To an Athlete Dying Young - A E Housman

To an Athlete Dying Young – A.E. Housman

The time you won your town the race

We chaired you through the market-place;

Man and boy stood cheering by,

And home we brought you shoulder-high.

Today, the road all runners come,

Shoulder-high we bring you home,

And set you at your threshold down,

Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away

From fields where glory does not stay,

And early though the laurel grows

It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut

Cannot see the record cut,

And silence sounds no worse than cheers

After earth has stopped the ears.

Now you will not swell the rout

Of lads that wore their honours out,

Runners whom renown outran

And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,

The fleet foot on the sill of shade,

And hold to the low lintel up

The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head

Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find un-withered on its curls

The garland briefer than a girl’s.

The Poet A. E. Housman begins his poem grieving over the death of a young athlete who had been taken around in procession for winning his town running race competition. He regrets for the death of such a man. He becomes reflective and feels sad for the young man. The glory earned by the small success / attainment of victory does not stay for long. It fades away quickly. The laurel (shrub) though grows early / quickly, withers quicker than the rose. Note the pun on the word 'laurel' which also a means of a prize / an emblem for the victorious.

The poet turns metaphorical at this stage. The laurel symbolises the short life of human achievements / attainments. The rose symbolises the immortality or the fame or the glory of man surviving in his death.

Human life is full of struggle. The competitors / rivals strive to achieve victories at different levels of races. If the achiever loses sight of his covetous challenge cup and lies leisurely then he faces defeat. His name dies out from the list of achievers

The same holds good for all the achievers in their lives. Human beings will have to strive hard to be in the race all through their lives. Out of race would mean defeat / death. Thus, a racer losing his position in the race faces a death before his actual death.

The excellence achieved at the higher level will have strength to make a person to live on even beyond his death. The implication is that the laurel of life is shorter than that of the rose.

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Describe the character of Mr. Elton (Emma - Jane Austen)

Mr. Elton

As readers of the novel “Emma” we first hear of Mr. Elton, The vicar of Highbury, in the very opening chapter when Emma declares her intention of finding suitable wife for him. Emma expresses an excellent opinion about him in the course of her conversation with her father, and her father agrees with her, saying: Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man to be sure, and a very good young man, and I have a great regard for him.

Subsequently we again find Emma expressing a very favourable opinion about Mr. Elton. She thinks him to be “a remarkable handsome young man, with most agreeable manners”.  She also thinks that Mr Elton would surely fall in love with Harriet: she feels strengthened in this belief because he often talks of Harriet and praises her warmly, “when Mr. Elton offers to go to London in order to get Harriet’s portrait framed, it seems to Emma that he is definitely in love with Harriet now.

Mr. Knightley has, however, a different opinion of Mr. Elton from that held by Emma. Mr. Knightley thinks Mr. Elton to be a worldly-wise man who would marry for money and not solely  for merit. When Emma speaks to Mr. Knightley about her desire that Mr. Elton should marry Harriet, this is what Mr. Knightley say to her “Depend upon it, Elton will not do. Elton is a very good sort of man, and a very respectable vicar of Highbury,  but not at all likely to make an imprudent  match. He knows the value of a good income as well as anybody. Elton may talk sentimentally, but he will act rationally.” However, Emma persists in her efforts to bring about the marriage between Mr. Elton and Harriet, and she feels further encouraged to do so by the charade which Mr. Elton brings at Harriet’s invitation, because the solution to the Charade is the word “courtship”.

Mr. Elton really proves to be a worldly-wise man because, while Emma thinks  him to be a possible husband for Harriet, he himself has been harbouring an ambition to marry Emma herself. While returning from Randalls in a carriage in the company of Emma Mr. Elton surprises her by making an ardent declaration of love and saying that he would  be ready to die if Emma refuses him. When the shocked Emma tells him that he is supposed to be in love with Harriet, he denies the suggestion vehemently. Thus, Mr. Elton has never entertained any notion whatever of marrying that girl. It now becomes clear to Emma that Mr. Elton wants to marry a woman who can bring him a rich dowry: “He only wanted to aggrandize and enrich himself; and if Miss Woodhouse of Hartfield,  the heiress after thirty thousand pounds, were not quite so easily obtained as he had fancied, he would soon try for Miss somebody else with twenty or with ten”.  

After his rejection by Emma, Mr. Elton goes to Bath for a holiday and there gets engaged to Miss Augusta Hawkins. He returns from Bath as a very happy man: “He had gone away rejected and mortified. He came back gay and self-satisfied, eager and busy, caring nothing for Miss Woodhouse, and defying Miss. Smith.” Mr. Elton is happy to be engaged to a woman who will bring him a dowry of ten thousand pounds. 

