- Title : Emma
Author : Jane
Austen
- Plot Analysis
- Exposition
Emma Woodhouse,
beautiful, 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 orvex her.
- Complication
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.
- Conflict
All of the conflicts
in the story revolve around Emma. She tries to put couples together,
but fails almost every time. First, she tried to get Harriet and Mr.
Elton together. Instead of falling in love with Harriet, like he was
supposed to, Mr. Elton fell in love with Emma. This crushed Harriet,
who was very flattered by the misinterpreted attention. The next
mistake Emma made was believing that Frank Churchill was in love with
her. In reality, he was only using her to hide his marriage to Jane
from the town. Emma also lost the friendships of others by acting so
superior. The Elton’s didn’t enjoy her company because she was
always the center of attention and looking for the praise of others.
Ms. Bates was hurt by Emma’s insulting comments at the Box Hill
picnic. In trying to make herself look better, Emma consistently made
herself look terrible to others.
- Climax
Climax from this
story is Frank
is suddenly free to reveal that he has been secretly engaged to Jane
Fairfax.
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.
- Resolution
Mr. Knightley soon
professes his love for Emma, and they plan to marry.
- Conclution
The novel concludes
with three marriages: Robert Martin and Harriet, Frank Churchill and
Jane Fairfax, and finally, Mr. Knightley and Emma.
- Setting
Emma took place in
18th century England.
Hartfield: The
Woodhouse home. Emma has never been more than a few hours journey
from it, and she hopes to never leave.
Highbury: The
town in which most of the story's characters live. It is a small,
close-knit town, where news travels fast and there is little privacy.
Randalls: The
home of the Westons, where Miss Taylor moves after her marriage. It
is not even a mile away from Highbury, and the Woodhouses visit
often.
Backgammon:
A board game which Emma often plays with her father. She loves
him very much, and one proof of her love is her willingness to spend
so many of her evenings at home alone with him, playing board games.
Crown Inn: An
old building in Highbury that was intended to be a ballroom, but the
lack of proper persons has left it standing vacant and unused for
years. Frank Churchill, who loves dances, convinces the Westons to
hold a dance here. During the dance, he and Emma dance together, but
it is Harriet who has the special night. When without a partner, Mr.
Elton snubs her; but Mr. Knightley comes to her aid. His kind act
makes her fall in love with him.
Southend: Area
of south east England, also called Southend on the Sea. Bathing was a
popular health remedy at the time, and Isabella and Mr. John
Knightley had spent some time there with their children. Mr.
Woodhouse criticized the trip, his comments causing tension between
himself and Mr. Knightley.
- The characterization
- Emma Woodhouse: Emma is the main character of the novel. She is a beautiful, smart, and wealthy 21-year-old woman. Because of her admired qualities, Emma is a little conceited. She is the daughter of Henry Woodhouse. Since her mother has died, Emma has taken the role of taking care of her father, who is old and often sick. Because she feels she is obligated to stay by his side, Emma decides not to marry. Emma believes that she is a good matchmaker, and tries to put together several couples throughout the novel. Emma believes that social classes are very important and refuses to see anyone cross over to marry someone lesser than themselves In chapter 8-page 52, Emma is talking about Harriet’s situation with the farmer with Mr. Knightley. She says, “Mr. Martin is a very respectable young man, but I cannot admit him to be Harriet’s equal. As the novel progresses, Emma becomes more mature, and realizes how silly she had been in the past. In the end, she finally stops matchmaking others and marries Mr. Knightley, who was perfect for her all along.
- Mr. Knightley: Mr. Knightley is another main character of the novel. He is quite a bit older than Emma, at 38. He is also Emma’s brother in law. He often visits the Hartfield estate to play cards. He is a little protective of Emma, and often gives her advice to change her prying ways. Mr. Knightley, although high in status, does not fully believe in the hierarchal customs of Highbury. He thinks that people’s actions and feelings are better judges of themselves than their title or property. For example, in the same conversation in chapter 8, Mr. Knightley defends his opinions by saying, “No, he is not her equal indeed, for he is as much her superior in sense as in situation…What are Harriet Smith’s claims, either of birth, nature, or education, to any connection higher than Robert Martin?” Knightley is a very nice gentleman, and when he marries Emma in the end, he agrees to live at Hartfield so Emma can take care of her father.
