The novel opens by introducing Emma Woodhouse who is
sad because she has just lost her governess and companion, Miss Taylor, who has
just married with a wealthy man, Mr. Weston and Emma was left without a companion. After Emma’s sister,
Isabella, moved to London, Miss Taylor became her best friend and she also
offered to Emma a motherly love after the Emma’s mother’s death. But, it seems
that not only Emma suffers the loss of Miss Taylor, her father, Mr. Woodhouse
also does and he would like that she comes back: “-Poor Miss Taylor! I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that
Mr. Weston ever thought of her!”[1]
While trying to comfort her father, even if she was in the same situation,
they receive a visit from Mr. Knightley, Isabella’s brother-in-low and an old
and a good family friend. While discussing about how the wedding was and about
the loss of Miss Taylor, Emma said that she was the one who planed this
marriage and then it came in her mind the idea that she had to plan another
marriage, that of Mr. Elton.
Giving a small dinner party to which the Woodhouse
family invite also members that are part from other social circle such as the
widow Mrs. Bates and her daughter, Miss Bates, Emma meets Harriet Smith who
came with Mrs. Goddard, the mistress of the local boarding school. Harriet would
become Emma’s best friend and she immediately plans to introduce Harriet to the
high society, to match her with Mr. Elton and to detach her from the Martin
family who Emma considers to be inferior for Harriet. Emma encourages Harriet
to tell her everything and was often invited to Hartfield. Thus, Harriet Smith
became one of the common guests. After Harriet told Emma about Mr. Martin, she
did her best in order to make Harriet not to think to Mr. Martin anymore and
she even acts in such way in which, when Harriet received the proposal from Mr.
Martin, she refused him. It is obviously that Harriet is not happy for the
decision that she took and she had some feelings for Mr. Martin, but Emma tries
to match Mr. Elton and Harriet by pointing out to Harriet the qualities that
Mr. Elton has. She is sure that Mr. Elton loves Harriet because he volunteers
to take the portrait done by Emma to London, but he was behaving well with
Harriet just for Emma because, actually, he was interested in Emma. When Mr.
Elton returns from London with the framed portrait of Harriet, he gives to Emma
a letter with a riddle:
To Miss _ _ _ _,
Charade
My first displays the wealth
and pomp of kings,
Lords of the earth! Their
luxury and ease.
Another view of man, my second
brings,
Behold him there, the monarch
of the seas!
But, ah! United, what reverse
we have!
Man’s boasted power and
freedom, all are flown;
Lord of the earth and sea, he
bends a slave,
And woman, lovely woman,
reigns alone.
Thy ready wit the word will
soon supply,
May its approval beam in that soft eye![2]
Emma thought that the letter was for Harriet and she
gives it to Harriet who didn’t understand what the riddle wants to say and Emma
immediately translates the riddle for Harriet; the answer is the word
‘courtship’. She also tries to convince Harriet that the riddle is a proposal: “I congratulate you, my dear Harriet, with
all my heart. This is an attachment which a woman may well feel pride in
creating. This is a connection which offers nothing but good.”[3] The two copied the riddle into Harriet’s book
and after a discussion among the family who anticipates the visit of Isabella,
Mr. John Knightley and their children, Emma told Mr. Elton that she solved the
riddle and copied in Harriet’s book.
