My Emma Tag Answers!

~ Discovering Emma Week Tag ~

1. Have you ever read Emma? ~ Yes—twice recently in fact while preparing for this party!

2. If so, is that how you first made her acquaintance? (If not, feel free to elaborate!) ~ Yes, though that in itself is rather a long story. (At first, indeed, I’m afraid it was quite the least read on my Austen shelf.) And then…well, yes…you all know about this. :)

3. Do you have a favorite film adaptation? ~ Hem! I shall have to say the ’09 here (for tremendous reasons that shall remain nameless and unstated—though you can see a little here ;)), but the ’96 runs a very close second.

4. Favorite dress(es) from that film? ~ Rather than doing a separate costume post, I decided to make collages here for all the four versions I reviewed during the party. So here goes!

The ’72 – Aren’t Harriet’s dresses (pink and blue and floral) just so pretty? And I love the flowered ribbon on Miss Fairfax’s bonnet! Also, the gold embossing effect on Emma’s party dress is quite intriguing. I’m not big on her ruff (ahem!) lace that is, in the last one, but the floral print is so pretty, and the dress actually has neat, triangular dagger-type points on the sleeves.

The ’96 (GP) – I love, love, LOVE just about every single dress in this movie! (And hence, this is all highly representative. ;)) But oh, yes—I must mention Emma’s blue dress! This dress is probably my favorite “Emma” dress of all (indeed, one of my favorite period drama dresses entirely). It’s a pinstripe…and simple and lovely…and so freshly, gorgeously blue!!

The ’96 (KB) – There are some positively lovely dresses in this adaptation. I love all the lacy films and sheers—and the green dress on the bottom here is just gorgeous! (Additionally—and I put this on one of the post signatures—but I really like the Grecian/classical-style headdress Emma wears in several scenes.)

The ’09 – As you can see—quite beautiful. I think my absolute favorites are Emma’s yellow dress shown twice on the bottom, the natural-cotton looking Spencer in the middle right, and the small sprigged floral on the top left.

5. Share a line you love from either the book or movie/s—several if you like! ~ There are soooo many! Well, leaving out the ones I already quoted in my ’96 review, there are all of Mr. Knightley's there’s Mr. Knightley’s in the ’09: “I thought gentlemen always rode in carriages.” And then (book and films) there’s Mr. Knightley to Mrs. Elton: “No,”—he calmly replied,—“there is but one married woman in the world whom I can allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and that one is—” “—Mrs. Weston, I suppose,” interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified. “No—Mrs. Knightley;—and, till she is in being, I will manage such matters myself.” Love it!

6. Is Emma one of your favorite heroines? Why or why not? ~ She’s definitely among my top fifteen (which topic by the way, would be fun to discuss in a blog post sometime). As to why… I’m afraid—quite certain—that by now you probably all have a most excellent idea. ;)

7. What is one of Emma’s strengths (good qualities)? ~ Here are several… :) She’s truly caring, she’s really always dutiful, and she’s not too proud to admit her errors and quickly change.

8. Describe in one (or two…or three) sentences, why Mr. Knightley is so wonderful. ~ His genuine care and concern for others is such a concrete, tangible, integral part of his character. And—a champion of truth and clarity—loving Emma—his love isn’t self-absorbed, setting out to gratify itself. First and foremost he cares about who she is and who she is becoming—her character and actions in time and space—and he polishes and refines to make her truly beautiful.

9. Why do you think Mr. Knightley and Emma are so well suited to each other? ~ This is hard, as so much of who she is must have been shaped by him going back even before the story begins (though a great deal obviously transpires over the course of it), but—for both—honesty and openness are paramount.

10. Would you rather spend a week in Highbury with the Westons—on Abbey-Mill Farm with the Martins—or in London with the John Knightleys? ~ Hmmmm! How was I planning to answer this question?? In London with the John Knightleys. It would be fun to taste both the delights of town and the pleasant coziness of home in their company.