童话镇 Article: A Defense of Emma 天鹅

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posted by TDDD

People seems to have a lot of issues with Emma and some of the choices she made. She has never been a favourite character of mine but I really feel dreadful for her. She was forced into a lot of shitty situations where she had to make terrible decisions and generally always chooses to do right 由 other people even if it will bring her heartache.

Starting at the very beginning, one of the main things that Emma did that people use against her is her giving up Henry. I've seen her called a terrible person, a bad mother, and all sorts of things because of this and the kicker? She didn't have a choice!

给 any sort of choice 你 know Emma would have kept that baby. Looking at it from her perspective: she was a 17 年 old girl with no money, no home, no family 或者 support system, a criminal record, and a broken heart. She was in no condition to be raising a child, especially a newborn. How would she clothe him? Feed him once he was off breast-milk? How would she pay for a 首页 for him to live in, a cot, and medical bills when he inevitably got sick? What about when he's older? There's no way she'd be able to afford to send him to school. She had no 老友记或者 family that she could get help 或者 support from, so there would be no good night's rest when he's crying through the night, no person she could leave him with for a few hours while she went looking for any sort of income, which would be difficult enough for a 17 年 old girl with no qualifications to speak of, without adding a criminal record and a newborn baby to the mix.

Then there was the period she was in jail, where was the baby supposed to live while she finished serving the last two months of her sentence? The options for someone in that situation would be to leave him with 老友记 of family until she got out, to put him into the system, 或者 to let him be adopted. She didn't have anyone else so the first option is immediately out. She definitely wasn't going to put him into the system that destroyed her childhood, and made her jaded and cynical. She hated being in the system and was desperate enough to run away, while under age with no education, to get out of it. There was only one option left - for the good of the baby that 给 any sort of choice she would have kept – and she took it.

Lately there's also been all sorts of criticism of Emma because of the 吻乐队（Kiss） scene with Hook in the upcoming episode. People don't like Hook, and that's fine, no-one is going to deny that he's done appalling things during the course of the 显示 and in flashbacks. Putting aside any sort of personal feelings 或者 opinions and looking at it, again, from Emma's point of view:

There's a very powerful thought and concept behind the idea of Hook falling in 爱情 with Emma that would be difficult for Emma to ignore. Before Emma Hook has loved precisely one woman in total – Milah. He loved her so much that he was willing to give up his life to protect her. He wasn't afraid of anything he faced so long as she was 安全 and happy, even if he was afraid he faced his fear and ultimately defeated it. When his 爱情 was murdered in a horrifying way right in front of his eyes with he was lashed to the mast, forced to watch, and unable to help, he spends 300 hundred years thinking of nothing but getting revenge. He loved her so much that he dedicated 300 years of his life trying to put her to rest, to get her the vengeance she deserved, and to be worthy of joining her in the afterlife. His life meant nothing, it was her life and her memory that drove him. This is how Hook loves. When he puts aside his quest for vengeance and starts falling in 爱情 with Emma, he is basically moving his devotion onto her. She is 安全 in the knowledge of how much he loved Milah and that he loves Emma as much, if not more, than he did Milah. That's a thought and idea that's very difficult to fight when 你 don't have the history of abandonment that Emma does.

Because the fact of the matter is that Neal wasn't able to face his fear, he didn't fight to stay with her 或者 reunite with her. He may have done what he thought was right but in the end she formed great abandonment issues because of him. Then a man comes along and 你 know because he's proven it already that he's falling for 你 and that he'll never leave you. Because it's just not in his nature. Emma doesn't need a man but she does need support and comfort – all humans do – so why are we resentful of the knowledge that she's finding it?

Then there's the argument that Emma shouldn't be 接吻 Hook because she's grieving for Neal and Neal still loves her. This whole situation is a 魔发奇缘 web but again from Emma's point of view:

She fell in 爱情 with a man who taught her what it was like to be loved, to come first in someone's eyes. Then he leaves her, he lied - he never really loved her and if he did, he loved the idea of twenty grand more. She thinks he sold her out to the police and she gets sent to jail. Then she finds out she's pregnant with his kid and she's forced 由 circumstance to give away her own baby. Think of the absolute trauma that must have 给 her: if the man she loved hadn't betrayed her, she would have been able to raise her own child. Instead she was forced to give him away and never see him again. Years later she sees him again and realised she still loved him, even after everything he did to her. But he doesn't still 爱情 her – he's moved on a engaged. Her 心 is broken yet again. Then his fiancée betrays him and in a matter of 秒 he's declaring his 爱情 her her. Either he moves past the supposed 'love of his life' very fast and easy 或者 he lied when he told everyone that he loved this new woman enough to spend the rest of his life with her. That all hits a little too close to home, but she's tired of feeling unloved and her son adores him and he's dying so they tell each other how they feel and he disappears from her life a 秒 time. Her 心 is broken yet again.