Next day, Emma and Harriet make a visit to a poor
family near the place where Mr. Elton lives and when they left, on their way,
they meet Mr. Elton and Emma wants to let them alone. When they were close to
the home parish, Emma pretended that she can’t keep going because her sly
person was torn and she said to Mr. Elton to go to his home parish in order to
be given by his housekeeper a ribbon. While she was busy with the ribbon she
expected that Mr. Elton confess his love to Harriet but he didn’t and Emma
considers him slow but she is sure that her plan didn’t failed. Emma’s sister,
Mr. John Knightley and their children arrive at Hartfield and this fact
temporarily occupies Emma’s attention. The entire family discuss about Miss
Taylor, now Mrs. Weston, and they make different speculation whether Frank
Churchill, the son of Mr. Weston, will visit his father and his step mother. All
the family and even Harriet and Mr. Elton are invited to the Weston family for
Christmas Eve dinner. Unfortunately, Harriet fall ill and she couldn’t go and
Emma is surprised to see that Mr. Elton refuses her suggestion to skip the
party if Harriet will not be there. John Knightley is the one who realizes that
Mr. Elton has feelings for Emma and when he tells that to Emma she says that he
is wrong and they are just good friend. On their way to home, Emma finds
herself alone with Mr. Elton in one of the carriages and he confess his love to
Emma. First, Emma thought that Mr. Elton is drunk and he confuses her with
Harriet, but in the end she understands that she is the one who Mr. Elton
loves. When she arrived home she started to think at this situation feeling guilty.
The Knightely family leaves back to London, Mr. Elton will spend few weeks in
Bath and Emma visits Harriet to say to her what happened and, now, she tries to
drive Mr. Elton out from Harriet’s mind.
Emma and Harriet go for a walk and they also visit
Mrs. and Miss Bates who tells them about Jane Fairfax, Mrs. Bates’
granddaughter, who sent a letter in which she announce her visit in Highbury.
Miss Bates reads them the letter and Emma suspects that there has been a
romance between Jane and Mr. Dixon, the son-in-low of the Campbells, her guardians,
and that’s why she didn’t go with them in Ireland. Jane Fairfax became orphan
after her father and mother’s death. She lived with her aunt and grandmother
until she was eight years old and then she was raised by a friend of her father,
the Colonel Campbell. The Bates and Mr. Knightley visit Emma and her father
and, thus, Emma finds out that Mr. Elton will marry a Miss Augusta Hawkins who
incited many speculations and rumors. Harriet received a letter from the Mr.
Martin’s sisters that surprised her and Emma believes that she should visit
them but not to stay too much because she still maintain the distance with that
family.
Frank Churchill finally has arrived at Randalls and
he visit Hartfield with her stepmother. Emma was delighted to meet him and was
impressed to see Frank’s warmth toward Mrs. Weston. Frank also visited the
Bates and, now, he discusses with Emma about Jane Fairfax. The good impressions
that Emma had about Frank were injured when he went to London only to get his
hair cut. Meanwhile, the Coles organize a gathering and Emma is offended to see
that she wasn’t invited while other received an invitation, but, finally the
invitation arrives and she accepts it. At this party it is spoken about the
piano that Jane had received, Emma finds out that Mr. Knightley brought his
carriage in order to convey Jane home and this fact made Mrs. Weston believe
that Mr. Knightley was the one who sent the piano to Jane and it could be a
relationship between them, but Emma opposed. Emma and Jane are invited to play
the piano and Frank accompanies them.
Emma Woodhouse is invited by Miss Bates to see the
piano. When Emma visits the Bates, she meets there Frank Churchill who was
trying to fix Mrs. Bates’ glasses. Frank said to Jane regarding the piano that “true affection only could have prompted it”[4]
and Emma believed that Frank referred to Mr. Dixon. Frank had the idea to
organize a ball before his leaving and which will take place at Crown but it
will also be postponed because Frank is called back to Escombe because his aunt
is ill. In the period in which Frank was left, Emma realizes that she might be
in love with him; she believes that she loves him. Mrs. Weston receive a letter
from Frank and Emma reads it very attentive. Mr. and Mrs. Elton arrive in
Highbury and Emma visits them and they return the visit. She dislikes Mrs.
Elton and noticing that Mrs. Elton begins to return the sentiment. Jane Fairfax
and Mrs. Elton become friends and Emma tries to find out if Mr. Knightley has
feelings for Jane.
Emma organizes a party for Mrs. Elton; Harriet excuses
herself that she can’t come and in her place is invited Mr. John Knightley who
brought his children to visit their aunt, Emma. The discussion takes into
account the fact that Miss Jane was seen by Mr. John Knightley this morning at
the post office and Mrs. Elton insists that her servant should deliver the
letters for Jane and she also offers to help Jane to find a governess position.
