Emma - Jane Austen - Characters and Plot

Introduction The first sentence has a taunting gaiety which dares reader to challenge Jane Student’s view of a heroine ammo no one would Like but myself. ‘ Emma Woodlouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her. Emma A girl with power and authority, & more than enough egotism for the forgivable follies of youth.

Enema’s wit is so splendid in itself as to make it recommendation enough if en is willing to concede the redemptive quality of humor.

Miss Tailor’s departure Miss Taylor, who has taken the place of Enema’s dead mother for eight years, has that day married cheerful Mr. Weston and has left Hartsfield for Randall. Her loss is acutely felt, and Emma and her father sink Into a lugubrious self-pity which they comically decide Is called grief.

Mr. Woodlouse’s weaknesses Miss Tailor’s departure brings out all Mr. Woodlouse’s weaknesses HIS Poor Isabella’ and his Deport MISS Taylor’ are laughable to begin with, then they become oppressive and unnatural.

He is timid and anti-social The sooner every party areas up, the better’. He hates all change and demands that life should be like his gruel: warm, coos and innocuous. Although his name is a by-word for condescending thoughtfulness in Highborn, he is really thoroughly selfish; all his kindness tends to enhance his personal comfort and convenience.

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Mr. Woodlouse has managed to get his own way by recourse to the trivial, and it is in the trivial which Emma evokes to defeat her father’s power.

She persuades him that by having Mr. Knightly in the house as her husband he will have protection from the chicken thieves. The strength of Mr. Knightly Mr. Knightly Is the timeless Englishman, modest, unaffected, somewhat Inadequate of speech, just, intelligent but not intellectual, loving rather than lover-like and landed. C]You might not see one in a hundred, with gentleman so plainly written in’. Says Emma. He employs patience and tact easily and never with any sense of having to resort to them.

Well-balanced but not dull; things are what they are and not what they seem when he is present. Interaction between Emma and Knightly Emma shows herself to be as much at home in his conversation as he is in her house. Owe always say what we like to one another’. Emma shows a delayed excitement about the days events. She claims to have brought Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston together, and now she says she intends to match-make for the youthful vicar Mr. Elton, C]a very pretty young man’ of 27. Mr. Knightly takes exception to marriage- meddling.

He knows the world and she does not. She has not been to school. She has never seen the sea. She has not even been to box hill. Such Isolation, social, cultural, and moral, might already have proved disastrous were it not for Mr. Knightly, whose native Intelligence & natural good Emma, Harriet and Mr. Elton news eave protected With great precision Austin reveals the reason why Emma would choose Harrier’s friendship: [Harriet] was a pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired.

She was short, plump and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness… Enema’s temporary destruction of the relationship between Harriet and Robert Martin Emma makes one of her celebrated outbursts of snobbery say, Oh young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, is the very last person to raise my curiosity. ‘ She then goes on to back her stylist to Robert Martin with emotional blackmail. Enema’s delusion over Harriet and Mr. Elton At the end of Chapter 4, she begins to push the silly Harriet at the Vicar of Highborn.

Emma has not fallen for Mr. Elton, seeing him as Really a very pleasing young man, a young man whom any woman not fastidious might like’ – Emma shows her contempt for Harriet and the vicar. Mr. Knightliest response Mr. Knightly is scathing about Enema’s friendship with Harriet. Harriet is The very worst possible sort of companion that Emma can possibly have,’ she presents Oh delightful inferiority’. Mrs. Weston defends Emma forcing Mr. Knightly to say, 01 love to look at her… Should like to see Emma in love, and in some doubt of return; it would do her good. ‘ The portrait of Harriet Knightly accuses Emma of making Harriet Toto tall’, Elton Jumps to her defense. When Elton comments that the portrait captured The naiveté© of Miss Smith’s manners’, Emma, despite her ability to discriminate, allows this remark to pass, even though it is not one of a lover. The artificiality of Elton response is contrasted with the letter from Robert Martin. The proposal of Robert Martin – Chapter 7

Emma is thoroughly surprised by the quality of Robert Martin’s letter of proposal: Lot was short but expressed good sense, warm attachment, liberality, propriety, even delicacy of feeling. ‘ It is the disingenuous behavior of Emma that is truly shocking to the reader: It is So good a letter, Harriet, that everything considered, I think one of his sisters must have helped him’. Emma has abruptly moved away from the integrity of her personal appraisal of the letter to a state of delusion and self- satisfaction that will damage both Harriet and herself.

