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The book Emma is split into three volumes and contains a lot of details. As the plot was unfolding towards the end, I noticed how short the pages became. To me, the ending seemed to be so rushed compared to the entirety of the book.
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I think a lot of older books wrap up quickly compared to a modern book. I guess it was just the norm at the time?
To me, it feels like a "they got married, what more is there to say really?" kinda situation
Mansfield Park's is also comically short. It's like 'oh and anyway he worked out she was great and they married' in like the third last page it's wild.
Yes - never mind when, just believe me, reader, the time was right. Then Dr Grant died, when the time was right for them to have a bigger house back at Mansfield. FINIS.
For me, one of the best moments when reading Pride and Prejudice is precisely the extensive after-peak story. That is, after the marriage there are nice explanations of how things develop afterwards (I specially like Kitty's treatment). And it is true that I also miss it in Emma (is Harriet going to be happy? Do Emma Knightley and Mr. Knigthly move back to Mr. Knighty house after Emma's father passes away?, Frank and Jane: do they live in the vicinity and Frank reconnects with his fater and his new family?). I would have loved that.
I think Emma is much more clearly in her own head, it is a deliberate retention of that style of narrative. If the narrator moved too far forward in time, it couldn't be Emma's thoughts, she isn't psychic, it would lose the immediacy. She did give her family some pointers, though. Jane Fairfax dies young. Mr Woodhouse lives for a couple of years. Harriet though? Can't really remember...
Jane Fairfax dies young? I don't remember that!!
Jane Austen told her family she would, because there can't be an epilogue at the end of the book.
Funnily, my favorite part of Emma is that I feel like we get the most post-engagement narrative of any JA book.
I find that Austen focuses on working through the interpersonal issues — misunderstandings, complications, the maturation of viewpoints — and so doesn’t bother much with details after those things are resolved. She doesn’t even write the full dialogue for some final proposal scenes. She adds some wrap-up for characters whose situations may have been in doubt, particularly showing that the successful resolution of the romances had good consequences for others (eg. Kitty in P&P, Mrs. Smith in Persuasion), but that’s usually all.
Austen’s endings have always seemed short and sort of rushed to me. Only thing I don’t love about her books.
I agree! The endings are weirdly short and abrupt.