In How To Read Literature Like A Professor, Foster says that there's no such thing as an original story. Stories grow from other stories, and given thought, you can see common recurrences within each. For instance, Amy Heckerling's cult classic Clueless is entirely based off of Jane Austen's Emma. I decided to look through both works and see how characters in both stories paralleled.
The Characters:
All the characters in Clueless are representative of characters in Emma, whether clearly or loosely. Here is a list of the characters who I think clearly parallel each other in both Emma and Clueless:
Cher Horowitz and Emma Woodhouse:
This is one of the clearest parallels between the two; Cher and Emma are one in the same. Both have deceased mothers, are beautiful, and are popular. In their respective pieces, both Cher and Emma try their hand at match-making, and while they ultimately cause trouble have good intentions. Though they are very similar, Cher is more vain than Emma.
Mel Horowitz and Mr. Woodhouse:
Another clear parallel. The fathers of both Cher and Emma. Mr. Woodhouse is more particular about things, like nutritionm than Mr. Horowitz, but both offer convenient advice to their daughters
Josh and Mr. Knightley:
In Emma, Mr. Knightley is a family friend of the Woodhouses who has watched Emma grow up. Though he is seventeen years her senior, they fall in love. In Clueless, Josh is Cher's ex-stepbrother who lives with her and her father. He is also older than Cher, so you could say he has watched her mature, like Mr. Knightley with Emma, to an extent. One of the main things that Josh and Mr. Knightley have in common is that they are the only ones who acknowledge the faults of both Cher and Emma. Both Emma and Cher place Mr. Knightley/Josh on this pedestal of knowledge; they both think he knows everything and go to him when they have questions/need advice.
Tai and Harriet Smith:
Harriet Smith is a girl who Emma becomes close friends with. She does not know who her parents are and is significantly less clever, beautiful, and presentable than Emma is, and Emma tries to change that. Emma gives Harriet mountains of advice, but is somewhat hypocritical and doesn't always practice what she preaches. Emma tries to set Harriet up with Mr. Elton and make her into a presentable young lady. Tai functions the same way in Clueless. Cher sees her as a "fixer-upper" and makes Tai her own pet project, like Emma does with Harriet.
Elton and Mr. Elton:
Emma and Cher try to match with Mr. Elton/Elton up with Harriet/Tai. The match is unsuccessful however.
Christian and Frank Churchill:
Emma/Cher both want to be with Christian/Mr. Churchill, but both of the men have secrets that keep them from being with the women; Mr. Churchill is already engaged and Christian is gay.
Ms. Geist and Mr. Hall and Mr. and Mrs. Weston
Cher matches them up like Emma claims she matches Mr. and Mrs. Weston up. They are the one successful match of both Emma and Cher.
Robert Martin = Travis
In Emma, Harriet Smith has feelings for farmer Mr. Martin. Emma tries to lead her away from him, as she believes he is too simple and of too low class than her friend deserves. However, despite her best attempts, Harriet and Mr. Martin end up together, and it proves clear to Emma that they are a good match for one another. This same plot device is used in Clueless with skater Travis; Tai has a crush on the boy, but Cher argues that he isn't right for her.
The Characters:
All the characters in Clueless are representative of characters in Emma, whether clearly or loosely. Here is a list of the characters who I think clearly parallel each other in both Emma and Clueless:
Cher Horowitz and Emma Woodhouse:
This is one of the clearest parallels between the two; Cher and Emma are one in the same. Both have deceased mothers, are beautiful, and are popular. In their respective pieces, both Cher and Emma try their hand at match-making, and while they ultimately cause trouble have good intentions. Though they are very similar, Cher is more vain than Emma.
Mel Horowitz and Mr. Woodhouse:
Another clear parallel. The fathers of both Cher and Emma. Mr. Woodhouse is more particular about things, like nutritionm than Mr. Horowitz, but both offer convenient advice to their daughters
Josh and Mr. Knightley:
In Emma, Mr. Knightley is a family friend of the Woodhouses who has watched Emma grow up. Though he is seventeen years her senior, they fall in love. In Clueless, Josh is Cher's ex-stepbrother who lives with her and her father. He is also older than Cher, so you could say he has watched her mature, like Mr. Knightley with Emma, to an extent. One of the main things that Josh and Mr. Knightley have in common is that they are the only ones who acknowledge the faults of both Cher and Emma. Both Emma and Cher place Mr. Knightley/Josh on this pedestal of knowledge; they both think he knows everything and go to him when they have questions/need advice.
Tai and Harriet Smith:
Harriet Smith is a girl who Emma becomes close friends with. She does not know who her parents are and is significantly less clever, beautiful, and presentable than Emma is, and Emma tries to change that. Emma gives Harriet mountains of advice, but is somewhat hypocritical and doesn't always practice what she preaches. Emma tries to set Harriet up with Mr. Elton and make her into a presentable young lady. Tai functions the same way in Clueless. Cher sees her as a "fixer-upper" and makes Tai her own pet project, like Emma does with Harriet.
Elton and Mr. Elton:
Emma and Cher try to match with Mr. Elton/Elton up with Harriet/Tai. The match is unsuccessful however.
Christian and Frank Churchill:
Emma/Cher both want to be with Christian/Mr. Churchill, but both of the men have secrets that keep them from being with the women; Mr. Churchill is already engaged and Christian is gay.
Ms. Geist and Mr. Hall and Mr. and Mrs. Weston
Cher matches them up like Emma claims she matches Mr. and Mrs. Weston up. They are the one successful match of both Emma and Cher.
Robert Martin = Travis
In Emma, Harriet Smith has feelings for farmer Mr. Martin. Emma tries to lead her away from him, as she believes he is too simple and of too low class than her friend deserves. However, despite her best attempts, Harriet and Mr. Martin end up together, and it proves clear to Emma that they are a good match for one another. This same plot device is used in Clueless with skater Travis; Tai has a crush on the boy, but Cher argues that he isn't right for her.