Abstract

This essay tries to describe the life and the spiritual growth of heroine Emma in Jane Austen’s Emma, then reflects the thought of feminism through the heroines’ independence of their love and marriages. However, Emma has her own thoughts of future life, meanwhile she has some character flaws. This essay analyses the feminism from many aspects which is reflected in Emma, including the development background of the story, the analysis of the plot and characters, and the author’s personal view of feminism.   

Key words: Emma, feminism, independence, characteristics  

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

I. Introduction . 1

II. The Whole Living Background . 2

2.1 The historical background .. 3

  2.2 The social background . 3

III. The Analysis of Feminist Characters .... 4

3.1 Jane Fairfax .. 5

3.2 Emma .. 6

IV. Jane Austen’s Feminism in Emma7

4.1 Anti-traditional thoughts ..8

4.2 The construction of ethics .9

V. Conclusion .. 9

References . 11