Emma
Published: 23, December 1815
Author: Jane Austen
Genres: Classic, Comedy & Humor, Drama, European, Family Life, Fiction, Friendship, Historical, Literature, Regency, Romance, Rural Fiction, Small Town, Teen, Victorian, Young Adult
Check out the review of this book here:
Summary
Miss Taylor, Emma Woodhouse's former governess, has recently married Mr. Weston. Emma takes credit for their marriage after introducing them and thinks she enjoys matchmaking. Emma defies her sister's brother-in-law, Mr. Knightley, and pursues her new passion after going home to Hartfield with her father. She tries to pair Harriet Smith, her new acquaintance, with Mr. Elton, the town vicar.
Despite Harriet's liking for Robert Martin, a decent, educated, and well-spoken young farmer, Emma persuades her to decline his marriage proposal. Mr. Elton, a social climber, makes the mistake of thinking Emma loves him and proposes to her. He is enraged when Emma confesses she thought he was attached to Harriet since he considers Harriet to be socially inferior.
Mr. Elton travels to Bath after Emma rejects him and returns with a pompous, nouveau-riche wife, just as Mr. Knightley predicted. Harriet is crushed, and Emma is remorseful for deceiving her.
Mr. Weston's son, Frank Churchill, comes for a two-week visit and makes a lot of acquaintances. Frank was adopted by his affluent and controlling aunt and has only had a few chances to visit her. Mr. Knightley informs Emma that Frank has a superficial persona, despite being educated and entertaining.
Jane Fairfax also arrives to spend a few months with her aunt, Miss Bates, and grandmother, Mrs. Bates, before beginning a governess job owing to her family's financial predicament. Colonel Campbell, her father's friend, gave her a superb education when she was the same age as Emma.
Emma has kept herself apart from her because she admires Jane's brilliance and is irritated by everyone praising her, even Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley. Mrs. Elton, who is patronizing, takes Jane under her wing and promises to find her the ideal governess position before it is needed. Emma sympathizes with Jane's position.
Emma thinks that Jane and Colonel Campbell's new son-in-law, Mr. Dixon, are drawn to each other, which is why she arrived earlier than intended. She tells Frank, who met Jane and the Campbells at a vacation resort a year before, and he seems to agree with Emma.
Jane receives a piano from an unidentified source, which adds to her suspicions. Emma begins to fall in love with Frank, but it only lasts until his second visit. The Eltons are cruel to Harriet, culminating in Mr. Elton openly snubbing her at the Westons' gala in May. Mr. Knightley, who had hitherto avoided dancing, begs Harriet to dance gallantly.
Frank brings Harriet to Hartfield the day after the ball because she passed out following a nasty encounter with local gypsies. Harriet's thanks to Frank is misinterpreted by Emma as her love for him. Meanwhile, Mrs. Weston worries if Mr. Knightley has feelings for Jane, but Emma rejects the possibility.
Emma disagrees with Mr. Knightley when he thinks he sees a connection between Jane and Frank because Frank looks to be wooing her instead. Jane arrives late to a Donwell event in June, while Frank arrives late. The next day, Frank and Emma are joking about at Box Hill, a local picturesque area, when Emma casually attacks Miss Bates.
Emma feels embarrassed when Mr. Knightley chastises her for disrespecting Miss Bates. She sees Miss Bates the next day to make amends for her terrible behavior, impressing Mr. Knightley. Emma learns during the visit that Jane has taken a governess post from one of Mrs. Elton's friends. When Jane is unwell, she refuses to meet Emma or accept her presents.
Meanwhile, Frank has been visiting his aunt, who, unlike any other character in Austen's books, dies soon after his arrival. He and Jane had been secretly engaged since September, but Frank knew his aunt would be against the union.
Maintaining the concealment put a burden on the conscientious Jane, causing the pair to argue, resulting in Jane terminating the engagement. Frank's laid-back uncle gladly approves of the pairing. Emma is disappointed to learn that she was so incorrect as the engagement is made public.
Emma expects Harriet to be devastated by Frank's engagement, but she instead declares her love for Mr. Knightley, and while she recognizes the match is too unequal, Emma's support and Mr. Knightley's generosity have given her hope.
Emma is taken aback when she realizes she is in love with Mr. Knightley as well. Mr. Knightley returns to comfort Emma after the engagement of Frank and Jane, supposing her to be distraught. He proposes to her when she recognizes her folly, and she accepts. Harriet accepts Robert Martin's second proposal, and the two marry for the first time.
Frank and Jane pay a visit to the Westons, and Jane and Emma reconcile. They will marry after Frank's aunt's grieving time is through. Emma and Mr. Knightley get married before the end of November, with the promise of "perfect bliss."
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Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 95/100 Yes.
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The Complete Works of Jane Austen:
Emma. (2020) (13+):
Emma (1996) (PG):
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