Emma

This chapter outlines the story of Mr. Weston who was born into a respectable Highbury family that made its wealth through trade. While young Mr. Weston was in the militia, he met his first wife Miss Churchill, who came from a wealthy and established Yorkshire family. Their marriage was opposed by his brother and sister-in-law. While Mr. Weston retained his cheerful disposition, Miss Churchill suffered and complained about being cut off from the riches of her upbringing. When she died three years into the marriage, the childless Churchills took charge of their nephew Frank and allowed him to take their name on coming of age.

As Mr. Weston returned to Highbury and grew his wealth, Frank Churchill’s name became a subject of curiosity amongst the locals. Frank, however, has never visited Highbury. Now that Mr. Weston has remarried, social obligation dictates that Frank’s visit is due. However, Frank has only written the new Mrs. Weston a fine letter, blaming his aunt’s temper for the delay in his visit.

Emma and Mr. Woodhouse socialize with several families in the moderate contained manner that suits the latter. Frequent guests at Hartfield include Mrs. Bates, a senile old lady; her talkative middle-aged daughter, Miss Bates; and Mrs. Goddard, a woman who runs a local girls’ boarding school. On one occasion, Mrs. Goddard brings her pupil, Harriet Smith. Harriet Smith was born out of wedlock and lacks any connections that would give her social advantage; however, Emma is enchanted by Harriet’s beauty and takes an interest in her. Emma believes that the Martins, the friends Harriet spent the summer with, are a bad influence and determines that with some help from her Harriet can mold herself into gentility. When the girls meet, Emma likes Harriet’s deferent manner and decides that seeking to improve Harriet will be the project that will occupy her time and energy.

Emma wastes no time in making Harriet a regular acquaintance, as the latter proves useful as a walking companion and a flatterer who validates Emma’s good opinion of herself. Emma decides that “Harriet would be loved as one to whom she could be useful” (19). She first sets out to determine who Harriet’s real parents are, but Harriet, owing to a lack of initiative, has been content to go with the scant information offered by Mrs. Goddard. As she listens to Harriet talk, Emma realizes that the Martins, the farming family that Harriet spent the summer with, inform much of her conversation. Emma realizes with alarm that Robert Martin is single and shows signs of being partial towards Harriet. Harriet is in turn flattered by his attentions.

Emma, who does not want to lose her new companion to a marriage with social inferiors, makes her disapproval known to Harriet. On catching sight of Robert Martin she proclaims him coarse, vulgar, and far beneath Harriet, who she is convinced must be a gentleman’s daughter. She encourages Harriet to dismiss Robert Martin by asking her to compare him with the gentlemen she has met at Hartfield, namely Mr. Elton. Emma already intends to match Harriet with Mr. Elton.

Mr. Knightley visits the new Mrs. Weston at Randalls to express his disapproval of Emma and Harriet’s friendship. He argues that Emma’s self-satisfaction and spoiling have meant that her mind has not expanded in line with its potential. He fears that the new friendship will hurt Emma because Harriet’s ignorance and flattery will make her imagine that she has nothing more to learn herself. Meanwhile, Mr. Knightley considers that Harriet will be damaged by the friendship because “she will grow just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances have placed her home” (30).

Mrs. Weston disagrees with Mr. Knightley, stating that she is happy that Emma has found a companion who gives her pleasure. She adds that they should not object to the friendship if Mr. Woodhouse does not. When Mrs. Weston brings up how attractive Emma is, Mr. Knightley agrees, adding that she is not vain about her looks. He states that while Emma expresses the wish that she will never marry, he would like to see her in love, as love would be a good influence on her. Mrs. Weston is coy on the matter; she wants to conceal her and Mr. Weston’s hope that something may happen between Emma and her stepson Frank when he chances to visit.