Meanwhile arrives also Mr. Weston with a letter from Frank who announces that
he will come back at Randalls. Frank arrives and there is set a new date for
the postponed ball. Emma realizes that she was wrong regarding her feelings for
Frank. The day of ball arrives and Emma is invited by Mr. Weston to come
earlier to give a hand and her opinions about the arrangements. Jane and her
aunt are also invited to come earlier. When the dance begins, Harriet is left
without partner, Mr. Elton didn’t want to dance excusing himself by saying that
he is now a married man and that his time passed. Harriet is invited by Mr.
Knightley to dance and Emma is very pleased to see that. Harriet and Miss
Bickerton left and on their road they are followed by gypsies, Miss. Bickerton
managed to run while Harriet was surrounded by them losing her conscience. Mr.
Knightley and Emma were talking when Frank appears with Harriet on his arms.
When she revived she told them the story.
After few days, Harriet visits Emma and tells her
that she doesn’t have feelings anymore for Mr. Elton and she throw away what
she kept as remembers from him (a bit of court-plaster, a useless bit of
pencil). Harriet says to Emma that she will never marry and thus, Emma believes
that Harriet said that because she has feelings for someone of a higher social
class and Harriet recognize that, Emma believes that she has feelings for Frank
Churchill. Emma and Harriet go for a walk being accompanied by Mr. Knightley;
on their way they come across with Mr. and Mrs. Weston, Frank Churchill, Miss
Bates and Jane. Emma insists to come in everyone for a tea and they play a word
game and Frank constructs the word Dixon then shows it to Emma who laugh and to
Jane who pushes the puzzle away in anger. They plan a trip to Box Hill which is
not a success because of some incidents. Next morning Emma visits the Bates and
finds out that Frank departed for Richmond. When she returned home discovered
that Mr. Knightley and Harriet arrived in her absence and finds out that Mr.
Knightley will go to London. Mrs. Churchill dies and Emma is visited by Mr.
Weston who takes her to see Mrs. Weston
who received a letter from Frank and she shows it to Emma who is shocked to
find out that Frank reveals that he is engaged with Jane. Emma assures Mrs.
Weston that she has no feelings for Frank and Mrs. Weston says that Mr.
Churchill has given his consent to this engagement and he requested that it
should remain a secret until his wife’s death. Emma feels sorry for Harriet and
she tells her the news but Harriet already heard about that; Emma is surprised
to see that Harriet is not sad and she realized that actually she never had
feeling for Frank. Finally, Harriet confesses that she has feelings for Mr.
Knightley and Emma is very surprised to hear that. While walking in the garden,
Emma has the surprise to see that Mr. Knightley returned from London and joined
her. Emma tells him about Jane and Frank’s secret engagement and Mr. Knightley
offers his consolation, but Emma assures him that she has never had feelings
for Frank. Mr. Knightley confesses to Emma that he loves her and she is very
surprised. They decide to get engaged and he accepts not to leave alone Emma’s
father after their marriage.
Frank asks for forgiveness to Emma and after some
misunderstandings he reconciles with Jane. Emma shows the letter to Mr.
Knightley who tells his opinions while reading it. Emma arranges to send
Harriet to London. Emma visits Jane but they couldn’t talk openly because of
the Mrs. Elton’s presence. Mr. Elton turns up annoyed because Mr. Knightley
didn’t come to their meeting and Emma leaved thinking that maybe he was waiting
for her at Hartfield. After Mrs. Weston gives birth to a girl, Emma and Mr.
Knightley tell everyone about their engagement and soon this engagement is the
talk of Highbury, but only the Eltons are not pleased to find out the news and
that Emma has made such a good match.
In the end, Harriet will marry Mr. Martin in
september and she revealed that her father is a trademan. Frank and Jane will
also marry, in November and Mr. Woodhouse finally accepts Mr. Knightley and
Emma’ marriage and he is glad to hear that Mr. Knightley wouldn’t take away
Emma from him.
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