Competition in Emma

Literature

Competitive Drive

Competition burns inside of everyone! It is second nature to every living thing, whether it is an animal or a human being, there will always be the desire to compete. This is because everyone wants be victorious at the end of the day, whether it is the wild animal competing for food and survival or an athlete competing in the Super Bowl, victory is what everyone strives for.Competition between Emma and Harriet is evident in the Novel Emma by Jane Austen. Jane Austen uses competition for a reason; it is used in order for Emma to be able to see the truth within her. Without competition, Emma would have never regarded her true feelings.

Competition brings out the most in people. It makes people act and react without putting thought into their actions; which brings out one's real feelings and/or real skills. This is true across the board. Competition is found in all walks of life from school, where you are competing within your class for the best grade, to sports were you are competing to come out victorious, to love where you are competing for one's love. If any of these situations were lacking competition, then the truth would never be seen. For example, if no one in a class put any effort into their work, who ever is number one in the class would not have to work hard to remain on top, and probably would not work to their potential. Yet if someone was right on their level and was competing to become number one in the class, both of them would have to work harder, working to their full potential, settling for nothing less than a victory of the other student. Competition is a positive thing, when used in a positive way. It helps a person or animal to perform to their own personal best while facing their inner most feelings. This is true with every one of these examples and especially with love.

Emma's own feelings take a backseat to her desires to control everyone else's feelings. Throughout the entire novel Emma always wants to play matchmaker. She feels as though she is superior to just about everyone else. This is distinctly apparent in her relationship with Harriet. Emma works hard to find a husband for Harriet, and even says that Harriet cannot wed Mr. Martin because of his economic standings. Emma loves to be in full control of others and their love life. Emma loves to play the role of cupid, yet, the question lingers, when will she point her bow and arrow towards her own life?

Emma never once thought about her feelings until competition stared her square in the eyes. Emma deep down has feelings for Mr. Knightly, but would not admit them, even to herself. It takes competition for Emma to realize her true feelings and desires. When she hears that Harriet has feelings towards Mr. Knightly she responds by asking if he has shown affection towards her. Harriet's affirmative response results in Emma's feelings being turned upside down.

Let the competition begin. Jane Austen sets this up for a reason. She puts the sense of competition in, in order for Emma and Mr. Knightly to be matched up. Through out the entire novel Jane Austen uses Emma as a tool to match up and pull apart certain characters. This leaves nothing, and no one to be Austen's cupid for Emma's love therefore she calls upon competition. Since it is human nature for one to want what others have or to compete for something they think they may not get, this competition brings out the highest potential of feelings that Emma could have for Mr. Knightly. This competitive feeling can be equated to other aspects of life, as with striving for the highest grade in a class, or winning a sporting competition.

In this critical part of the novel, because of this sense of competition, Emma's perspective and outlook on life drifts away from where it had once been anchored. Her first reaction to the situation of Harriet and Mr. Knightly is to say no, that will never work out. This she has done in the past with Mr. Martin, because he was of a low working class, yet this time Emma sits in disarray, and is unable put her finger on a reason why Harriet and Mr. Knightly should not be together. No longer is she only thinking about matching up others as she once had now she is beginning, before she even knows, to think about her own feelings.

Her competitive instinct is telling her, before she even admits it to herself that Harriet and Mr. Knightly should not be together because she has feelings for him. She then becomes "acquainted with her own heart" (p. 267) and realizes that she has feelings for Mr. knightly. She only realizes her feelings after her instinct tells her that she should not allow Harriet and Mr. Knightly to be together. When she questions why she feels this way it "darts through her, with the speed of an arrow" (Emma p 268) that she