About Author:
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, England. While not widely known in her own time, Austen's comic novels of love among the landed gentry gained popularity after 1869, and her reputation skyrocketed in the 20th century.
Theme Of Novel:
1).Courtship and marriage
2).Social class
3).Love
4).miscommunication
At the beginning of the novel, Emma's governess, Miss Taylor, has just married Mr.weston a wealthy ma who owns Randalls, a nearby estate. Without Miss Taylor
as a companion, Emma feels suddenly lonely and decides to adopt the
orphan Harriet smith as a protègè. Harriet lives at a nearby boarding school and knows
nothing of her parents. Emma concludes that Harriet's father must have
been a gentleman and advises the innocent Harriet in virtually all
things, including her choice of society. She suggests that Harriet does
not spend any more time with the Martins, a local family of farmers
whose son, Robert, has paid Harriet much attention. Instead, Emma plans
to play matchmaker for Harriet and Mr. Elton, the vicar of the church
in Highbury.
THe friendship between Emma and Harriet does little
good for either of them, a fact which Mr. Knightley, a neighbor and old
friend, immediately notices. Harriet indulges Emma's worst qualities,
giving her opportunity to meddle and serving only to flatter her. Emma
in turn fills Harriet Smith with grand pretensions that do not suit her
low situation in society. When Robert Martin
proposes to Harriet, she rejects him based on Emma's advice, thinking
that he is too common. Mr. Knightley criticizes Emma's matchmaking
because he views Robert Martin to be superior to Harriet; while he is
respectable, she is from uncertain origins. Emma's sister, Isabella,
and her husband, Mr.John knightely
visit Highbury, and Emma uses their visit as an opportunity to
reconcile with Mr. Knightley after their argument over Harriet. Yet,
she still believes that Mr. Elton is a far more suitable prospect than
Robert Martin.
At first Emma seems to have some success in her attempts to
bring Harriet and Mr. Elton together. The three spend a good deal of
leisure time together, and he seems receptive to all of Emma's
suggestions. When Harriet is unable to attend the Westons' party on
Christmas Eve, however, Mr. Elton focuses all of his attention solely on
Emma. When they travel home by carriage from the party, Mr. Elton
professes his adoration for Emma and dismisses the idea that he would
ever marry Harriet Smith. Mr. Elton intends to move up in society and
is interested in Emma primarily for her social status and wealth. Emma
promptly rejects Mr. Elton, who is highly offended and promptly leaves
Highbury for a stay in Bath.
Emma is shocked by her poor judgment
of the situation and belief that Mr. Elton would be a good match for
Harriet. She realizes that Mr. Knightley may have been correct in some
of his advice to her, but she is still not convinced that Harriet should
demean herself by associating with Robert Martin. After Mr. Elton's
departure, Emma is forced to break the news to a broken-hearted Harriet.
The village of Highbury is impatiently anticipating the visit of Frank Churchill Mr. Weston’s son from his first marriage. After the death of his wife,
Mr. Weston sent the child to be raised by his wife’s family,
acknowledging that he did not have enough wealth to provide for the boy.
Frank is thought to be an ideal match for Emma and, without having met
him, Emma agrees that his age and breeding make him a good suitor for
her.
Another character who occupies Emma's thoughts is Jane Fairfax the granddaughter of Mrs.Bates the impoverished widow of the former vicar, and the niece of Miss Bates
a chattery spinster who lives with her mother. Jane is equal to Emma
in every respect (beauty, education, talents) except for status and
provokes some jealousy in Emma. Jane will soon visit Highbury because
the wealthy family who raised her after her parents' death has gone on
vacation.
In the meantime, Mr. Elton returns from Bath with news
that he is engaged to a Miss Augusta Hawkins. This news, along with an
awkward meeting with the Martins, greatly embarrasses poor Harriet.
Frank
Churchill finally visits the Westons, and Emma is pleased to discover
that he lives up to her expectations. Emma and Frank begin to spend
time together, but she notices that he seems to be somewhat
insubstantial and immature. He makes a day trip to London for the sole
reason of getting his hair cut, an act that even Emma acknowledges is
superficial. As Frank and Emma continue to spend more time in each
other’s company, Mr. Knightley becomes somewhat jealous. He disapproves
of Frank, convinced that his is not to be trusted, especially with
Emma’s heart. Emma in turn becomes jealous as she suspects that Mr.
