RECONSIDERING THE ROLE OF SOPHIE IN ROUSSEAUS EMILE

Many commentators have pointed out that the character of Sophie in Emi le does not possess the wholeness of a unified soul, and therefore lac ks that which Rousseau holds up (at least for men) as the means to ach ieving freedom and happiness. This article argues that while Sophie is indeed a divided soul, her portrayal offers a more complex model of t he soul than does that of Emile-a model ultimately more compatible bot h with self-rule and with non-authoritarian rule of others. This calls into question Rousseau's commitment to ''wholeness'' as an ideal, esp ecially once we realize that the real education provided by the pages of Emile-the education of its readers-resembles Sophie's education mor e than Emile's.