Emma: Context

Jane Austen: Austen is the author of Emma and her own life, perspectives, and societal context heavily influence the themes and characters within the novel.
Romantic Period: The Romantic period was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that influenced Emma, especially in its emphasis on individuality, nature, and emotional expression.
Regency England: Emma is set in Regency England, a period known for its social, political, and aesthetic distinctions which provides context to Austen’s portrayal of societal norms and expectations.
Age of Reason: The Age of Reason is a period that pre-dates the Romantic era, characterised by logic and secularisation, which fundamentally shaped the societal values and attitudes depicted within the novel.
French Revolution: Austen wrote Emma shortly after the French Revolution, an event that instilled fear of social unrest and change in England, creating a backdrop of tension and uncertainty.
Women and marriage: The novel explores and questions the contemporary views of women’s role in society, particularly the societal pressures and limitations surrounding marriage.
Female sexual freedom and morality: Austen uses Emma to subtly critique the tight controls on female sexuality and the high moral standards placed on women within her society.