Emma of Jane Austen tracks Emma Woodhouse of Highbury, a bright, affluent youth who has never experienced true adversity. Satisfied in her own opinion and consoled by privilege, Emma amuses herself by matching people. Upon a successful match of her old nurse with Mr. Weston, Emma sets her mind on Harriet Smith, a charming but impressionable girl of dubious origin. Emma persuades herself that Harriet is destined for some one above her rank, and thus she passes over superior matches and misconstrues people’s souls.
A great deal of the narrative’s humor—and anguish—is caused by Emma’s errors. She convinces herself of affection where there is none, urges Harriet on to reject the reliable farmer Robert Martin, and misinterprets the gentlemanly Frank Churchill, whose blandishments hide an illegitimate attachment. Thoughtlessly at Box Hill, Emma humiliates the well-meaning Miss Bates in public, and it is Mr. Knightley—the blunt Emma’s truthful friend and moral guardian—who castigated her. This mortification, rather than any amorous ruffle, precipitates Emma’s development.
As truth reveals itself, entangled threads untwist: Frank’s clandestine engagement with Jane Fairfax comes to light, Emma sees her own passion for Mr. Knightley, and Harriet’s heart swings back to Robert Martin. Emma comes to look past her plot and social presupposition, to balance tact with wit. In the end, marriages made seem less award and reward and rather proof of people being in the right place within life, Emma’s wit moderated by empathy and restraint.
Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way.
fromEmmabyWhy not seize the pleasure at once?—How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation!
fromEmmabyHuman nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of being kindly spoken of.
fromEmmabyOh! I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any other; and, therefore, you must give me a plain, direct answer.
fromEmmabyIt is very unfair to judge of any body’s conduct, without an intimate knowledge of their situation…
fromEmmabyThere is no charm equal to tenderness of heart… Warmth and tenderness of heart… will beat all the clearness of head in the world, for attraction, I am sure it will.
fromEmmaby