Neal caused her so much heartache. Between him leaving her alone, and her constantly wondering if he really ever loved/loves her, the idea of Hook must be like a balm on all the wounds he caused. A passionate man who when he loves, loves with all his being and would never ever be apart from her. It has to be such a powerful feeling. Of course she's still grieving, but who's right is it to tell her when she's allowed to 移动 on? As far as she knows Neal is dead and they were not together anyway. Why is it a betrayal for her to finally accept a way for her to be happy?

It's getting long so I'll leave it here for the moment. I might add to it if there's other things which I want to address.

LowriLorenza89, Wolfdreamer9 and 9 others like this

dacastinson I agree with you in every aspect of this article! How could a 17-year-old girl in jail raise a child? We've seen how heartbroken she was when she gave him up and how hard she tried not to look at him because, as Jennifer said, if she looked at him just once, she would have kept him and he wouldn't have had the life she wanted for him, that he deserved. I'm also sick of everyone hating on Emma and supporting Neal. Calling her a slut for kissing a man who gave up everything just to help her, who clearly has deep feelings for her and who can make her happy? Seriously? That's just not ok. I will never get why do people refuse to see the whole picture! Neal crushed Emma, moved on, found a new girl which he wanted to spend his whole life with and Emma was suffering all that time. She finally finds someone who cares about her, who didn't leave her and who is there just to help her and comfort he whenever she needs it, and she is a slut? NO. JUST NO. I could go on but I don't see the point. People just refuse to see the truth that is right there and I can't do anything to change that, unfortunately.

misse1000 I completely agree with the first part. Giving up Henry was the best thing she could do, and certainly better than an abortion. She gave him his best shot. The second part: I think that Neal has some redeeming qualities. First off, he told her before he got shot and ended up in the Enchanted Forrest that leaving her was the worst mistake he had made and if he had it to do again, he wouldn't. I think if he had known about Henry, he never would have done it. Second, he's tried very hard with Henry. Third, I think he didn't try less because he was engaged but more because he thought getting Emma back wasn't feasible. He even says later that he's afraid it's too late. He has the unfortunate benefit of inheriting some of Rumple's cowardliness in decisions regarding the heart and Rumple's tendency to make poor decisions. Lastly, he came to Neverland to find Emma and Henry. And Hook is, well, Hook. Besides, I think because he loved Milah so much, he could never love Emma in the same way. I also think it's unfair to judge the kiss before the episode has even aired, especially since in the clip I saw recently Emma said it was a one-time thing. Even so, it doesn't make her slutty at all. She's in a really bad emotional position right now.

TDDD @Dacastinson Thank-you so much, I'm glad you agree! @Misse1000 This article is not so much me complaining about Neal and his choices but merely describing what the whole situation looked like from Emma's point of view. Because people watching seem to forget that Emma doesn't know everything we do. The way she reacted is perfectly reasonable considering her point of view, and what she didn't know about the situation and Neal's feelings. I am not a fan of Neal but I will admit that he has some good qualities. everything you mentioned there is a point in his favour. (Bar his whole interactions with Tamara - I'll get to that in a bit.) It's not a bad thing for Emma to move on and find happiness. She doesn't know that he's alive and he's coming to help her and even if she did she's [i]still[/i] well within her rights to move on. Neal and her haven't been together for over a decade. He moved on in that time, why can't she now? No matter what, I'll never like that way Neal handled his feelings and his relationship with Tamara. The way I see it, he got engaged to a woman while still in love with his ex. This is extremely not fair on her. It also concerns how little he seemed to care about her if, within minutes of her horrifically betraying him by trying to kill him, he's able to express his love for his ex. It's like he was waiting for an opportunity for his engagement to fail and allow him to run off with another woman. Maybe I worded it badly in the article but it's not so much that Emma will replace the hole Milah's death left him with. But the fact that he decided to put aside his quest to avenge Milah for Emma is absolute proof, not that he's choosing Emma over Milah, but that something about Emma affected him enough to finally lay those ghosts to rest and to join a new cause. It must be a very profound notion to realise that you have such an effect on a person. I saw the same clip and I'll tell you why I don't think that line from Emma meant much in the long run. [i]The main reason I think Captain Swan is going to be a long-term relationship thing after that kiss is that Emma is not a cruel person. It’s undeniably clear now that Hook adores her and wants to explore the connection they share. Emma knows this, and she wouldn’t kiss him in such a way if she hadn’t acknowledged to herself that she wanted the same thing. It’s not in her nature to make that ‘a one time thing’, because she’s just not that cruel. She knows how much it hurts when someone plays with your heart and she wouldn’t deliver that hurt onto someone else, especially when they’re helping her. That would be ridiculously cruel. She’d be leading on a man who was clearly falling in love with her and was risking his life to help her get her son back. And what for? A good snog? Amusement? No. She did it because she wanted to tell him that she felt the same way even though she didn’t have the words. But once it was over she lost her courage and doubt moved back into its place. She told him it was a one time thing. But they both know she’s lying.[/i] Whew, this was far longer than expected. Sorry to rant at you, though!

