Modern Adaptation:

Prompt: Choose a passage of Emma’s internal monologue that gives important insight into her character. In the style of Austen, compose a passage of internal monologue for a modern-day person who is thinking over a situation similar to the situation Emma is considering in the original passage. The key is that the person should be a contemporary facing a modern-day problem, but that you should imitate Jane Austen’s style and manner of describing people and actions. For example, pay attention to her use of irony, understatement, and humor, as well as to her incisive analysis of her characters’ psychologies. Begin with a short Preface (2-4 sentences) in which you describe the precise situation you are writing about. This preface will provide context for your internal monologue. Write the Preface in your own regular writing style. Then, your internal monologue must closely copy the style of the novel, especially the specific passage from the novel that you have chosen. You will be writing about a modern-day situation, but it will sound like it was written for Emma. (2-3 double-spaced pages)

Selected Passage from Emma

Emma continued to entertain no doubt of her being in love. Her ideas only varied as to how much. At first, she thought it was a good deal; and afterwards, but little. She had great pleasure in hearing Frank Churchill talked of; and, for his sake, greater pleasure than ever in seeing Mr. and Mrs. Weston; she was very often thinking of him, and quite impatient for a letter, that she might know how he was, how were his spirits, how was his aunt, and what was the chance of his coming to Randalls again this spring. But, on the other hand, she could not admit herself to be unhappy, nor, after the first morning, to be less disposed for employment than usual; she was still busy and cheerful; and, pleasing as he was, she could yet imagine him to have faults; and farther, though thinking of him so much, and, as she sat drawing or working, forming a thousand amusing schemes for the progress and close of their attachment, fancying interesting dialogues, and inventing elegant letters; the conclusion of every imaginary declaration on his side was that she refused him. Their affection was always to subside into friendship. Everything tender and charming was to mark their parting; but still they were to part. When she became sensible of this, it struck her that she could not be very much in love; for in spite of her previous and fixed determination never to quit her father, never to marry, a strong attachment certainly must produce more of a struggle than she could foresee in her own feelings.

'I do not find myself making any use of the word sacrifice,' said she. 'In not one of all my clever replies, my delicate negatives, is there any allusion to making a sacrifice. I do suspect that he is not really necessary to my happiness. So much the better. I certainly will not persuade myself to feel more than I do. I am quite enough in love. I should be sorry to be more.

'Upon the whole, she was equally contented with her view of his feelings.

'He is undoubtedly very much in love -- everything denotes it -- very much in love

indeed! And when he comes again, if his affection continues, I must be on my guard not to encourage it. It would be most inexcusable to do otherwise, as my own mind is quite made up.

Not that I imagine he can think I have been encouraging him hitherto. No, if he had believed me at all to share his feelings, he would not have been so wretched. Could he have thought himself encouraged, his looks and language at parting would have been different. Still, however, I must be on my guard. This is in the supposition of his attachment continuing what it now is; but I do not know that I expect it will; I do not look upon him to be quite the sort of man -- I do not altogether build upon his steadiness or constancy. His feelings are warm, but I can imagine them rather changeable. Every consideration of the subject, in short, makes me thankful that my happiness is not more deeply involved. I shall do very well again after a little while -- and then, it will be a good thing over; for they say everybody is in love once in their lives, and I shall have been let off easily.'

Jane Austen, Emma (London: Penguin Classics, 2015), p. 245-6.

Original Adaptation by Gianna Shrake:

"The Blind Bliss of Being in Love: But is it really love?"

In a consideration of Loretta’s spirits alone, there was nothing truly evil about finding herself temporarily in love. It is not to be assumed that when she pledged herself to Christ forever she believed such an temporal attachment impossible. For all the strength of character and appearance that Jeffrey had claim to boast of, nothing about his person could sway her resolve to this most holy calling. To see all the adoration in the world reflected in his eyes could never make a white dress so dear to her as the prospect of the black veil. Nothing whatsoever about the evenness of his stride, or the impressive nature of his stature, or the crease in his brow when deep in thought, or the merriment in his smile which draws ever so slightly to the left side…No!—None of this could dissuade her. After all, she did not think herself so very above the inclinations of youth and sentimentality to believe that she had formed more than a commonplace regard for him. It was, of course, nothing more than the result of proximity and agreeable disposition, which could easily be resolved by being apart for an extended period, and by, when in the event of a future meeting, maintaining a resolute reserve of manner. “I see no need for me to approach him with coldness at present, however,” Loretta reasoned, “As it will be some time before I commit myself forever to seclusion, I believe there to be no harm in our connection for the time being; if I suspected him to belief that I share his affection to the degree which he makes it obvious to me, I would correct the situation at once. I see him to have no delusions of an undying regard, although it is true that he does not know of my commitment to the order of sisters, he must see nothing which encourages hopes of a courtship.” It could be argued that on a list of single minded creatures, a man in love would be second only to a star nosed mole in pursuit of food. Loretta, accordingly, had made her intentions plain enough to even overpower this troubling fact. “I have acted in a manner which reflects my feelings and befits my situation: I may be in love, but it is not to last or be acted upon. It may, in fact, be beneficial for me to experience falling in love before I eliminate all earthly possibilities of it. I feel no hesitancy in anticipation of giving up love. I think it rather good that I now know I shall be missing nothing, and regret nothing in giving all hope of it up after this.” As to when, exactly, she would give up this hope, Loretta saw no reason to specify, but she knew that it must and would occur. 

As painful as it would inevitably be to see the pain of my dear friend, I would of course firmly refuse him with all the grace that the situation demands. “My dear Jeffrey, I would gladly let myself be torn limb from limb for your sake, but this one request I cannot grant. It would be dishonorable to allow you to believe that there exists in my attachment a desire for a relationship of an amorous nature. I must disappoint all hope of changing my mind on this matter, but I rely on your good nature to be assured that our friendship will remain.”

Reveling in the tragic nature of the scene creating itself before her, Loretta assured herself of the knowledge that he would be heartbroken, but his disappointment would be only in the discarded dream of receiving her love and not in her person itself. She would of course betray no hint of the secret fondness she harbored for him, which no doubt would only add to his consternation at her refusal. “In my mind however, my affection presents no great trifle. My love for him cannot be helped, but it shall not deter me from my chosen life. I do feel rather fortunate that the lightness of spirit which being in love affords did not bring with it the fear of such love disappearing.”