Knightley might be in love with Jane Fairfax.
Emma’s friendship with Frank Churchill is bolstered by his
seemingly shared disdain for Jane Fairfax. Frank confirms Emma’s
suspicions that Jane might be involved with Mr. Dixon, a married man,
even though this is only idle gossip. Soon afterward, Jane Fairfax
receives a pianoforte from London, and Emma and Frank conclude that it
was sent to her by Mr. Dixon.
Frank Churchill must abruptly leave
Highbury when he learns that his aunt is unwell. She is an insufferable
woman, proud and vain, and she exercises great authority over her
nephew. Thinking that Frank is ready to process his love for her, Emma
convinces herself that she is in love with him but is uncertain how to
tell if her feelings are sincere. Finally, she realizes that she must
not be in love with him because she is as happy with him absent as she
was with him present.
Mr. Elton brings his new wife back to
Highbury. She is a vapid name-dropper, who compares everything to the
supposedly grand lifestyle of her relatives and addresses her new peers
in Highbury with a startling lack of formality. Emma takes an instant
dislike to her, and upon realizing this, Mrs. Elton takes a dislike to
Emma.
When Frank Churchill returns, he and Emma sponsor a ball at
the Crown Inn. It is generally assumed that Frank and Emma have formed
an attachment, but Emma has already ceased to imagine Frank as her own
suitor and perceived him as a potential lover for Harriet. During the
ball, Mr. Elton takes the opportunity to humiliate Harriet, openly
snubbing her in front of the other guests. Mr. Knightley undercuts this
social slight by graciously dancing with Harriet in Mr. Elton’s stead.
The
next day, while walking home, Harriet is attacked by a group of gypsy
beggars, but Frank Churchill saves her. His gallant rescue becomes the
talk of Highbury and leads Emma to confirm her belief that he would be a
suitable match for Harriet. While discussing the event, Harriet admits
that she has feelings for the man who saved her, though she does not
explicitly name Frank Churchill. Thanks to this new infatuation,
Harriet is finally past her heartbreak for Mr. Elton.
Mr.
Knightley begins to suspect that Frank Churchill has a secret
relationship with Jane Fairfax, but Emma laughs at him and continues to
flirt with Frank Churchill. At an outing at Box Hill, Frank Churchill's
bad influence over Emma comes to a head, and Emma insults Miss Bates to
her face. Afterwards, Mr. Knightley severely scolds Emma for her
behavior. When Emma visits Miss Bates to apologize, she discovers how
much her insult has damaged her relationship with the family.
After
the death of his aunt, Frank is suddenly free to reveal that he has
been secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax. The engagement had to remain a
secret because of his aunt’s disapproval and threat to disown him if he
made a bad match. Frank Churchill’s flirtatious behavior toward Emma is
revealed to be nothing more than a ruse meant to divert attention from
his feelings for Jane. When Emma attempts to break the bad news of
Frank Churchill’s engagement to Harriet, Emma learns that Harriet is
actually in love with Mr. Knightley, who “rescued” her at the Crown Inn
ball. With Harriet’s revelation, Emma realizes that she is in love with
Mr. Knightley herself. Emma concludes that, not only has been put her
friend in the position of yet another heartbreak, but she has done
Harriet a great disservice by making her think that she could aspire to
such heights of society.
Mr. Knightley soon professes his love for
Emma, and they plan to marry. Yet there are two obstacles: first, if
Emma were to marry, she would have to leave her father, who would not be
able to bear the separation; second, she must break the news to
Harriet. Mr. Knightley decides to move in to Hartfield after their
marriage to allay Mr.Woodhouse s
fears of being left alone. Harriet takes the news about Mr. Knightley
well and soon after reunites with Robert Martin. The novel concludes
with three marriages: Robert Martin and Harriet, Frank Churchill and
Jane Fairfax, and finally, Mr. Knightley and Emma.
Cited:
http://www.gradesaver.com/emma/study-guide/themes
http://www.gradesaver.com/emma/study-guide/themes
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