After reading the novel Emma, and then watching the movie Clueless, one can find many parallels, some more apparent than others. Especially the characters can easily be compared with each other. As already mentioned before, Emma Woodhouse becomes Cher Horowitz, Mr. Knightley becomes Josh, Harriet becomes Tai, Robert Martin becomes Travis, Frank Churchill becomes Christian, Mr. Elton becomes Elton (the only one who keeps his name), Mr. Woodhouse becomes Mel Horowitz, Augusta Hawkins becomes Amber and Mrs. Weston is `replaced´ by Cher´s best friend Dionne. Of course one can realize at once that certain characters are missing (Jane Fairfax, Miss Bates and Mrs. Bates…) and that we get introduced to certain new characters (Murray, the teachers…). But I don´t want to focus on these differences and parallels today. Instead I want to put the two main characters, the two young ladies, Emma and Cher into the centre of my work.
The aim of this paper is to find out if Heckerling brought Emma Woodhouse into our world or if she invented a brand new character, called Cher. In my paper I want to find similarities and differences of these two young ladies, so that the question asked above can be answered. First of all I want to introduce the two young ladies in general, what kind of persons they are, what they like or don´t like, etc.. Then I want to take a closer look at their home. Where do they live? What are the similarities? Afterwards I want to characterize them in more detail, corresponding to certain different themes. What does fashion mean to them? Are both of them class conscious? What are they doing the whole day, especially in their spare time? Are there similarities concerning their love life, or is the storyline concerning the two heroines love life indentical? And finally I want to find out who actually becomes a better person at the end, as both get transformed and enlightened.
Hopefully after the analysis of these two heroines we can decide whether Cher Horowitz is actually Emma Woodhouse, or if there are too many differences, so that we can come to the conclusion that Amy Heckerling created a brand new charcter, which fits better into the America of the 20th century.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Similar or different? Introducing the young ladies
- 3 Their home: Highbury vs. Beverly Hills
- 4 Cher - a fashion victim! But what about Emma?
- 5 Who is more class conscious?
- 6 Their favourite activities: Makeovers and matchmaking
- 7 The young ladies' love life
- 8 Character transformation: Who learns more?
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to compare and contrast the characters of Emma Woodhouse from Jane Austen's novel Emma and Cher Horowitz from Amy Heckerling's film adaptation, Clueless. The analysis seeks to determine whether Cher is a successful transposition of Emma into a modern setting or a distinct character created for a contemporary audience.
- Character Comparison: Examining the similarities and differences between Emma and Cher's personalities, values, and actions.
- Setting and Social Context: Analyzing the impact of the contrasting settings of Highbury and Beverly Hills on the characters' lives and choices.
- Fashion and Materialism: Exploring the significance of fashion and material possessions in the lives of both young women.
- Social Class and Consciousness: Investigating the role of social class and its influence on the characters' perspectives and relationships.
- Character Development and Transformation: Assessing the growth and changes each character undergoes throughout their respective narratives.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of adapting Jane Austen's Emma to the modern screen, specifically focusing on Amy Heckerling's Clueless. It highlights the contrast between traditional "heritage films" and Heckerling's contemporary interpretation. The chapter establishes the central question of the paper: whether Cher Horowitz is a faithful adaptation of Emma Woodhouse or a new creation altogether. The author outlines the plan to analyze key similarities and differences between the two female leads to answer this question, emphasizing the universal and timeless themes in Austen's work that allow for such an adaptation.
2 Similar or different? Introducing the young ladies: This chapter provides introductory character sketches of both Emma Woodhouse and Cher Horowitz. It begins by presenting Emma as privileged and seemingly content, yet reveals her underlying flaws of snobbishness and self-importance. The chapter then introduces Cher, highlighting her superficial similarities to Emma in terms of wealth, beauty, and social standing. The comparison underscores that while superficially alike, the detailed portrayal of Emma's internal struggles and character flaws suggests a deeper complexity than initially apparent in Cher’s introduction.
Emma vs. Clueless: A Comparative Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper about?
This paper compares and contrasts the characters of Emma Woodhouse from Jane Austen's novel Emma and Cher Horowitz from Amy Heckerling's film adaptation, Clueless. It analyzes whether Cher is a successful modern adaptation of Emma or a distinct character.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including character comparison (similarities and differences in personality, values, and actions), the impact of setting (Highbury vs. Beverly Hills), the significance of fashion and materialism, the role of social class, and the character development and transformation of both Emma and Cher.
What is the main research question?
The central question is whether Cher Horowitz is a faithful adaptation of Emma Woodhouse or a new character created for a contemporary audience.
What aspects of the characters are compared?
The comparison includes their personalities, values, actions, social standing, relationships, and how they develop and change throughout their respective narratives.
How does the setting influence the characters?
The paper analyzes how the contrasting settings of Highbury (in Emma) and Beverly Hills (in Clueless) impact the characters' lives, choices, and perspectives.
What role does fashion and materialism play?
The analysis explores the importance of fashion and material possessions in the lives of both Emma and Cher, examining their significance within the context of their social settings and personal development.
How is social class addressed?
The paper investigates the role of social class and its influence on both characters' perspectives, relationships, and choices.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a chapter comparing the characters, a chapter comparing their homes, a chapter on fashion, a chapter on class consciousness, a chapter on their activities, a chapter on their love lives, and a chapter on character transformation.
What is covered in the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide an overview of each chapter's content, highlighting the key points discussed and the arguments presented. They give a concise description of the introduction, the character introductions, and the analysis of their similarities and differences.
What are the overall objectives of the paper?
The paper aims to provide a comprehensive comparison of Emma and Cher, analyzing their similarities and differences to determine the success of Cher as a modern adaptation of Emma. It seeks to identify universal themes present in both narratives.
- Citation du texte
- Stefanie Grill (Auteur), 2003, Young ladies of their time: Emma Woodhouse vs. Cher Horowitz, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80275
