Reconsidering the role of Sophie in Rousseau's Emile

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