Emma

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For other uses, see Emma (disambiguation).

Emma is a comedic novel by Jane Austen, generally regarded as the most perfectly constructed of all her works, concerning the perils of misconstrued romance. The main character, Emma Woodhouse, is described in the opening paragraph as "rich, handsome, and clever," but is also rather spoiled. As a heroine, Emma herself is more likeable because she is more believable than those of Austen's other novels. Contrary to Austen's expectations (she wrote prior to starting the novel, "I am going to take a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like"), Emma is one of her best-loved characters, precisely for her faults.Image:Emmacovr (Medium).jpg

1 Plot Summary
2 Principal Characters
3 Film and television adaptations
4 Points of Interest
5 Further reading
6 External links

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Plot Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Emma Woodhouse is a handsome, clever, rich young woman in Regency England. She lives with Mr. Woodhouse, her father, and has — as the novel begins — just attended the marriage of Miss Taylor, her old governess. Having introduced Miss Taylor to her future husband Mr. Weston, Emma finds that she rather likes matchmaking. Emma tries to match her new friend, Harriet Smith (a sweet but simple girl of sixteen) to the local minister, Mr. Elton; this plan backfires when it turns out that Mr. Elton aspires to greatly better himself by marrying Emma— not, as she had mistakenly thought, the poor and socially inferior Harriet. After Emma turns down his proposals, Mr. Elton goes on holiday. Harriet fancies herself heartbroken, though Emma does her best to convince Harriet that Mr. Elton (who will reveal himself to be more and more arrogant and pompous as the story continues) is beneath them both.

An interesting development for Emma is the arrival in the neighbourhood of Frank Churchill, the stepson of her ex-governess, whom she has never met but in whom she has a long-standing interest. Mr Elton returns with a vulgar wife who becomes part of Emma's social circle and is one of Austen's greatest comic creations. She is greatly disliked by Emma. Another newcomer is Jane Fairfax, the reserved but beautiful niece of Emma's impoverished neighbour, the loquacious Miss Bates (another comical character who serves to lighten the scene). Emma envies Jane for her musical skills. Jane had lived with Miss Bates until she was nine, but Colonel Campbell, a friend indebted to her father for seeing him through a life-threatening illness, then welcomed her into his own home, where she became fast friends with his daughter and received a first-rate education. On the marriage of Miss Campbell, Jane returned to her relations to prepare to earn her living as a governess. To find some sort of fault with Jane, Emma actually starts believing that Jane fancied Miss Campbell's husband, Mr. Dixon, and it is for this reason she has returned home, rather than going to Ireland to visit them. This doubt is further fuelled by the arrival of a piano for Jane from a mysterious, anonymous benefactor. Frank encourages Emma's suspicion about Jane.

The plot becomes quite complex as Emma fancies herself to be in love with Frank because everyone believes they make a very handsome couple. Emma is quite confused about her feelings, and ultimately decides that he would suit Harriet better after an episode where Frank saves her protegée from a couple of rogues. During this time, Mrs. Weston puts the idea in Emma's mind that her old, close friend, the bachelor Mr. George Knightley, the older brother of Mr. John Knightley who is married to Emma's sister Isabella, might have feelings for Jane. Emma promptly decides that she does not want him to marry anyone, but instead of considering why she reacts so strongly against the notion, she justifies it by saying that she did not want anyone other than her nephew Henry to inherit the family property. Having fallen out with Mr Knightley over an unintended insult to Miss Bates, she recognises serious failings in herself and sets out to heal the rift. Around this time, it becomes known that Jane and Frank have been secretly engaged for almost a year. Emma finally realizes her true feelings and accepts the proposal of Mr. Knightley.

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Principal Characters

Emma Woodhouse, the protagonist of the story, is a pretty, high-spirited, intellectual, and slightly spoiled woman of 21. While swearing never to get married herself she likes to find matches for others. It is only at the end of the novel that Emma realizes that she is in love with George Knightley, a childhood friend (his younger brother, John, is married to Emma's older sister, Isabella).

Mr. George Knightley is the only person to find any fault with Emma. Knightley is highly respected and considered very much a gentleman, and there is a no-nonsense air about him. He is the standard against which all the men in Emma's life are measured. He is constantly disputing with Mrs. Weston about Emma because of his long and deep-seated affection for her.

Mr. Frank Churchill is an amiable man who manages to be liked by everyone save for Mr. Knightley, who believes him to be quite immature. Frank thoroughly enjoys dancing and music and likes to live life to the fullest. Frank may be viewed as a less villainous version of characters from other Austen novels, such as Mr. Wickham from Pride and Prejudice or Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility.

Jane Fairfax, an orphan who only has an aunt, Miss Bates, and a grandmother, Mrs. Bates, to call her family. She is thought to be a very elegant woman with the best of manners and is also very well educated and exceptionally talented in singing and playing the piano; in fact, she is the sole person that Emma envies.

Harriet Smith, a young friend of Emma's, is portrayed to be a very pretty but quite light-headed girl. She is capable of being easily misled by others, especially Emma, and indeed Harriet becomes a manifestation of Emma's misguided matchmaking attempts. Harriet initially rebuffs a marriage proposal from Robert Martin because of Emma's belief that he is beneath her, despite Harriet's own humble origins. Ultimately, Harriet and Mr. Martin are wed after several intervening failed matches formed by Emma.

Mr. Elton is the vicar, and is believed to be exceptionally handsome by all the women. Emma believes him to be hopelessly in love with Harriet only to later find out that he actually had feelings for her and thinks Harriet to be below him in status. Mr. Elton displays a mercenary nature by quickly engaging another wealthy woman after Emma's rejection of him.

Mrs. Elton is Mr. Elton's monied but abrasive wife. She is portrayed to be a very pretentious woman who always likes to be the center of attention and is generally disliked by Emma and her circle. She is quite fond of Jane and takes on the task of her tutelage, which earns Jane the sympathy of others.

Mrs. Weston, formerly Miss Taylor, was first Emma's governess and later her friend and confidante. Mrs. Weston acts as a surrogate mother to Emma and is genuinely devoted to her romantic success and happiness.

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Film and television adaptations

Emma has been the subject of many adaptations [1]:

1996: Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma.
1996: Emma, starring Kate Beckinsale as Emma.
1995: Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz (Emma).
1972: Emma, starring Doran Godwin as Emma.
1932: Emma, starring Marie Dressler, Myrna Loy, and Richard Cromwell.

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Points of Interest

Emma Woodhouse is the only Jane Austen heroine with no financial concerns, which she declares to the naïve Miss Smith is the reason that she has no inducement to marry. This is a great departure from Austen's other novels where the quest for marriage is the main focus and theme of the story. Throughout the book, besides the short-lived infatuation with Frank Churchill, Emma shows no romantic interests in any men although she is clearly an object of desire for a few male characters. She is genuinely surprised and somewhat disgusted when Mr. Elton declares his love for her. It is only when Harriet Smith reveals her interest in Mr. Kinightley that she realizes her own feelings for him. Even then, Emma, although wishing that he would marry her, would be content if all remains as it is, with Mr. Knightley being her constant friend.

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