Mr. Elton proves himself to be a mean fellow when he insults Harriet Smith on the occasion of the ball that is held at the Crown Inn, the hosts being Mr. and Mrs. Westen. He rejects a suggestion by Mrs. Weston that he should ask Harriet to dance with him. Emma is much perturbed by this low action of Mr. Elton’s. She had been thinking him to be an amiable, obliging gentleman, but he has proved to be mean and contemptible. Emma then says to Mr. Knightley: “I do own myself to have been completely mistaken in Mr. Elton. There is a littleness about him which you discovered and which I did not.

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Sketch the Character of Miss Harriet Smith (Emma - Jane Austen)

Miss Harriet Smith

Miss Harriet Smith is introduced to us in the early chapters of the story. She is the illegitimate daughter of an unknown parents and ultimately her unknown father is found to be a trader by profession. When the story opens, Harriet is a student at Mrs. Goddard school, and she is introduced to Emma by Mrs. Goddard herself. Harriet “was a very pretty girl and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness.”

Harriet certainly is not clever, but she has “a sweet, docile, grateful disposition”. She is totally free from conceit; and she feels glad when Emma becomes her patron. Emma too feels very happy in the companionship of Harriet, and Emma’s father also recognizes Harriet’s value to Emma as Emma’s companion.

When, Harriet is introduced to Emma, she has been very intimate with the Martins’ family for the last several months. But Emma’s snobbery does not permit Emma to allow Harriet to continue her attachment to that family. Emma tries to convince Harriet that the attachment to the Martin family will do her no good so far as her future is concerned. Harriet tried a feeble effort to defend her attachment to the Martin family, but she is overruled by Emma, with the result that Harriet has to keep away from that family as much as possible. Thus, on account of her submissive nature Harriet agrees to obey Emma’s wishes in this matter.

Harriet’s submissive nature is also responsible for rejecting Mr. Martin’s proposal of marriage to her. If Harriet had not been under Emma’s influence, she would certainly have accepted Mr. Martin’s proposal in the very beginning. But Emma argues the case in such a clever manner that Harriet is left with no alternative but to send a negative reply to Mr. Martin. Mr. Knightley was of the opinion that Harriet should consider herself lucky to become Mr.  Martin’s wife, but Emma has different plans about the girl to that Harriet’s natural inclination in this respect is thwarted by Emma.  Harriet’s rejection of Mr. Martin’s proposal comes as a great disappointment to Mr. Knightley. Mr. Knightley does not share Emma’s high opinion of the beauty and abilities of Harriet, and he says to Emma, “Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you. What are Harriet smith’s claims, either of birth, nature, or education, to any connection higher than Robert Martin? She is not a sensible girl nor a girl of any information.” 

Emma sows in Harriet the seeds of an ambition to marry Mr. Elton. Under Emma’s persuasion, Harriet really begins to believe that Mr. Elton is in love with her and so she begins to dream of getting married to the vicar. Mr. Elton’s repeated praise of Harriet, his enthusiasm at the portrait of Harriet painted by Emma, his prompt offer to go to London in order to have the portrait framed – are all regarded by Emma, and therefore,  by Harriet also, as sure signs that Mr. Elton is in love with Harriet. Consequently, when Mr. Elton proposes marriage to Emma instead of to Harriet, both Emma and Harriet receive a big shock. Harriet’s disappointment is very bitter; her grief is intense, and she sheds abundant tears. 

At the ball given by Mr. and Mrs. Weston, Harriet is insulted and humiliated by Mr. Elton who refuses to dance with her. At this time, Mr. Knightley comes to her rescue by inviting her to dance with him. She thereupon filled with a deep gratitude towards Mr. Knightley, and this gratitude takes the form of a passion for him. Harriet is now no longer as welcome a friend to Emma as she was in the past. In fact, Emma wishes that she had never met Harriet. Emma arranges for an invitation from her sister Isabella to Harriet to go to London and spend sometime there. In London, Harriet happens to meet Mr. martin who repeats original proposal of marriage to her. This time there is no occasion for her to reject the proposal, and so Knightley’s view that Harriet was the most suitable wife for Mr. Martin.

Thus, Harriet serves as an object for Emma to exercise her power and authority upon. She is a perfectly passive character as compared to the dynamic and domineering Emma.

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The Character and Personality of Emma Woodhouse

The Character and personality of Emma Woodhouse

Emma Woodhouse the very important character of the novel “Emma”, is introduced to us in the very opening sentences of the novel as handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition. She is nearly twenty-one years of age at this time, and there is very little to distress or vex her. She is the younger of the two daughters of a most affectionate father, Mr. Henry Woodhouse.  Her elder sister, Isabella, had been married long before and settled with her family in London. Emma has been the mistress of her father’s house for a long time. Her mother had died when she was a child, and she had been looked after for many years by a governess, Miss Anne Taylor who has just got married. Having been very intimate with Miss Taylor (who has now become Mrs. Weston), Emma misses her badly.

In the very chapter we find her claiming that she had brought about the matrimonial alliance between Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston. This claim is refuted[mp1]  in blunt terms by Mr. Knightley who says that Emma had not brought about this match but made a lucky guess that Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston would get married. Mr. Knightley speaks to Emma in such a way to deflate her vanity in this matter.

