Sandri 1 Caroline Sandri 2/29/2012 Period 3 Mr.

Seaton Prcis for The Labor of the Leisured in Emma: Class, Manners and Austen by Jonathan H. Grossman

Etiquette and manners often differentiated the social standing between class during nineteenth century Great Britain. Emma Woodhouse, the protagonist from Jane Austens novel, Emma, knows this well. Settled in a high social standing, affluent by design and inquisitive by nature, Emma exemplifies the true effects of etiquette. Although her impeccable manners are often praised by others, the idea of etiquette is not faultless. Through careful perusal through Austens Emma, Jonathan Grossman emphasizes that etiquette was both very important for Emma Woodhouses happiness, but also a contrived and laborious duty as well. Grossman begins his main point with a passage from Mr. Knightley, Emmas close friend and confidante. He states that he is in disbelief of anybody who could spend an evening quiet at homewould set off againfor the sake of being in mixed company. For John Knightley, socializing is toiling, an effort, not a way of life. In Highburys society, however, the circumstances are quite different. In this high society where both Mr. Knightley and Emma Woodhouse reside they are both expected to keep the highest levels of etiquette possiblewhere socializing is polite and demanded to maintain an air of high class. In this sense, Highburys etiquette instills manners, sociality, and decency in this knit group of elites. Yet the etiquette portrayed by Emma Woodhouse is twisted and malformed. Born into the Highbury society, her codes of behavior weigh heavily on manners and etiquette. For Frank Churchill, the

Sandri 2 young and flirty newcomer, it ultimately destroys any possible relationship with Emma. His infinitesimal mistake of joking with her father is enough of mistake in etiquette to condemn him foreverfor it is impolite to tease or make fun of her father. Mr. Woodhouse, although blind and a hypochondriac, demands respect and is silently advising Emma throughout the novel. For Frank though, it is not only the disrespecting of Emmas father, but that he disrespects the idea of etiquette, and for Emma, that is enough to turn him away. But Grossman thinks that Frank Churchill is an intriguing character because he is much freer in his restraint to etiquette than Emma. He, along with his less constrained etiquette, is a wakeup call for Emma upon just how tiring it is to be forever prim and properand unachievable, as seen when Emma insults Mrs. Bates. Although Highburys etiquette is tedious, falsified and more of a job than an actual lifestyle, Mr. Knightley presents the perfect example of true etiquette. Adequately social, unquestionably helpful to Emma and her father, and equally treating of Harriet although her class is far lower than his, he is an upmost gentleman. Throughout the novel he serves as the logical advisor to Emma, albeit unsuccessful in his counseling for she is too prideful to see her own errors. Grossman states that his etiquette is a direct contrast to Frank Churchills behavior with Mr. Woodhouse: he is helpful, kind, assisting and attached. His good manners easily wins Mr. Woodhouses approval of Mr. Knightley and Emmas eventual marriage. Thus, in the end, true etiquette, what Emma strived for and which was lost in Mr. Churchill, leads to her ultimately discovery of love in Mr. Knightley. Etiquette is something that is a necessity in Highburys affluent society. For Emma, whos selfrighteousness and strict moral code define the dilemmas she faces throughout the book, etiquette, albeit sometimes forced and problematic, becomes her own individual guide to true happiness.

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