Emma uses her Little friend’ s a tool for personal fulfillment and manipulation. Harriet asks Emma for advice, and at first, she responds absolutely correctly – The letter had much better be all your own’ – but Emma, with full knowledge of her actions, makes it quite clear that a refusal is the only acceptable option: Ahoy need not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his disappointment. ‘ At no point had Harriet expressed anything but doubt, yet Emma is grossly dishonest: Thought to refuse him! . … Are you in any doubt as to that? Negative answer of Harriet gratifies Emma, allowing her to come even more deceitful and selfish. Emma claims to be sensitive: Awhile you were in suspense I kept my feelings to myself,’ but sensing that Harriet is still not completely sure, produces a piece of absolute blackmail: It would have grieved me to lose your coalescence, wanly must nave Eden ten consequence AT your marrying Martin. ‘ Emma ruthlessly attacks the education and honor of Mr. Martin: Dear affectionate creature! – You banished to Abbey-Mill Farm! – You confined to the society of the illiterate and vulgar all your life!

I wonder how the young man could have the assurance to ask it. He must have a pretty good opinion of himself. ‘ Not only is Odder affectionate creature’ the best compliment she can give to Harriet, but for Emma to accuse Mr. Martin of having a Property good opinion of himself’ is simply breath-taking. Knightliest response – Chapter 8 Emma and George Knightly quarrel over Harrier’s refusal of Mr. Martin’s marriage proposal. Although the reader senses that Emma is arguing with an unsound case, she shows tremendous poise and refuses to be overwhelmed by the masculine and powerful magistrate, Mr. Knightly.

Knightly is a true match for Emma and wrought this argument, she is almost constantly defending. His experience comes to the fore as he sifts Enema’s words to find the true, shocking meaning: Ahoy saw her answer! You wrote her answer too. ‘ – his sharpness is tremendously powerful Once again, he catches Emma out: Not Harrier’s equal! ‘… No he is not her equal indeed, for he is as much her superior in sense as in situation. ‘ His speech gathers momentum as he becomes more determined to prove the worth of Mr. Martin. Lowers Harriet to material virtues: She is pretty, and she is good tempered, and that is all.

Whilst Mr. Knightly has referred to the relative virtues of the two, Emma refers to their social standing: That! Think a farmer a good match for my intimate friend!… Martin may be the richer of the two, but he is undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in society…. It would be a degradation. ‘ Knightly replies with pure passion and a wonderful sense of true social class and value: A degradation to illegitimacy and ignorance, to be married to a respectable, intelligent gentleman-farmer! ‘ Knightly informs Emma bluntly that Elton is not the man for Harriet.

Knightly does, however, how that his Judgment is not infallible: Depend upon it, Elton will not do. Elton is a very good sort of man, and a very respectable vicar of Highborn, but not at all likely to make an imprudent match. ‘ He is right to emphasis Elton infatuation with Oh good income’ but as the reader will see, Knightly later admits that Harriet would have been a greater match than the future Mrs. Elton. Although Knightliest judgments on Harriet are correct, Austin is careful to leave slight imperfections that can be corrected through the novel – Knightly goes through a learning process.

The evaluation: Elton proposal to Emma The evening before the Christmas Eve Dinner, Elton is hoping to be greeted by Emma with words of affection, the words of a lover. Emma also begins to have suspicions: Well, this is most strange! – After I had got him off so well, to cause to go into company, and leave Harriet ill behind! Emma is greatly surprised by Elton desire to Iodine out’ rather than spend time worrying about Harrier’s sore throat. Following the dinner party, Emma with some disquiet, finds herself in the same carriage as.

They are imprisoned in a swaying carriage after a party and as Breadroot says, The tall Transnational Is Intensities Day ten Tact Tanat teen cannot escape Trot can toner’s company. The claustrophobia natural and inevitable in provincial society, here reaches its climax. ‘ The fury of the proud pair builds up in the confined space. The drama, economy and precision of this passage is superb: 01 am very much astonished Mr. Elton. This to me! You forget yourself – you take me for your friend – any message to Miss Smith I shall be happy to deliver; but no more of this to me, if you please. Miss Smith! – Message to Miss Smith! – What could she possibly mean! ‘ The comedy is also wonderful, as Enema’s delusion confronts Elton sudden courage. The result of this mutual discovery is disastrous for both. Emma is highly embarrassed over her deception of Harriet, whilst Elton is shocked to believe that Emma would place him on the level of Harriet Smith. Emma comforts Harriet who tearfully gives up all hope of the vicarage and its yellow curtains. Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill After Christmas Frank fails to arrive because he Cannot be spared’ by his aunt.

