Austen goes Hollywood!

EMMA

VS

CLUELESS

In this article we are going to look at Jane Austens novel Emma published in 1816
and a film adaptation of the same novel Amy Heckerlings Clueless released in 1995.
More specifically we are going to do a close reading of a few chapters that have
correlative sections in the film adaptation and discuss the themes that are apparent
to the reader such as societal structures and relationships. Another area we are
going to focus on within the close analysis is the authors use of specific features
such as; setting, dialogue, narrative techniques and characterization. Once these
features have been identified I can go on to discuss how the use of these features
influence and effect the reader. With regards to the film adaptation the filmmaker
will have to use different techniques to convey meaning to the audience, for
example we can look at the ways that Heckerling has used concepts such as misen
scene and character focalization to relate to the audience whilst still shadowing
the story of Emma.

If we start at the very beginning of Austens novel on our first introduction to Emma
Woodhouse we are met with a description of her character.

Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home

and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of
existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little
to distress or vex her.
Emma (chapter 1, pg. 7)

This description of Emma instantly gives the reader an insight into the character of
Emma, the type of upbringing shes had which leaves room for the reader to
question whether they are going to like Emmas character or not. Austen (1816)
stated herself that she was going to create a heroine whom no one but myself
would like. Darragh, S 2005 (p.g 6) while writing Emma Austen was aware of this and
the possibility that readers would not engage with the main character.

How

wrong she would be. From this extract the reader is able to
understand that Emma has lead a more than comfortable life and that she is
from a high class family. There is much language used to evidence this such
as; comfortable home, happy disposition and best blessings. This is all
positive use of language used in order to convey Emmas personality and
upbringing. It does however have a negative effect on the reader as we get a
sense that Emma is a spoiled bratty sort girl as she has had very little to
distress or vex her in 21 years. So from this it could be said that Emma is
living a very sheltered and protected lifestyle seems as she has had so little
personal experience.

If we now focus upon Heckerlings version of the same scene and our
introduction to Cher, who is the counterpart of Emma Woodhouse. In a film
there are no words to give the audience their description of Emma so
Heckerling is heavy reliant on other tools and techniques to introduce us to
Cher. We are greeted with the song Kids in America covered by The Muffs.
This is non diegetic sound so it is feasible to assume that this music was
chosen for a reason and there is some meaning to be had from its choosing.
This sound is then followed by a montage of clips of Cher and a close group
of friends indulging in a range of extravagant activities such as; Shopping,
partying around a pool and driving cars. The focalization of this scene being
on the sort of lifestyle Cher is leading allowing the audience to come to the
conclusion that Cher is a popular beautiful young lady from a wealthy
upbringing. If we combine this montage with the Kids in America music that
is played alongside it, the meaning of the lyrics and the film become clear,
Cher and her friends are representing people of their generation and they are
portraying their everyday life as a wealthy young adults and this is a regular
occurrence for Cher and her friends, the world is their oyster. The sound then
changes to another track by David Bowie, Fashion. This song is also non
diegetic but leaves room for the audience to take from it what they will.
Personally I think this music choice is a representation of a recurring theme

within the film. Cher is self indulgent who enjoys giving makeovers and
helping others but these makeovers only show the audience how Cher is
obsessed with self - image and appearance. This is our first true insight into
the persona of Cher. All of this occurs within the first minute of the film and
the theme we can deduct from this is the importance of social status, money,
image and power. All linking to the theme of Social Structures.
If we look at another chapter from Emma such as the picnic at Box Hill
chapter 43. Emma is really looking forward to going as she has never been
before, but things do not go to plan. Much to Emmas disappointment
everyone splits off in their own groups and even Frank Churchill isnt acting
himself and manages to bore Emma. Here we are looking at the picnic from
Emmas perspective and when things pick up a little thanks to Frank it is all
entertainment to amuse Emma. This demonstrates how Emma is the point of
focalization in this scene even though there are other backstories behind the
disappointment of the day. Such as; the secret relationship between Frank
Churchill and Jane Fairfax. The reader is subtly made aware of the
relationship between Frank and Jane however within the story the characters
do not know and a falling out between Frank and Jane is the cause of Franks
behavior. At the picnic things pick up when everyone sits down to lunch all
thanks to Frank, but unbeknown to the others apart from the suspicions of
Mr. Knightley, Franks performance is all an act in order to make Jane jealous.
Emma and Frank continue to get carried away with this childish behavior
until Emma crosses a line and insults Miss Bates.

