Emma: an Ode to "The Fixer"

by Nathan Robertson

All of us have either known one or become one ourselves. That person who truly wants what’s best for you…in their opinion. That person who always says the right thing…or at least tries to. That person who is always there for you…maybe too much. Yes, you guessed it, I’m talking about “The Fixer”.

Whether it was a romantic relationship, a family member, a friend from your school or church, a teacher, a mentor, or you yourself, we have all experienced the presence of a fixer in our lives. That person who means well but just can’t seem to loosen their grip on your capacity to make decisions. There are certainly pros and cons to the unofficial occupation when a self-professed professional enters our lives. It can be nice to have someone who is strong-willed and seems to put you ahead of themselves. However, it can also be exhausting when it feels as though you’re sitting in the passenger seat on your own journey.

Emma is a fixer. A handsome, clever, and rich member of the colorful and nuanced Victorian society which is brought to life by director Autumn de Wilde in the latest adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. A self-proclaimed matchmaker and admittedly vain Emma is perfectly played by rising star Anya Taylor-Joy, in this witty, scandalous, and stunning portraIt of a young girl who spends so much time fixing the lives of others that she misses the countless joys that await her own existence.

Emma. feels as much like a parable to “The Fixer”, or “Meddler” if you will, as it does an intricate look at characters of privilege who seem set on believing that their material possessions and social status are the only true catalysts for joy. However, the characters that draw our attention most are the ones who at times seem to be able to look past the veil of their vanity and see others and themselves for who they really are: people.

Emma. is a must-watch. Not only is it simply a delightful film to experience, but it’s also an important reminder that love does not equal control, and that privilege does not always equal happiness. Emma spends the film constantly moving her friend like a pawn on a chessboard, effectively crippling her friend into a constant state of self-doubt and confusion. She unknowingly (or maybe knowingly) toys with affections of her apparent rival Mr. Knightley, as she obsesses over rumors about the somewhat mythic and heroic Mr. Churchill. The film is a love story, but also a warning to the fixers out there, you can never truly live your own life if you spend it controlling the lives of others.

In 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 Pauls writes, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” People were not made to be fixers of other people. When we love others we will undoubtedly plant seeds in their life, be it our love of certain activities, our thoughts on certain topics, perhaps even our mannerisms in certain situations. Through that planting, we will consistently be watering each other with quality time, love, and affection. However, at the end of the day, it is not our responsibility to cause growth. Only the one who has knitted us together and known our hearts since the universe began, can truly cause hearts, minds, and souls to be made new. That should give us peace beyond all understanding.

So next time you find yourself really wanting to be “The Fixer” in someone’s life, take a second to stop, go see Emma., and think about the things in life you may be missing.