Emma - Jane Austen

Emma - Jane Austen

Volume - 1

The novel “Emma” opens in the small village, Highbury in England after the happy occasion of the Westons’ marriage. Twenty-one year old Emma Woodhouse is consoling her father because the bride, Miss. Anne Taylor is their friend and previously governess. Neighbour Mr. George Knightley stops by to see how Mr. Woodhouse and Emma are surviving. Emma gaily reminds the men that she had predicted the match between Miss. Anne Taylor and Mr. Weston. Frank Churchill, Mr. Weston’s son with his former wife, who was raised by his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, was unable to attend the wedding, but he has written a letter to   Mrs. Weston (Anne Taylor, his step-mom) a letter promising to visit Randalls soon. People of Highbury are anxious to meet him.

Mr. Woodhouse, a hypochondriac who prefers to be at home, enjoys the company of friends and neighbours. One evening a card game is held at Hartfield, the Woodhouse home. Among those in attendance are school mistress Mrs. Goddard and her student in her boarding school, Harriet Smith, a pretty young lady with “questionable” parentage. Emma immediately sees Harriet as a project for her matchmaking schemes. When Harriet reveals her interest in Mr. Robert Martin, a successful young farmer, Emma dissuades her, commenting on Mr. Robert Martin’s low class (social status). Emma persuades Harriet Smith to consider Mr. Elton, the Vicar of Highbury instead of Mr. Robert Martin. Mr. George Knightley disapproves Emma’s relationship with Harriet, knowing that Harriet’s flattering will only encourage Emma’s reckless behaviour. While sketching portrait of Harriet, Emma arranges for her protegee and Mr. Elton to spend some time with one another. Mr. Elton volunteers to take the portrait to London to have it framed. Soon after, Harriet confides that Mr. Martin has written a letter proposing marriage with her. Emma manipulates Miss Harriet to refuse the proposal. Mr. Knightley is furious with Emma’s interference in this regard. He accused Emma that she is harming Harriet by implanting a misplaced sense of superiority in her. While walking with Miss Harriet Smith, Emma professes her desire to remain unmarried. She is unconcerned about becoming an old maid like impoverished family friend Miss Bates because Emma is fortunate to be a wealthy woman.

In the mean time the winter arrives, the Woodhouses prepare Hartfield for a visit of her older sister Isabella and her family, who live in London, for the holidays. On Christmas Eve, the Woodhouses,  and the Knightleys visit the Weston’s home, Randalls. John Knightley, her brother-in-law, warns Emma that Mr. Elton is interested in her. Emma disagrees, but later that evening, Phillip Elton seizes the opportunity to profess his love for her while scoffing at the idea of a match with Harriet. Insulted by Emma’s refusal, Mr. Elton leaves Highbury for a visit to Bath. Realising the harm she has done to Harriet, Emma changes her assessment of Mr. Elton, realising her is pursuing money rather than love.

Volume – 2

When Emma and Harriet visit their poor neighbours, Miss and Mrs. Bates, Miss Bates shares a letter form her niece, Miss Jane Fairfax. Like Mr. Frank Churchill, Miss Jane Fairfax also raised by guardians after being orphaned. Miss Jane Fairfax is an accomplished, educated young lady, and Emma has always resented hearing about her. Miss Jane Fairfax has been ill, and rather than travel to Ireland with her guardians, the Campbells, she plans to stay for a while with the Bates. Emma, letting her imagination carry her away, creates a scenario in which Jane Fairfax has feelings for the Campbell’s new son-in-law Mr. Dixon and hence she has chosen to remain in England. Emma feels some sympathy for Miss Fairfax, who due to lack of fortune is destined to become a governess, but her sympathy is overridden by ungracious feelings towards Miss Jane Fairfax, for which Mr. Knightley expresses his disappointment. 

Highbury receives news that Mr. Elton is marrying a wealthy young woman, Miss Augusta Hawkins, from Bath. Emma is unimpressed by the newly wed Mrs. Elton, perceiving her to have “no name, no blood, no alliance”. Emma breaks the news to Harriet, who is already shaken from seeing Mr. martin and his sister in the town. Emma takes Harriet to visit the Martins, but still disapproves of a match between Mr. Robert Martin and Harriet Smith. When Frank Churchill arrives at Hartfield the next morning, he flirts with Emma and soon Mr. Weston hopes for a match between Emma and Frank. However, Emma, without realising it, finds herself comparing Frank Churchill and the more ideal, Mr. Knightley.

