Was Mr Elton from the novel Emma - called black spruce and smiling - a Black man?

Answer 1

Mr. Elton is described in the novel as "spruce, black, and smiling." The adjective "spruce" means neatly dressed. The word black here almost certainly refers to his clothing, which would have been the black clothes of a clergyman. We have no indication of Mr. Elton's race, and the only descriptions of him are rather vague. He is called handsome, and even pretty or beautiful; but that is all we know.

In Mansfield Park we have a Mister Crawford who is no minister but is 'absolutely plain, black and plain' and his sister Mary who is brown with a lively black eye. So Mr. Crawford is Black or at least black of complexion. Both Mr. Elton and Mr. Crawford act as Moors, and are like Othello, a symbol and a person, symbolising the setting of the novels. Jane Austen believed black and brown complexioned persons superior. The Moor symbolised nobility, blue blood, and royalty. Austen's personages were light brown, brown, very brown and black, some having classical African facial traits, considered proof of pure blood: noble blood. Like she did according to het brother Henry: a peculiar beauty. So Mr. Elton is also a person, but not noble enough for Emma. Good enough for Miss Harriet Smith who is white. Emma proposes race-mixing, which upsets Mr. Knighley, and which Mr. Elton considers an insult. In Emma Jane Fairfax's complexion is discussed in detail: she is pale, but she cannot be called fair, but has enough colour for beauty; and thus tells us what Emma and Mr. Churchill looked like. Emma Watson, from the Watsons, was very brown, and Emma must have been truly black: and loveliness itself. I have two longer articles Was Jane Austen Black? in Google, and a new study by the same title. Notice the portrait I see as most fitting her description as a brunette complexioned, pretty woman. Egmond Codfried.

Spruce:spruce 2 (sprs)adj. spruc·er, spruc·estNeat, trim, and smart in appearance: "a good-looking man; spruce and dapper, and very tidy" (Anthony Trollope).

v. spruced, spruc·ing, spruc·es

v.tr.To make neat and trim: spruced up the chairs with new slipcovers.

v.intr.To make oneself neat and smart in appearance: He was sprucing for the school dance.

Answer 2

No, Mr. Elton from the novel Emma by Jane Austen is not described as a Black man. The nickname "black spruce and smiling" refers to his dark hair and cheerful demeanor.