Does anyone feel like Emma is a bit like Katniss?
3rd post in 2 days i know. Last thing!
Something i have theorized is that Emma is like Katniss in that she isn’t an unreliable narrator per se, but I don’t think things are always as written. In the hunger games we see the story through Katniss’ perspective, and she is a naive girl and so a lot of her assumptions about other characters motivations and intentions are incorrect. Like in the books she’s like HELL bent on the fact peeta is actually playing mind games with her even though he wasn’t the whole time (circumstances i understand). He offers her burnt bread because shes starving pre-hunger games, and she just is thinking (paraphrasing) wow what he’s pitying me and trying to humiliate me??? Like no girl, he’s trying to help you out as a friend.
Im firmly team islington 🫡 right now. So, i’ve been re-reading the books and when shes talking to people or islington she says something along the lines of “oh well he made that sound because OBVIOUSLY xyz” when personally i don’t agree with her interpretation.
I can’t find all the examples i highlighted at the moment but some examples:
- “Islington did not say Ah, but his hazel eyes weighed and measured my existence. I could tell I was found wanting, which is Unrepentant Latin for: Islington had not invited me to this dinner.” (vol 4. October 11th) I doubt that. And we learn a page later she was in fact invited and he was pulling her leg. I feel like her naïveté shines through here, many characters commenting on it.
- “let me rephrase. Islington was watching me with a reluctant an annoyed acceptance that I was destined to be the subject of a public house anthem.” (Vol 5. November 15th) again, this is all what she THINKS he’s thinking. He could be thinking about his beloved hounds for all she actually knows.
- “I snorted and then quickly covered it with a false wail of grief, pretending to be overcome with emotion, I leaned on Islington for support. He stiffened, uncomfortable at my behaviour.” (Vol. 5 November 28th) — i dont doubt he was uncomfortable or stiffened but I think she’s not thinking about WHY he’s uncomfortable. There’s various theories as to why he stiffens uncomfortably.
So i don’t doubt the dialogue is correct, but i think the way in which she assume others perceive her and how she analyzes others actions is not always entirely true. I think it’s true to her, but unfortunately she is the only perspective we will hear so we won’t get confirmation otherwise unless another character explicitly disputes.