minervadawn Thanks for the article. I complexly agree. I just want to add a couple of things Fact #1: when a woman is incarcerated she automatically loses her parental right. Period. It's the law. Once she is released she can petition to get her children back as long as they are still in the system. Although there are things a woman can do to ensure that her children will still be in the system when she gets out there can be serious repercussions for the child. Fact #2: New borns are highly adoptable. However once they enter the system it's sort of like taking a brand new car of the lot. There adoptability plummets and it get lower and lower ever second they are in there. Emma being a former ward of the state would know all this. She would also know that the system has a very damaging effect on children no matter how long they are there particularly infants that need a attentive and nurturing environment in those first few months as there brain develops. She would also be aware that getting her child back once she was released was not guaranteed. She was have to be deemed fit by to court and in her situation I don't think Emma was all that positive about the results. So the truth is that Emma had even less choice in the matter then you imply. She didn't give Henry up. He was taken from her. The only choice she had was to decide were he would go. In to the system or to a home and parents that would love him. Alright that was very longwinded but here is the second thing I'd like to add. People using the word slutty really annoys me. First off no one should be called a slut. Second slutty means immoral and Emma isn't doing anything wrong. She is single and she can kiss whoever she bloody wants. As for getting over Neal too soon, she has spent the last twelve years getting over Neal. He showed up again for a split second of her life and then he was gone again. I like the point you made about Neal. He got over Tamara a hell of a lot faster then Emma did him. If she's a slut he is. Unfortunately woman are held to higher moral standards then men. I don't think Neal is worthy of Emma yet. I don't think Hook is either (he left her too remember). They both have a long way to go before they prove themselves in my eyes, but at this point they are both in the running.

TDDD @Minervadawn Thank-you for telling me that. Most of what I know about the system is educated guesswork and discussions with friends who also only have educated guesswork. Question though, is it only single, pregnant women who lose their parental rights? Or it it any person? Such as once you've gone to jail you're not allowed be in charge of your child anymore? Yeah, I know the ratio of parents to newborns is huge but even young toddlers are far more difficult to home. Thank-you far saying that about the word 'slut'. It was annoying me but I really didn't want to get into that argument. He got over Tamara in a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Which leads me to think he didn't love her in the beginning. So then why was he engaged to her? If she had been the genuinely nice person he thought she was how terribly would he have hurt her in the end? There has always been a very clear difference in the circumstances between Neal and Hook leaving her. Neal left her because he was afraid. She was completely innocent and naive when he left her. That's a far cry from the situation with Hook. She was the one who broke his trust. Even after he'd proven himself, she chained him up and abandoned him on top of the beanstalk, terrified because he didn't know what she did about the giant. as far as Hook was concerned she was leaving him there to be brutally murdered. When he left her in that cage, it was because of bitterness and spite. She wronged him and he regretted trusting her. They were on opposing sides, it's not like Hook was the only person who had ever loved her only to turn around and essentially tell her he never loved her after all. I don't really mind who I think is 'worthy' or not. In the end it's Emma's choice, I'm not going to be unhappy because I don't think either of them have proved themselves adequately yet. If Emma chooses to be with them outside of any sort of emotional, mental influences and they make each other happy then that's fine with me. I don't want SwanFire because I just don't think Emma would be happy in that relationship. Logically it doesn't make sense to me like CS does. Anyway, we're just going to have to wait and see.

SherlockStark I really appreciate this article; it points out a lot of things in favor of Captain Swan that I'd never considered before. Though, I have to say that I'd still Greatly prefer HookQueen, I understand what people see in Captian Swan now. :)

misse1000 @TDDD You bashed my man! Lol, just kidding (seriously, there's just something about Neal...I'm also a Rumple fan, so maybe that's it) Anyway, I absolutely get what you're saying about how Emma doesn't know Neal is alive (until next week). I also was recently watching the first season and Emma stated that she had a lot of quick relationships. I think she's flattered, and she's grateful he saved Charming, but for now she's focused on getting Henry back. Also, the kiss was partially payment for rescuing Charming ("Thank you? Is that all your father's life is worth to you?") I think the best way for this to end would be for Hook to sacrifice himself for either Neal or Henry. I just really dislike him. Maybe a little less after tonight's episode, even less if he does the right thing and tells Emma the truth about Neal, but still. He messed around with a married man's wife and then tried to kill said married man. Granted married man killed his wife, but still.