Emma flatters herself that she has set Harriet on the path of having a romantic interest in Mr. Elton, who has also expressed his admiration for Harriet. He tells Emma that while Harriet was beautiful to begin with, “the attractions you have added are infinitely superior to what she received from nature” (33).

Emma then takes up her old hobby of portrait painting in order to capture Harriet’s likeness. Mr. Elton encourages the plan and hovers behind Emma, praising her skills before a likeness even becomes apparent. In the work of drawing, Emma adds enhancements to Harriet’s figure, which Mr. Knightley points out.

Mr. Elton, who praises the remarkable accuracy of the likeness, entrusts himself with taking it to London to be framed. Mr. Elton is so effusive that Emma considers he is “almost too gallant to be in love,” though she convinces herself that it is his style (39).

While Mr. Elton is in London framing the picture, Harriet comes to Hartfield agitated. She received a letter with Robert Martin’s proposal of marriage and seeks Emma’s advice. Emma reads the letter and is impressed by the sincerity and eloquence of the writer. When Harriet asks whether she should accept or refuse the proposal, Emma feigns surprise, stating that she thought Harriet merely wanted advice on her refusal’s wording. She lets Harriet convince herself that she has made up her mind to reject Robert Martin. Emma expresses her relief because the marriage would have spelled the end of their friendship, as she could not have visited a member of the yeomanry, an inferior class to her own. Emma hovers over Harriet while she writes her refusal, ensuring that it is decisively-worded enough. When Harriet is gloomy, Emma encourages her to think of Mr. Elton showing her portrait to his mother and sisters.

Harriet has been spending over half her time at Hartfield, sometimes spending the night. While she is away at Mrs. Goddard’s, Mr. Knightley pays a visit. He informs Emma that Robert Martin made him his confidant in stating his intention to marry Harriet. Mr. Knightley thinks that this will be an advantageous match for Harriet, as her character will benefit from being around Mr. Martin’s good sense and the marriage will take away the stigma around Harriet’s illegitimacy. Emma, with much satisfaction, tells Mr. Knightley that Robert Martin’s proposal has already been made and refused. Mr. Knightley knows immediately that Emma influenced Harriet’s refusal. He accuses Emma of being a poor friend to Harriet, as her “infatuation” about Harriet’s beauty blinds her to the social difficulties her illegitimacy will create. Mr. Knightley states than given her dubious parentage and inferior education, Harriet is unlikely to receive better marriage proposals than Robert Martin’s. Emma argues that it is unfair to make Harriet pay for her parents’ sins, and that her chief qualities—beauty and good humor—are those that men most seek in spouses. Mr. Knightley retorts that Emma will inflate Harriet’s notions of her beauty and worth to the extent that no man “within her reach” will be good enough for her. He then warns than any plans of Emma’s to wed Harriet to Mr. Elton will fail, as Mr. Elton is clear that he wants to rise socially through marriage. Mr. Knightley leaves angry and embarrassed, and Emma regrets having the judgment of a man she respects so much turned against her.

Harriet rushes in with the news that Highbury’s doctor, Mr. Perry, ran into Mr. Elton as he was preparing to go to London in a great rush. Mr. Perry assumed that some female love object must have been behind Mr. Elton’s haste.

Mr. Elton continues his flattery, presenting the elegantly framed portrait and contributing a charade to Harriet’s collection of riddles. Mr. Elton pretends that his friend has written a riddle to a lady he admires, although his manner gives him away as the riddle’s author. The charade refers to courtship and to a woman’s conquest of a man’s heart. While Emma finds the riddle easy to solve and regards it as a direct address to Harriet, Harriet is perplexed as to its meaning until Emma points it out. Harriet is awestruck at the thought that Mr. Elton, who she imagines could marry any girl in Highbury, would set his sights on her. Mr. Elton describes the apparition of his charade in Harriet’s collection as one of his proudest moments, an exaggeration which makes Emma want to laugh.