Emma suffers from several illusions and misconceptions all of which are successively shattered in course of time. Her first illusion, as Mr. Knightley said that she had a hand in bringing about the marriage of Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston. Her second illusion is that she can find a suitable match for the vicar[mp2]  of Highbury, Mr. Elton. She thought that Harriet Smith, an orphan, whose responsibility is undertaken by Emma is perfect match to Mr. Elton. She therefore takes the necessary steps to wean the girl away from the Martin family to whom the girl has been greatly attached for many months.

Emma does not think Mr. Robert Martin to be a suitable husband for Harriet. Her whole approach to the possibility of a marriage between Mr. martin and Harriet shown Emma’s social snobbery. Mr. Martin is a mere farmer, and Emma thinks Harriet to be a fit wife for a man belonging to a much higher rank in society ― Mr. Elton. Emma’s snobbery[mp3]  is seen also in her attitude towards the Coles. She thinks it beneath dignity to mix with them because they have risen to wealth from a much lower position. So, she does not respond to their invitation when they gave dinner party for all the people of Highbury. Emma’s snobbery is traced even in indifferent treatment of Miss Bates in the past.

Emma is not only snobbish but lacking in sense of realism. When a written, proposal of marriage is received by Harriet from Mr. martin, Emma instigates Harriet to reject it, though Emma does so in an indirect manner without appearing to influence Harriet’s own judgement.Ostensibly, Emma gives to Harriet full freedom in saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Mr. Martin’s proposal, but actually it is she who takes the decision on Harriet’s behalf. Thus, we find that Emma is also capable of a certain sophistry.[mp4] 

It is Emma who puts into Harriet’s head the notion that Mr. Elton is in love with her and will marry her. Emma herself paints a portrait of Harriet which Mr. Elton takes to London to have it framed. And Emma, who never fails to exercise her imagination in such matters, says to Harriet; “At this moment perhaps, Mr. Elton is showing your picture to his mother and sisters, telling them how much more beautiful is the original, and after being asked for it five or six times, allowing them to hear your name, your own dear name.” Subsequently she makes every possible effort to promote a match between Harriet and Mr. Elton and receives a big shock when Mr. Elton proposes not to Harriet but to Emma herself. Thus, Emma discovers how sadly mistaken she had been in her assessment of the character of Mr. Elton. Mr. Elton’s proposal as a great disillusionment for Emma.

Emma’s attitude towards Frank Churchill and her judgement of that man’s character again show Emma to be an “imaginist”. Emma is always inclined to believe what she wishes to believe and not what is actually or really the case. She first thinks of Frank as a possible husband for herself. Then, dismissing him as a lover or husband for herself, she imagines him as a possible husband for Harriet, her ground for this belief being no more than the fact that Frank has rescued Harriet from the gipsies. It is in this context that the author calls Emma an “imaginist”. Just as previously she had received Frank’s attentions to herself as the advances of a suitor or wooer, so now she begins to treat him as a suitor for Harriet. She completely fails to understand the reality of Frank’s character in spite of the fact that Mr. Knightley tries to open her eyes to the true character of that young man. She begins to think Mr. Knightley to be “illiberal” and unjust in his assessment of Frank and tries to defend Frank till the shocking revelation comes that Frank has long been engaged to Jane Fairfax.

It is not possible to appreciate Emma’s attitude towards Jane Fairfax in early stages. Emma had always kept distance from the time of earliest acquaintance with Jane. It could have been, as suggested by Mr. Knightley, a sub-conscious jealousy on Emma’s par which prevented her from becoming friends with Jane. Subsequently, Emma’s dislike of Jane is strengthened by what seems to Emma the coldness and reserve of Jane. However, Emma tries to amend herself to Jane and eventually both have become good friends at later stages of the novel.

Emma shows a lack of delicacy in her treatment of Miss Bates also. On the occasion of the visit to Box Hill, Emma says something very rude and offensive to Miss Bates. Emma’s words on this occasion amount to her accusing Miss Bates of extreme dullness in whatever Miss bates has to say. However, when afterwards Emma is rebuked by Mr. Knightley for this rudeness. Emma realizes her mistake and makes amends to Miss Bates by paying a friendly visit to her.

Likewise, Emma’s character is treated in the novel with the mixture of little arrogance and compassion. Her kind-heartedness is also seen in her when she was ultimate realization of the troubles through which Jane Fairfax has passed. Her rudeness to Miss Bates on one occasion should not be regarded that she is hard-hearted and callous woman.

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 [mp1]The action of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false

 [mp2]Minister, rector, priest, parson. Minister of region, cleric

 [mp3]The character of quality of being snob.

A person with an exaggerated respect for high social position or wealth who seeks to associate with social superiors and looks sown on those regarded as socially inferior

 [mp4]The use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving