitely are entertaining...

Here are a few of my personal favourites:

One is sick of the very name, “Jane Fairfax.”

"The misfortune of your birth, Harriet, ought to make you particularly careful as to your associates."

"You must allow that what is good and what is ridiculous are most unfortunately blended in her." (to be fair, I think you could describe me in these terms too...)

Eighth Reason: Her Fantastic Fashions

Though we can mainly credit the fashions of "Emma" to Alexandra Byrne, the Oscar-winning costume designer knocked it out of the park with the clothing selection. The spring-like setting of this flowery film led to the bright and pastel colours adorning our leading lady, aptly decorated with lace and frills galore. Of course, I cannot neglect to mention the ruffled collars of many outfits, old fashioned but very dynamic.

Her outfits also often tend towards lighter colours like the bright virginal white, another ode to her youth and lack of experience or wisdom (though she thinks otherwise...)

Ninth Reason: Her Ability To Apologize

However begrudgingly she approaches these apologies, she still does make them.

Especially in the case of Mr. Martin (Harriet's chosen beau), she makes the effort to make the apology by herself - though she could have easily pushed the task onto the willing Mr. Knightley (quite easily in fact, as the encounter happens right after he expresses his feelings for her). Even still, her new sense of accountability towards her own actions teaches her that she should be the one at the forefront of reconciling her mistakes.

This, in my eyes, is the true marker of Emma's character development.

Tenth Reason: The Film's Ties To Austen's Metaphors

This isn't a reason to love Emma's character specifically, but it does touch on interesting innuendos in the original text. In the very first few minutes of the film, Mr. Knightley is approached by his servant stating "a gentlemen on foot is very unusual"... another use of the "walking" metaphor suspected to have been used by Jane Austen as a thinly veiled reference to sex, intimacy, and companionship. In Sally Palmer's analysis on Austen's use of walking, she states, "For Austen, ideal marriage consists not of gazing into one’s partner’s eyes, but of facing outward together as a team. The engagement walk demonstrates this emotional shift and therefore signifies the participants’ readiness to assume a new focus on life." (p. 158)

To read this paper more in-depth, please feel free to tap the button below:

click here <3

With that fact in mind, because we see Mr. Knightley's keen fondness of walking early on, the viewer can assume the message that he is ready for commitment. Unlike Emma, he is mature enough to have realized his feelings - and now, guides her through the same path. This isn't to say that Mr. Knightley doesn't evolve within the story - as I have already stated that he most certainly does. But, especially in the beginning, he is miles ahead of Emma in that regard, quite literally depending on his desired speed taken up while chasing after carriages, marching over hilltops, and professing love underneath a willow tree.

Fun Fact: my friend Lisa Brennenstuhl actually compared me to a willow tree once,

I don't think she knew about the Mr. Knightley significance though...

Regardless, the use of these metaphors serve the film well, pushing the themes of evolving love even further into the Austen-verse...

Is that a thing, by the way? The Jane Austen Cinematic Universe? The JACU, if you will?

...Don't fear, dear reader, I will make it "a thing"!

In conclusion, Regency Romance is no walk in the park... or is it?

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Yours in Academia (and... the JACU),

Alias Indiana, The Book-Built Blog.