Jane Austen's novel Emma and Douglas McGrath's film interpretation of the same name share many key similarities. Important transferred elements and cardinal functions are maintained in the leap from novel to film, making the plot, atmosphere and characters familiar to the reader. However, the overall impact of the same underlying story is very different when told using these two independent mediums. While both the book and the film explore Emma's life and her meddling, the main elements of the narrative and characters of Austen's novel leave readers with the sense that Emma's attempts to make marriages were carried out with the best intentions, and that by the end of the novel she is humiliated and realizes the error of her ways. The film, on the other hand, uses characterization, representation, and cinematic enunciation through visual elements to convey to viewers the idea that Emma's intentions in matchmaking were far more selfish than magnanimous, and that she has not learned a lesson or gained at the end of his antics. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the most obvious reasons why the film and book differ in impact is in their overall portrayal of the power Emma holds in society and how she ultimately uses it. Austen's novel begins by establishing her status at Highbury, noting that “Emma Woodhouse, beautiful, intelligent, and wealthy, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition, seemed to combine some of the best blessings of existence; and she had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with little to distress or irritate her” (1). Although this characterization has a great impact in giving the impression that Emma is in a very pleasant situation, Austen's use of terms such as "seemed" and "had lived" leaves readers with a lingering doubt about fact that Emma really has full control over everything around her. The film, however, begins with a shot of Emma weaving a small ornamental replica of the world on a thread, surrounded by friends and acquaintances who praise her for her artistic abilities. The impact of showing Emma with the world on a literal string is strongly felt by the viewer, who is left with the idea that Emma has the ability to control and change anything at will. Furthermore, by using the film's early moments to show the praise others have showered on her, praise that she also feels is undeserved, viewers are left with the impression that the world exists solely to serve and please her. This difference in characterization between film and novel is significant in introducing viewers and readers to what Emma's character is like, as the novel quickly suggests that not everything will go well for her despite her situation, while the film focuses on power that Emma has. holds in society and on the people around it. This feeling of the world serving to please Emma is continually shown in the film through the use of other visual elements. One scene that particularly exemplifies this is when Emma makes the decision to match Frank and Harriet. As she talks about how happy the two will be together, the camera repeatedly emphasizes her face reflected in several mirrors placed throughout the room. This visual further solidifies the idea that the people in Emma's life exist to serve her and provide entertainment. While Emma's words speak to the joy her actions will bring to others, the reflection of her face in the mirrors gives the impression that she is truly doing something for herself. During this same momentof the novel, Austen's narrator asks from Emma's point of view: "Could a linguist, a grammarian, even a mathematician have seen what he did, have witnessed their appearance together, and heard their story, without feeling it?" had the circumstances contributed to making them particularly interesting to each other?" (230). The language of the book leaves readers with the impression that Emma's desire to reunite Frank and Harriet is a genuine attempt to make them happy, since he sees what he thinks is an obvious chemistry between the two. This difference in portrayal further enhances the novel's significance in using literary enunciation through language to emphasize Emma's genuine joy in helping others by doing what she thinks it is. right, while the visuals in the film are significant in showing that her actions and the people around her serve to bring excitement into her life Aside from the depiction of Emma's position of power and intentions in matchmaking, another great one The difference between the film and the novel is in the visual and narrative representation of the relationship between Knightley and Emma. Austen's novel is told primarily through an omniscient third-person narrator who tends to remain faithful to Emma's thoughts. But as Knightley becomes a more central character in the novel's later chapters, Austen shifts the narrative to her point of view, even dedicating an entire chapter in the third volume to her perspective. This change in narrative has the impact of establishing Knightley as a valid partner for Emma, ​​as readers have the chance to hear his voice and see him as a balancing force to Emma's dominant perspective throughout the novel. In the film, however, Knightley never gets the chance to show things from her point of view, an element that leaves viewers with the impression that Emma is the dominant force throughout much of the story and will continue to be in their relationship. Emma's position of power in the relationship is further emphasized through visual elements in the film, one example is when Emma and Knightley try to find a way to get married despite Emma's father's disapproval. After Knightley and Emma declare their love for each other in the film, Emma quickly walks away and says their relationship will never work because she can't abandon her father. As she moves away from him to the foreground of the shot, the camera loses focus on Knightley and he fades into the background. To remedy the situation Knightley immediately proclaims that he will move to Hartfield and live with Emma. After that, the camera refocuses on him as the couple is reunited in a close-up shot. In the novel, the process is two-sided as Emma and Knightley discard options and work together to find a solution. Emma suggests waiting until her father's death to get married because "as long as her dear father lived, any change of condition must have been impossible for her" (308). Knightley ultimately refuses to burden her and decides to leave her home for Hartfield. Despite the move to Hartfield in the novel, as Knightley and Emma go through the decision-making process together, readers are left with the impression that the two play equal roles as partners in a relationship. This is significant as the novel leaves readers with the idea that Emma has become more humble by the end of the story, and is willing to compromise with others rather than assert her will to get what she wants, while the actions of Emma in the film are neglected to show character development, as Knightley immediately rushes to change his way of life so as not to disturb her, while she makes no attempt to offer her.