Emma

Author Jane Austen

Title Emma

Publisher Everyman's Library Cop.

London. 1991

First published in 1816

Motto The book does not have a motto.

I chose this book because I read Pride and Prejudice and I absolutely loved it. My mother told me Jane Austen wrote another book like it called 'Emma', and I decided to try it.

I expected the story to be about the life of a young woman from the middle or rich upper-class living in England in the 19th century. This is also why I chose the book; I'm really interested in that time and the way people were then.

Short summary

After her beloved governess, Miss Taylor, leaves Hartfield to become Mrs. Weston, Emma Woodhouse finds herself in need of a friend. The answer is Harriet Smith, a girl of questionable origins whom Emma decides to improve. Emma sets Harriet up with Mr. Elton and she is very surprised when Mr. Elton reveals that he loves her, not Harriet. Emma, offended at the idea, refuses him.

Then the son of Mr. Weston, Frank Churchill, arrives in town. The Westons secretly hope he and Emma will become attached. Emma is at first attracted to the handsome young man, but she loses interest after his first visit. The Eltons return to town, and Emma and Harriet must suffer under the vain and self-important Mrs. Elton

When Frank Churchill returns Emma imagines that Harriet would be a much better match for the young man. At a ball, however, Emma is the one who dances with Mr.Churchill and Harriet dances with Mr. Knightley.

Not much later Mrs. Weston reveals to Emma that Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax had been secretly attached and are now engaged. Emma reassures them that she does not love Frank Churchill, but she fears for Harriet. Harriet is not distressed by the news. She does not love Mr. Churchill, she is in love with Mr. Knightley. Hearing this makes Emma realize that she loves Mr. Knightley too. Uncertain what to do, Emma sends Harriet away, to give herself time to think. During her absence, Mr. Knightley returns from London, fearing how Emma will handle the news of Frank Churchill's engagement. Finding her undisturbed and not in love, Mr. Knightley tells Emma he loves her, and she returns his love.

Emma's only worry now is how Harriet will react when Emma tells her she is engaged to Mr. Knightley, but luckily the worrying doesn't last long.

Harriet meets Mr. Martin in London, and he proposes to her and she accepts.

In September Harriet and Mr. Martin marry, in October Emma and Mr. Knightley, and in November Mr. Churchill and Miss Fairfax.

The characters

Emma Woudhouse is the main character. She is 20 years old and she lives with her daddy at Hartfield. Her mother has died a long time ago. She is beautiful, intelligent, and wealthy but sometimes (unfortunately) a real snob. She doesn't notice that the qualities of people can't be seen from the outside, but that they mainly have to do with the inside. Sje judges every book by it's cover.

Mr. Woodhouse is Emma's father. He has en extremely bad health and he leaves the management of his company to his youngest daughter (Emma).

George Knightley is a 38 year old widower and a close friend of Emma (also because his brother has been married to Emma's sister). He knows Emma very well and he is the only one who can make Emma see her mistakes.

Mr. Elton is a young man whom Emma wants to match with Harriet. However, he is actually in love with Emma. Later he will marry another woman.

Harriet Smith is 17 years old. During the book she becomes Emma's best friend. Harriet, like Emma, is also beautiful. She does everything Emma says she has to do. (like not to marry with Robert the farmer because he is just a normal person). She hasn't got her own opinion.

Frank Churchill is the son of Mr. Weston. A lot of women find him very attractive. At the end of the story he marries Jane Fairfax. For a short time he likes Emma.

Jane Fairfax is a very pretty and intelligent young woman, like Emma. Emma likes gossiping about Jane.

The time

The length of time covered in the story is about a year. Between the beginning and the end of the story there's a picnic in the summer and a Christmas party.

This story is told in chronological order, there are no flashbacks or flashforwards in this story.

The narrator

The story is told by an omniscient narrator. In this book the omniscient narrator is the writer. She knows everything in the book.

The setting

The story is set in Hartfield and in Highbury in England at the beginning of the 19th century. There are also several chapters in which other places are described, like London.

The story concentrates on the upper-class layer of the population.

The title

The main-character of this book is Emma Woodhouse and the book has been called after her.

Extra assignments

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