Miss Bates Spring is ushered in by the startling chatter of Miss Bates, Oh great talker on little taters’. The comic outpourings of Miss Bates are a symptom of frustration. Her sensitivity is acute and Frank Churchill says that She is a woman that one may, that one must laugh at, but one that one would not wish to slight’. The arrival of Jane Fairfax Jane has been brought up by a Colonel and Mrs. Campbell as a companion to their own daughter. Unlike Emma she has been properly educated. She is elegant and clever Mr. Knightly says Emma dislikes her because she is That she wanted to be thought herself’.

Jane Fairfax: the intellectual recluse whose presence makes everybody feel inadequate and guilty. She is defenseless against the noisy, the inquisitive, the gossip, the mediocre; and her utter inability to cope with vulgarity is demonstrated by the way she falls victim to Mrs. Elton. Everything she does offends the cults of English provincialism and amateurism – piano playing Her arrival in Highborn at the very moment when the whole place is keyed-up to welcome Frank Churchill That perfect novelty’, is anti-climactic.

Emma cannot find a reason for her visit so she invests one: Colonel Campbell son-in-law has fallen in love with her – he has not accompanied the Campbell on a visit to Ireland for fear she might break up the marriage. The truth is more sensational, though Emma is the last to suspect it She is turned against Jane when there is a cool refusal to supply answers to what Emma believes are entirely reasonable questions about Frank. She Could not forgive her’. Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax (became engaged at Wentworth the previous October). Their situations have much in common.

They are each the victim of the transformation process and beneath there adopted cultures there is a wistful desire o return to their original identity. Frank is frightened by his Aunt, a powerful, possessive woman who has married into a distinguished family and Out Churchill them all’. Having taken a step which takes him out of her power he shrinks from telling her – the lesser truth is adequate when the whole truth is not expedient. For Jane it is the opposite; her culture rests on truth seen as an absolute, as it must. Her love Tort Frank seduces near Into a snort-term suspension AT truth n – tens strikes at ten roots of her self-respect.

Jane is miserable she is led into almost total inaction for ear of making a mistake. Enema’s vision of Franks perfection is shattered by his going to London to get his hair cut Mr. Knightly receives the news with grim satisfaction but Emma says to herself, Shadowiness is always wickedness, but folly is not always folly… ‘. The arrival of the piano – the reaction of Emma and Knightly A few days later Highborn learns that Jane Fairfax has received a Broadsword piano. Only Knightly recognizes gift as a thoughtless cruelty; everybody else praises donor’s generosity.

Mr. Knightliest new and fear of the handsome Highborn intruder is now acute. Breadroot: Twit in Emma and silence in Mr. Knightly are the means by which they escape the emotional involvement with each other which would otherwise naturally develop’. The departure of Frank and the arrival of Mrs. Elton Frank is called back to Yorkshire, and a stupendous void is created to accommodate the equally stupendous arrival of Mr. Elton bride. Mrs. Elton is satisfyingly detestable; her every movement and speech are a vindication of Highboy’s Jealous safe-guarding of social standards Her conversation is loud, assured and wrong.

The reader is rocked by her audacious vulgarity. Her odiousness springs from lack of nullity, a ruthless bypassing of the civilizing processes. Under the cover of her impertinence Jane Austin distributes the clues of the intrigue. The climax of the novel: The ball to Box Hill The Crown Inn, Donnelly Abbey and Box Hill and the revelation Plot culminates in a series of encounters which take place in and around three elaborate conversation- pieces, the ball at the Crown Inn, a strawberry party at Donnelly Abbey and a trip to Box Hill.

The Donnelly party is all order and harmony; even Mrs. Elton is comically Contained’ by it, and Frank Churchill is sadly reduced by the atmosphere of romance in which the useful and beautiful have become invisible. Box Hill picnic, in disturbing contrast, finds society split & torn within itself – factions and groupings. All the tensions of the novel have been building up to Box Hill Although she knows her actions with Frank could easily be referred to as Flirtation’, She still intended him for her friend’ – she acknowledges that she does not love Frank. The reader also sense that Frank is hiding behind this Flirtation’.

