Understanding Emma

Emma, who is extremely wealthy and very beautiful and the youngest of two daughters lived twenty one years without a trouble to bother her. She was the mistress of her house in Highbury because her mother died when Emma was very young. The governess of the Woodhouse home Miss Taylor was very close to all three girls but, very close to Emma. Miss Taylor finally decided to marry Mr. Weston, the owner of Randalls.

During the wedding her father said that he is extremely upset that Mrs. Taylor married Mr. Weston. Emma admitted

to her father that she is rather pleased that Miss. Taylor has married Mr. Weston. It was Emma's idea to get the two acquainted. Emma's papa asks her to not make any more matches and foretell things, and tells her that everything she says always comes to pass. Emma replied to her papa that she will not make any matches for herself but she must for other people. She told him that matching couples is a great amusement to her. She continues to boast about her success. Her father begs her again not to make any matches and Emma pleaded for his permission to make a match with Mr. Elton. Mr. Knightly who is the elder brother of Emma's sister's husband tried to make Emma think that she should not make any more matches and he told her that a man can take care of himself. Mr. Frank Churchill who is the son of Mr. Weston is the talk of the town. He rarely comes to visit his father in Highbury but when Mr. Weston got married, Mr. Churchill attended.

Emma had made a friends with a girl named Harriet who is a student at the boarding school, and has made a very good name for herself in the town. The girls would take walks together daily and talk . Occasionally, Harriet talked about a man named Robert Martin, Emma often wondered who he was. Harriet told Emma that she was very fond of Mr. Martin and may marry him. Emma tried to convince Harriet that she should not marry below her social status because she has made a good name for herself here. Emma mentioned Mr. Elton to Harriet and asks her what she thought of him. Harriet admitted that she had always been fond Mr. Elton and found him agreeable. Emma was fixed on putting Mr. Martin out of Harriet's head and refreshing it with Mr. Elton. Emma thought that Mr. Elton would be a great match for Harriet.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightly discuss the relationship between Emma and Harriet. Mr. Knightly swore

that it is a bad thing. Mrs. Weston assured Mr. Knightly that the girls are wonderful for each

other and that they will do good for the both of them. He replied that he would love to see Emma in love even thought she says that she will never marry.

Emma talked with Mr. Elton and he talked of Harriet very positively A few days later, Emma still tried to match Emma and Mr. Elton. She tried everything possible to get the two together. She invited Mr. Elton to watch while she drew a portrait of Emma. On one of the girls' walks Emma purposely broke her shoe lack so she could go to Mr. Elton's house to ask him to fix it. Emma felt as if her match is working. Every time Mr. Elton made Harriet smile, her smile grew wider.

During Christmas break Mr. Knightly told Emma that Mr. Elton has feelings for her, Emma was amazed to hear the news. She asked Mr. Knightly if he was only imagining things but he reassured her that it was true. Mr. Elton proposed to Emma and Emma refused to accept the ring. Emma regretted the fact that she ever tried to get Harriet interested in Mr. Elton. She felt as if he lead Harriet on and made her believe that he liked her. Mr. Elton was so upset because Emma turned down his proposal that he went to Bath for three weeks. While staying in Bath, he fell in love with Augusta Hawkins.

While Mr. Elton is away, a girl named Jane Fairfax came to town to visit her aunt, Miss Bates. While Jane is stayed in Highbury, Emma imagined that Jane is interested in Mr. Dixon. During the same time, Emma though that she is in love with Frank Churchill, who is the son of Mr. Weston. Emma was unaware that Mr. Churchill is engaged to Jane. Mr. Churchill noticed Emma's attraction to him and used it as a way to cover up his engagement from the people of Highbury.

Mr. Churchill decided to arrange a ball at the Crown Inn. A day before the ball, Mr. Churchill was called out of town to aide for his sick aunt. Before he left, Churchill said that he would like to speak to Emma, but then he quickly changed his mind. This situation leads Emma to believe that Churchill wanted to propose to her. Emma seems relieved because she is unsure if she loves him or not. Emma, who was still caught up in her fantasy, believe

that Knightly is now attached to Jane. Churchill returned home and the ball is held. Emma seemed jealous because Churchill and Knightly both like Jane. In spite of the jealously, Emma danced with both men.

A day after the ball, Harriet took a walk and was lead into a camp of gypsies. Churchill saved Harriet from the gypsies. Because Churchill saved Harriet, Emma imagined that he loves Harriet also. Emma told Harriet that she believed Churchill likes her and Harriet told her that she is in love with a man higher in her rank . Knightly came to Emma and told her his thoughts of Churchill and Jane being involved. Emma denied that there is any interaction. Emma was still stuck on the fact that she believed he likes Harriet.

At a strawberry party that Knightly had arranged, Churchill asked Emma to imagine herself as a goddess. Emma pretended to be a goddess and listened while the others said something about Emma to entertain. Emma was so caught up in the pretending that she didn't care who she hurt. She discriminated Miss Bates for talking so silly. While they were waiting for the carriage Knightly told Emma that he is amazed at how she treated Miss Bates. He also told her that she was unfeeling and very disrespectful. Emma was very hurt by his words and her actions. Knightly told her that he thought it was not possible.

Emma wondered that evening how that rest of the people thought of her actions. The next morning she awoke early to walk to Miss. Bates' house to apologize. Emma thought that she might run into Mr. Knightly on her way to the home but she did not care. She told herself that she would not be ashamed even if he came to the home while she was apologizing. She was set to go to Miss Bates', but she never saw Knightly. After Emma apologized, she learns that Jane is going to live with Mrs. Smallridge to care for three little children. Emma was sure that Jane's friends and her aunt would be sad to leave her. When Emma returned home, she found Harriet and Mr. Knightly sitting in her house