'Three things very dull indeed.' That will just do for me, you know. I
shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth,
shan't I?
Emma could not resist. "Ah! ma'am, but there may be a difficulty.
Pardon mebut you will be limited as to numberonly three at once."
Miss Bates response to this rude comment from Emma is of shock and
embarrassment, this is shown in the dialogue where Miss Bates seems to fall
over her words and looks to Mr. Knightley for support and reassurance. Mr.
Knightley is more than annoyed at Emmas remark towards Miss Bates which
is understandable as Mr. Knightley seems to be a voice of reason and the
realization of what she has done is brought to light when Mr. Knightley
reveals the weight of the affects her comment had on Miss Bates. Although
Emma was sorry for what she said, she was more upset at disappointing Mr.
Knightley. This says to the reader that Emma is coming round to her true
feelings for Mr. Knightley, she is no longer blind to her own faults and this is
the point where Emmas character starts to grow and mature and even leads
her to realizing that she craves good judgement from Mr. Knightley which
eventually leads her to the revelation that she loves him.

The parallel to this scene in Clueless is where Cher insults her maid by
suggesting she is speaking Mexican when in fact she is speaking Spanish,
even then Cher does not realize how she offended her maid until Josh the
counterpart for Mr. Knightley calls her a brat. We see Chers world begin to
fall apart which is seen when Cher cant match her clothes and they are
sprawled on the floor perhaps representing the chaos of Chers world at that
moment. She also fails her driving test and Tai tells her a few home truths. At
this point Cher begins to realize that she is not perfect and Joshs approval of
her is important.

Throughout the novel we are told the story from an Omniscient Narrator, so
in parts we are hearing the story in the form of third person and then we are
hearing the thoughts of a particular character. The omniscient narrator is
aware of all characters thoughts and feelings but is more focused upon one
particular character. Another narrative technique used in the novel is the use
of free indirect speech. S, Darragh (2005) takes this to mean that this use of
free indirect speech gives the reader a break from the usual narrative stance
and allows the character to speak and behave freely for themselves. This
allows the reader to judge the character more freely. This use of narrator and
free indirect speech is found in both of our study cases however in clueless

all of the narration is in the voice of Cher, therefore we only see things from
her point of view.
The novel Emma, features some key themes that are appropriate to the time that
Austen was writing the story such as Relationships, Selflessness, Societal Structures
and The position of women. All of these themes are easily linked to the early
nineteenth century of a wealthy upper class female but what is truly remarkable is
how the same themes are used in Clueless and remain appropriate over 200 years
later.

A regular recurring theme in Emma is relationships, there is a lot of

significance placed upon the different relationships between characters but
this could also be seen as Emmas love of match making. Either way the
relationships between characters maintain the interest of the reader. For
instance Emmas relationship between herself and her father is particularly
interesting and the audience manage to see a more compassionate side of
Emmas character. Emmas father is very loving towards her and these feelings
are reciprocated and shown in the way that Emma clearly has concerns for her
fathers well - being. This is evidenced in Austens Emma 1814 (pg. 9) where the
narrator is speaking of Emmas thoughts on the wedding of Miss Taylor and Mr.
Weston and how she is a little saddened, but she must hide her feelings from her
father as he does not like change and he is easily depressed. In contrast to this
Chers father is a top lawyer and is much less vulnerable than the character of Mr.
Woodhouse and is shown a lot of respect by everyone around him, but his
relationship with Cher is different to that of any other characters. As the audience
we are able to see how Cher cares deeply for her father but she manages to
constantly manipulate him with her little girl charms. Emmas and Chers family are
well known and respected by others in the fictional village of Highbury and in
Beverley Hills, this adds to Emma and Chers sense of importance and an answer as
to perhaps why they both meddle in other peoples business so much. It could be
said that their own opinions of self - importance alongside their wealth and status
lead to them believing that their own views and opinions are always right. Emma
and Cher are both spoiled, high class snobs due to the self - indulgence of the
people around them such as their fathers.

Heckerling has managed to use a variety of methods to convey meaning to the

audience that are not possible when reading a novel such as; body language,
camera angles and visual images. From these techniques the audience is able to
see the parallels between Emma and Clueless and deciphering the underlying
meaning becomes that much easier, whether the camera uses focalization to show
who a scene is about or whether it be a piece of music that the audience is left to
interpret. Heckerling has managed to create a modernized version of Emma and
bring Jane Austen to Hollywood.
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