Meanwhile, the Woodhouses prepare for the Christmas visit of Isabella and her family. Mr. Woodhouse laments that the stay will be of such short duration, and that Isabella will follow her husband, Mr. John Knightley, over her father.

Emma and Harriet travel to assist a poor family who lives near Mr. Elton’s vicarage. On the way, Harriet asks Emma whether she ever intends to marry. Emma answers that she does not “have the usual inducements of a woman to marry,” as no man could offer her a better living situation than her father (71). At Hartfield she can do as she pleases, while as mistress of some man’s house, she would have to oblige her husband. Emma says that were she to fall in love, it would be a different question; however, she does not consider herself to be of the amorous temperament. Harriet replies that to be an old maid like Miss Bates would seem like the worst fate. Emma replies that her income and high position in the town would save her from the indignities that being an old maid usually presupposes, and that her active mind would save her from unemployment. Harriet then asks Emma if she knows Miss Bates’s niece, Jane Fairfax. Emma reveals that she is bored by how much she hears of Jane Fairfax, indicating that she bears some resentment.

When they reach the cottage, Emma assists the poor family to the best of her ability and feels genuine compassion for their suffering. On the way back, she and Harriet meet Mr. Elton. Emma is determined to give Mr. Elton and Harriet the opportunity to speak alone, so she adopts numerous schemes, such as walking on a narrow lane or breaking grows frustrated with how slowly Mr. Elton’s courtship of Harriet is proceeding, however she reassures herself that he is only being cautious.

Emma decides to leave Mr. Elton and Harriet to their own devices while she occupies herself with the visit of her sister Isabella, her brother-in-law Mr. John Knightley, and their children. While Isabella dotes on the entire family and finds no fault in any of them, Emma is troubled by Mr. John Knightley’s sharp and sarcastic remarks which are bent on humiliating his wife and father-in-law. When Mr. Woodhouse expresses his grievance at losing Miss Taylor to Mr. Weston, and Isabella sympathizes with him, Mr. John Knightley cannot help remarking that a husband might have some claim on his wife. Then, he asks Emma whether Frank Churchill has visited. Emma replies that he has not, although he has written a letter. Isabella remarks that she could not bear the thought of any parent being separated from their child, and Mr. John Knightley retorts that Mr. Weston is too social and pleasure-seeking to be sentimental about familial matters. Although Emma does not approve of this judgment, she tries to keep the peace.

Emma invites Mr. Knightley to dine with the family. She is anxious that they should make up, because she is uncomfortable with them being at odds with each other for so long. Although Mr. Knightley reveals that Harriet’s rejection has devastated Robert Martin, he does not hold a grudge against Emma, only telling her that his 16 years’ seniority mean that he superior judgment. At dinner, Emma and Mr. Knightley try to keep the peace between Mr. Woodhouse and Mr. John Knightley.

The Hartfield family, in addition to Harriet and Mr. Elton, are invited by the Westons to dine at Randalls on Christmas eve. After Harriet gets sick with a cold, she cannot attend. On the way back from visiting her, Emma bumps into Mr. Elton. She is surprised that Mr. Elton is enthusiastic about attending the party even though Harriet cannot go. Mr. John Knightley, who is also passing, offers them both a ride in his carriage. As Mr. Elton departs, Mr. John Knightley remarks to Emma that Mr. Elton is overly charming around ladies. He warns that Mr. Elton may be romantically interested in Emma and that her manners towards him are “encouraging.” She reassures Mr. John Knightley that she and Mr. Elton are merely friends and amuses herself with thinking how people with only a partial knowledge of circumstances are prone to blunder in their judgment.

Emma finds herself in a carriage with Mr. John Knightley and Mr. Elton for a second time on the way to Randalls. While Mr. John Knightley is cynical about dining out on a snowy Christmas eve, Mr. Elton is in disturbingly high spirits. Emma is troubled that his inquiries about Harriet’s health are too brief.