Frank Churchill, however, must know that this Flirtation’ shall hurt Jane Fairfax. In response to Franks desire for a antennas to his games, Miss Bates offers herself in good humor but receives in return an insult from Emma: oh! Very well,’ exclaimed Miss Bates, Then I need not be uneasy. “Three things very dull indeed” That will Just do for me, you know. I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan’t R… ‘ Ooh! Ma’am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me – but you will be limited as to number – only three at once. Miss Bates, deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner, did not immediately catch her meaning; but, when it burst on her, it could to anger, though a slight blush showed that it could pain her. How attractive Miss Bates is in the way she takes it- her attempts to keep peace Knightly is so ironic: in response to Mr. Weston encouraging rehire (MA): protection snouts not nave come quite so soon. ‘ Knightly is unaccustomed to rebuke Emma in public. Vs.. Jane Fairfax Frank Churchill DHOW many a man has committed himself on a short acquaintance, and rued it all the rest of his life! This delivers the most intense pain to Jane, for they met at Wentworth last October. It is also an attack on the Elton, having become engaged at Bath. Cane’s reply – awful underground stage in the relationship: OH hasty and imprudent attachment may arise – but there is generally time to recover from it afterwards. ‘ She speaks bitterly – she has been hurt terribly by Frank Churchill In response, Churchill gives Emma a Commission’: She must be lively, and have hazel eyes. ‘ This further attack on Jane is seen by Emma as a chance to set him up with Harriet Knightly Vs..

Emma Knightly rebukes Emma for her cruelty to Miss Bates: DHOW could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age and situation? Emma, I had not thought it possible. ‘ His dignity and honor – he takes on a great responsibility The ironic side to Emma: 01 dare say she did not understand me. ‘ Knightliest response is firm and direct: 01 assure you she did. ‘ He places her in the carriage without a final word from her: Oho had misinterpreted the feelings which had kept her face averted, and her tongue motionless. He most wonderful insight into Enema’s self accusation and compunction with analysis of situation: Momma felt the tears running down her cheeks almost all the way home,’ Harrier’s delusion and Enema’s delight Harriet and Mr. Knightly With Robert Martin out of bounds and Mr. Elton out of the running, Harriet drifts through somewhat at a loss. Only one person has recognized her essential solitude – Mr. Knightly. His thoughtfulness and his guardian-like concern for her welfare are entirely misunderstood by Harriet.

She naively unburdens herself to Emma, supporting her supposition that Mr. Knightly loves her with Enema’s own words, Matches of greater disparity had taken place… ‘. Enema’s conduct is superb, at last her true feelings are thrust upon her in all its splendor. Lot darted through her, with he speed of an arrow, that Mr. Knightly must marry no one but herself! ‘ Mr. Knightliest proposal Just as Knightly is to reveal his heart, Emma attempts to take pressure off him, presuming his love is for Harriet: Ads a friend, you may command me. ‘ to take the pressure off him (in love with Harriet).

He thinks it is because she is in love with Frank Churchill. Through Knightliest eyes, Jane Austin takes us to the heart of this intense moment: tell me, then, have I no chance of ever succeeding? ‘ He stopped in his earnestness to look the question, and the expression of his eyes overpowered her. The comedy: She could really say nothing’ She can not say anything because she is so surprised Oho cried with great animation’ – he thinks the silence is a good sign. Oho soon resumed; and in a tone of sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing. Elf I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. Irony, Walt, Duress Ana satire, all are Swansea at tens moment. I nave Llama you, Ana lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne He can’t go as far as the ideal of human emotion. Mr. Knightly knows he is dull. He isn’t Jane Student’s perfect hero – has some of the loyalties Life needs Churchill, Mass, Fairfax as well as Knightliest The thoughtful and restrained Jane and Knightly compared with the entertaining and lively Frank Churchill and Emma.

Life is Joyous, comic, painful – she respects them all Jane Austin and the human comedy – the tangle of life the most wonderful part of life is its spontaneity – the Joy of life is often expressed in ways that the taught formalities cannot approach. At the climax of emotion, when Emma is about to make her response, Jane Austin teases the reader: That did she say? – Just what she ought, of course. Jane Student’s reticence shows a tact and aspect for the emotion of the moment. At the very end of the chapter, the reader sees the full irony and comedy of Jane Austin.

Knightliest response to the spontaneity and unpredictability of life The resolutions Frank Churchill writes an absurdly long letter to Mrs. Weston in which his enjoyment of literary flourishes and fine phrases tends to overshadow his contrition for having caused so much trouble in Highborn. The letter is also a clarification of such clues as are left of the intrigue. The letter mixes the smooth personable young man and the worthy young man who is ashamed of the hurt he has caused.

Harrier’s origins are discovered to be low enough to make her engagement to Robert Martin, with whom she has been reunited at Style’s Amphitheatre. The final revenge is saved for Mr. Elton, who has to officiate at Enema’s wedding, on which Mrs. Elton has the last word – Every little white satin, very few lace veils; a most pitiful business! ‘ The bedroom doors of the Vicarage, Abbey-Mill farm and Hartsfield are politely but firmly closed in our face. The marriage ordeal is the most private thing on earth. Only one intense intimacy is revealed – Emma will never call Mr. Knightly George’.