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Essay on EMMA,(Jane Austen) Miss Bates character analysis

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In the novel Emma, the author, Jane Austen, uses many different techniques to characterize Miss Bates as a woman with no intellect, but a very kind heart. Miss Bates in a humorous character who is loved and loving.
Austen’s diction is one such technique used to characterize Miss Bates. Miss Bates is a “contented” old woman with certain “cheerfulness” to her nature. Miss Bates always has good intentions and is always a happy, joyful woman. Her good will towards others makes her such a popular woman even though she has no husband and no physical beauty. Miss Bates had a splendid “simplicity” about her, and everyone in the town of Highbury enjoyed her “grateful” spirit. Miss Bates appreciates the small things in …show more content…

She did have some wisdom, though. Miss Bates was not totally ignorant. Indeed, there is much practical wisdom, genuine concern, and touching kindness peppered throughout her humble flow of eager-to-please manner. She had trouble recognizing when she was doing or saying something wrong. On the other hand, Miss Bates is a “great talker upon little maters” and was “full of harmless gossip” that she wants everyone to know. Miss Bates is the spreader of town news and is interested in everyone’s affairs, another reason her neighbours might have found her annoying at times. Even though Miss Bates is silly and meddles in everyone’s lives, she is a harmless old woman who is loved very much for her generous nature and for the kindness she always offered other people.
Jane Austen frequently uses indirect characterization and this is very evident in the description of Miss Bates. Instead of saying Miss Bates is an unmarried, poor, old, ugly woman, a spinster, Austen chooses to write, “Miss Bates is neither young, handsome, rich or married.” It is as if Jane Austen wants you to like Miss Bates even thought she is lacking quite a few of the characteristics needed in order to be deemed likeable in her society. The ideal woman in Miss Bates’ society is young, pretty, and married or with plans to marry. Miss Bates does have one characteristic most popular women had in Highburry.

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