- Harriet Smith :A short, plump and fair girl of seventeen, she is of somewhat dubious origins. Emma is mostly responsible for bringing Harriet into Highbury society and constantly instructs and advises her, although not always to her benefit. Emma fills her with a pretension that is inappropriate for her status. In the end, she marries Mr. Martin, a farmer that Emma considers too coarse but is more appropriate in status for Harriet.
- Frank Churchill :The son of Mr. Weston, he was brought up by his uncles, the Churchills, who could better support him at the time. Highbury society eagerly anticipates his visit to his newly married father, but he consistently delays. Frank Churchill is somewhat shallow, more interested in pursuing pleasure than any concrete pursuits, but he is also handsome and charming enough to attract Emma. He is secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax, but cannot reveal this because the aunt who raised him would strenuously object.
- Jane Fairfax: An orphan, the only child of Mrs. Bates' youngest daughter. Upon her mother's death, she was taken in by Colonel Campbell, who served with her father in the army. The same age is Emma, she is equally talented, charming and well-regarded, a fact that quite vexes Emma. She is secretly engaged to Frank Churchill.
- Mr. Philip Elton :The vicar of the church in Highbury whom Emma chooses as a possible suitor for Harriet Smith. Mr. Elton ultimately reveals his romantic interest in Emma herself, but she rejects him. He marries the pretentious and rude Augusta Hawkins.
- Mr. Woodhouse :Emma's father is a wealthy man possessed of a large estate, Hartfield. Isolated in his estate, Mr. Woodhouse has few enjoyments. Although he dotes on Emma, he also indulges her more selfish tendencies and is largely unpleasant. His complaints and lack of activity make him appear a much older man than he actually is.
- Miss Bates :The daughter of Mrs. Bates, Miss Bates is neither young, married, handsome or rich. She lacks any distinguishing traits such as intellect or cleverness, yet is generally happy and treats others with great goodwill. Emma's cruel treatment of Miss Bates during the picnic at Box Hill is one of the turning points of the novel.
- Mrs. Anne Weston (Miss Taylor) :Emma's governess who essentially raised Emma after her mother died. At the beginning of the book she marries Mr. Weston, a somewhat older gentleman. Mrs. Weston is an exemplar for Emma, modest and self-possessed, but still fails to see many of the faults in Emma that Mr. Knightley strives to correct throughout the novel.
- Mrs. Elton (Miss Augusta Hawkins) :The daughter of a Bristol merchant who marries Mr. Elton. Her status in society rests only on the fact that her sister married very well, and her behavior when she arrives at Highbury is presumptuous, arrogant and rude. She refuses to treat others with the proper respect they are accorded, including even Mr. Knightley. :Mr. Weston
- The older man that Miss Taylor marries, Mr. Weston had been married much earlier. From this marriage he had a son, Frank Churchill, whom he sent away to be raised by his late wife's relatives. He is from a respectable family that has been progressively moving up in society and amassed a modest fortune.
- Mrs. Bates:The widow of a former vicar of Highbury and the mother of Miss Bates. She is considered a harmless old lady and is largely ignored by Highbury society.
- Mr. John Knightley:A tall, gentleman-like, clever man, respectable and reserved. He is married to Isabella, Emma's sister. Emma dislikes him somewhat for his severity and lack of patience.
- Robert Martin :A likable farmer who lives on Mr. Knightley's estate. Emma convinces Harriet to reject his first proposal of marriage because she believes that he is too coarse. He marries Harriet at the end of the novel.
- Mrs. Isabella Knightley :Emma's elder sister, a pretty, elegant woman of amiable disposition. She is delicate and pales in comparison to the more sharp-witted Emma.
- Mrs. Goddard :The mistress of a Boarding school where girls might be sent to receive a little education. One of her former students is Harriet Smith, who now assists her
- Subject matter : the social class become primary problem
- Theme : Emma is the novel of play about Courtship and marriage :The entire novel is structured around various courtships and romantic connections, from Harriet and Robert Martin to Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill to Emma and Mr. Knightley. Social class :theme of social class throughout the novel, particularly in terms of Emma’s relationship with Harriet Smith. As a member of the wealthiest family in Highbury, Emma holds the highest social position in the community. Oppression of women :As a heroine, Emma possesses beauty, wealth, intelligence, high social standing, and financial independence.
- The reason:
The title of the
play refers to the main character that not distinguish the social
class.