At the Westons’ Emma feels annoyed by Mr. Elton’s officious attentions. At dinner, Mr. Weston tells her that they may be privileged with a visit from his son Frank in the New Year. However, the visit depends on the approval of Frank’s aunt, the bad-tempered Mrs. Churchill. Emma listens to the news eagerly because she is curious to see Frank and eager to become romantically associated with him in people’s minds. Despite her pronouncement to never marry, she thinks that if she were to change her mind Frank “was the very person to suit her in age, character and condition” (100).

The approach of snow makes Mr. Woodhouse nervous, and the carriages to deliver the parties home to Hartfield are ordered. Emma finds herself alone in a carriage with Mr. Elton who proposes to her. After recovering from the shock, Emma tells herself that Mr. Elton must so drunk that he confused her with her friend. She recovers enough to offer to pass on the message to Harriet. He then makes it clear that he has no romantic intentions towards Harriet. Emma accuses him of gross inconstancy in transferring his affections from Harriet to her, until he affirms that he only ever considered Harriet as Emma’s friend. Moreover, he accuses Emma of encouraging his attentions. Emma makes her lack of interest in him clear. Mr. Elton is then offended that Emma thinks that he would stoop so low as to marry a low status, illegitimate girl. By the end of the carriage ride, both parties are offended and mortified. When Emma returns to Hartfield, she is eager to have some time alone for reflection.

Emma feels miserable in contemplating that she will have to tell Harriet the truth about Mr. Elton. She is determined to find some clue as to why she misjudged Mr. Elton. She admits that she has thought his address to her was “unnecessarily gallant”; however, she passed it off as an error in judgment because he has come from trade and not always been part of high society. Furthermore, Emma admits that Mr. John Knightley was right in his assumption that Mr. Elton was attempting to court Emma, and that Mr. Knightley was right about Mr. Elton’s wish to rise socially and economically through marriage. Emma is offended that while Mr. Elton is so conscious of Harriet’s social inferiority, he seems completely unaware of her own social superiority to him, as she is part of an established landed family and an heiress to a 30,000-pound fortune.

Emma further vows that she will no longer try to set people up because “it was adventuring too far, assuming too much, making light of what ought to be serious, a trick of what ought to be simple” (116). She realizes that were it not for her intervention Harriet may have never thought of Mr. Elton. She ought to have been content with advising her to refuse Mr. Martin.

Emma is relieved by the snowfall which prevents her from seeing either Mr. Elton or Harriet. However, she remains uneasy contemplating that she will eventually have to break the news to Harriet.

When the snow melts and the Christmas festivities are over, Mr. Woodhouse receives a letter from Mr. Elton. In it, he states that he will be absent for a few weeks because he will be spending time in Bath. Although Emma notes Mr. Elton’s resentment in his pointed refusal to mention her in the letter, she is grateful for his absence as it will aid Harriet’s recovery when she receives the news.

Harriet is tearful when she learns the truth, stating that she does not deserve Mr. Elton and that it was natural that he preferred Emma to her. A guilt-ridden Emma does everything she can to comfort Harriet; however her task is not aided by Mr. Elton’s being the object of admiration amongst the girls at Mrs. Goddard’s school. Emma believes that to restore a sense of peace she must find a “cure” for Harriet’s heartbreak.

Frank Churchill does not arrive in Highbury at the proposed time, blaming Mrs. Churchill for the delay. When Emma brings up the subject with Mr. Knightley, he is indignant, stating that Frank has more facility of movement than he claims to have, as he is often visiting high-society entertainment resorts such as Weymouth. Mr. Knightley believes that as a man it is Frank’s duty to stand up to his aunt and visit his father. He further argues that Mrs. Weston bears the brunt of the offense, as her inferior connections make her think that Frank is slighting her. Emma argues that Mr. Knightley does not account for Mrs. Churchill’s power to cut Frank off financially or for the benefits of having a charming newcomer in their confined society.