The wealthy merchants, the Coles send out invitations to a dinner party which Emma plans to boycott until it seems she is the only Highbury resident not invited. When the invitation arrives, Emma accepts. Dinner gossip at the party focuses on a new piano that has arrived for Miss. Jane Fairfax. When Mr. Knightley shows concern for Jane’s health, Mrs. Weston tells Emma that she suspects George and Jane may become a couple. Frank seizes upon an idea for the Westons to host a dance at the Crown Inn, but he is called home before it can be held. When he comes to say goodbye, Emma believes Frank has fallen in love with her. Though she wonders if she, too, may be attracted, Emma ultimately decides she feels only friendship. When Emma and Harriet visit the newly wed Mrs. Elton, Emma is struck by the woman’s coarse behaviour. But as social graces dictate, she is compelled to host a dinner party in the bride’s honour.



Volume - 3 

When Frank Churchill returns to the party with his ill aunt, he plans to resume the dance at the Crown Inn. Mr. and Mrs. Elton purposefully humiliate Miss Harriet Smith at the dance, and Mr. Knightley steps in and asks Harriet to dance with him. Emma is struck by his gracious behaviour. The next morning, Frank arrives at Hartfield carrying Harriet, who has fainted after being surrounded by gypsies. Now Emma plots a match between Mr. Churchill and Miss Smith. Later, when Harriet confides to Emma that she is still in love with Elton and  admires him as a superior man. Emma assumes that she refers to Frank Churchill. Meanwhile, George Knightley sees signs that Frank Churchill is attracted to Jane Fairfax and is using Emma unfairly.

When a proposed trip to Box Hill at the sea is postponed, Mr. Knightley suggests strawberry picking at his farm instead. During the outing, Mrs. Elton announces that he has secured a position for Jane Fairfax. The Box Hill trip is rescheduled for the next day, but the group seems to lack of spirit. Frank and Emma monopolise the conversation with rude chatter, and in the midst of it, Emma insults Miss Bates. Mr. Knightley once again admonishes Emma, and advises that she must develop model gracious behaviour, particularly when dealing with friends in challenging circumstances. Ashamed of her behaviour, Emma visits Miss Bates early in the next morning. While being there, Emma learns Jane has suddenly accepted the governess position arranged by Mrs. Elton. George Knightley announces he is leaving for London to visit John Knightley and Isabella. He is heartened to hear of Emma’s visit to Miss Bates. When news arrives that Mrs. Churchill has died. Emma resumes her plan to match Frank and Harriet. She also feels remorse over her treatment of Jane Fairfax and attempts to make amends on multiple occasions, only to be refused. Several days later, Mrs. Weston, who is expecting a baby, confides to Emma and the news that Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax have been secretly engaged for several months. Emma realises that once again, as with Mr. Elton, she has misjudged a man’s character. She has also injured Harriet, who had been overlooked by two would-be suitors. However, Harriet explains that it is not Frank she admires, but George Knightley. In an instant, Emma realising that she herself has loved Mr. Knightley all along. Emma spends the next week attempting to “understand her own heart,” ashamed of her behaviour towards Harriet and Jane, and fearful of how she may have lost the esteem of Mr. Knightley. Emma regrets that she did not be friend to Jane, rather than to Harriet, and recognises her vanity and arrogance in attempting to “arrange everybody’s destiny.” George Knightley returns, and Emma confesses her “blindness.” Assuring him she has never loved Frank, Emma admits her character defects. Mr. Knightley professes that despite any flaws, he has loved her since she was thirteen. Emma and George become engaged, even though Emma realises that she cannot leave her father. Mrs. Weston shares a letter from Frank explaining the trickery and admitting his fault. Emma feels genial towards Frank again and shares the letter with George. Mr. Knightley offers a solution to the issue with Mr. Woodhouse by suggesting that he wanted to live at Hartfield with both Emma and her father. Emma agrees, but is still concerned about Harriet, whom she arranges to have visit Isabella and John Knightley in London, there Harriet again meets and accepts Robert Martin. After multiple neighbourhood robberies, Mr. Woodhouse sees the benefit of Mr. Knightley’s residence at Hartfield, and finally, Miss Emma Woodhouse and Mr. George Knightley are united in “perfect happiness.”

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