TDDD @Sherlock Stark Thank-you so much. It's always a wonderful feeling when you bring someone around to see your point of view. I've always been able to see the potential behind Captain Swan and, if done right, it could be unreal. So I've always been on the CS ship and I think I'd like HookQueen if not for CS. The only reason I can't see Hook and Regina together now is this: [i]Hook is not what Regina needs, but he is exactly what Emma does. Logically Hook and Regina have a lot in common: their loves both died and they both spent a lot of time living for revenge. But I find that their personalities get in the way. Neither of them are in particularly happy places right now and they both have quite dark personalities. They’d feed off each other’s darkness with neither of them having any light to share. Both Emma and Regina are similar characters in that they are fiercely strong, passionate, independent people who need someone who will soften them and who they can open up to. But I think they’re also very different in that Regina needs someone who is naturally sweet and soft. She needs someone who won’t be harsh with her. But on the other hand, Emma is so closed off she needs needs someone who will smash down her walls and drag her out despite her fear of trust and emotional intimacy. That’s not to say that she needs someone harsh but she needs someone who can hold their own and not back down from her. She’s so damaged she’s not going to open up without a fight.[/i] @Misse1000 Oh no, I think Hook is sticking around for a long while. As to what you said about the situation with Milah – you see it very differently to me. Personally, I think Hook ought to be praised for that situation. He meets a woman in a bar, she's fun, adventurous, bitter and unhappy all at once. She has a real spirit and a longing for freedom. Then, later on that night, she comes to him, desperate and pleading. Begging him to take her away from her marriage. Then, when Rumple comes to fetch her back, it's very clear he doesn't value her for herself, he values the role she played in his household. He may be a cripple and a coward but when Hook gives him an opportunity to save his wife from (as far as he knows) rape and murder, he can't even pick up the sword. His reasoning for needing her was not 'I love her. She's my wife.' it was 'We have a son who needs a mother.' I very much got the impression that Milah was reduced to being a role in Rumple's house. Back at the bar, 'You have responsibilities.' She was a proud, spirited and adventurous woman, marriage and a family didn't suit her and Hook saved her from it. He saved her and later fell in love with her. Of course he was going to avenge her murder, be it committed by her ex-husband or not.

minervadawn @TDDD Anyone that is convicted of a crime and imprisoned loses there parental rights while incarcerated weather they be male, female, a new parent or old. If the child has a second unincarcerated guardian then they retain their rights but legally you personally have no say.

TDDD @Minervadawn. Thank-you very much!

delenasalvatore Thank you for this article. I have seen quite a few 'bad' comments from fans here aimed at Emma which have made me deeply uncomfortable with certain 'sections' of the 'Once' fandom. I don't see any of them here, but in the last 10 days or so, I've seen people judging Emma before 3x05 even aired. From the way some of them have been carrying on, you'd have thought SF had been married or something. It's not as if she goes around kissing men in every other episode now, far from it. The last person she kissed was Graham from S1. I understand that not everyone likes Hook or CS, but I think it's fair to say that some SF fans look at Emma as if she *belongs* to Neal. They weren't even together, but they act as is they were, and as far as she knows, he is dead. What do they want her to do? Dress in black and wear a veil until he miraculously returns? Calling her a 'slut' for kissing ONE man is bordering on misogynistic. I'm afraid to say, that unless this spot calms down then I will have no choice but to give it a wide berth. Ship and let ship. There's just no need for such behaviour.

Diamond_Queen I completely agree with this article:) I'm not really a Captain Swan shipper cuz I want Hooked Queen badly haha, but it's extremely not fair that people call Emma a bad person or a even a slut- she's just kissed like 3 guys in the entire show, 2 if you consider that all kisses with Neal were in a flashback.

chinesewonton It's kind of hard for me to be anything BUT Captain Swan now. Not just because of this article-though I agree, although, as misse1000 said, Neal does have some redeeming qualities-but because of this episode. I mean Hook is just- he's just HOOK, and I can't not love him.

Evilregal14 This article is great, good points but I still dislike Emma after 3x05 and I don't see what people like about CS but good article.

MadameLee I don't think if a woman is placed in jail she looses all parental rights. She has stated several times that she GAVE Henry up. Even Henry mentioned it once "Did you give a baby up for adoption ten years ago?" If the prison had taken the kid away without her consent wouldn't she had said that instead? Emma was in the prison for 11 months.

minervadawn ^ A woman's child isn't taken away but they are placed in the system while they are in jail and for a period after while the mother proved she is a fit parent. Emma as a product of the system would know that the longer a kid is in the system the less likely it becomes for them to get adopted. She choose to give him up for adoption rather then let him spend any time in the system at all.

DR76 I already have a new set of reasons why I dislike Emma so much. But to put it down, I would have to write a new essay. She has NOT endeared in the past half season.