I think many of the characters in Emma have, as you phrased it, distortions of prudence. Mr. Woodhouse is “prudence” unchecked by fortitude (courage to take risks that are worthwhile) or, arguably, temperance (he doesn’t temper his desires for health/safety but makes a sort of idol of them). Mrs. Weston is prudent, but allows her prudence to be clouded by affection for others, namely Emma and to some extent Frank. She fails to see the dangers in the Emma/Harriet friendship and indeed marshals arguments for the friendship that sound prudent but are ultimately biased by her affection for Emma. Mrs. Elton is such a brilliant character because she is Emma’s exaggerated doppelgänger; Emma in disliking her is subconsciously condemning her own faults (snobbishness, interfering in others lives without regard to their feelings, thinking she knows what’s best for others). So I would say Mrs. Elton is not really prudent at all, because she is a more extreme version of Emma herself!
Can’t take full credit for it-something a friend pointed out to me when we read it together. When I read Emma again with that idea in mind, I saw it everywhere!
I think many of the characters in Emma have, as you phrased it, distortions of prudence. Mr. Woodhouse is “prudence” unchecked by fortitude (courage to take risks that are worthwhile) or, arguably, temperance (he doesn’t temper his desires for health/safety but makes a sort of idol of them). Mrs. Weston is prudent, but allows her prudence to be clouded by affection for others, namely Emma and to some extent Frank. She fails to see the dangers in the Emma/Harriet friendship and indeed marshals arguments for the friendship that sound prudent but are ultimately biased by her affection for Emma. Mrs. Elton is such a brilliant character because she is Emma’s exaggerated doppelgänger; Emma in disliking her is subconsciously condemning her own faults (snobbishness, interfering in others lives without regard to their feelings, thinking she knows what’s best for others). So I would say Mrs. Elton is not really prudent at all, because she is a more extreme version of Emma herself!
I'm so glad someone pointed this out! She is absolutely the more extreme, meddling, completely lacking in self-awareness version of Emma.
That seems to make more interesting the fact that Mr. Elton proposed to Emma and after being rejected, married Augusta.
Mr. Elton has a type! 🤣
I had never thought of Mrs. Elton this way and I wholeheartedly agree! What a clever way of mirroring Emma's faults.
Can’t take full credit for it-something a friend pointed out to me when we read it together. When I read Emma again with that idea in mind, I saw it everywhere!