Insight Text Guide
Ruth Thomas
Emma
Jane Austen
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Copyright  Insight Publications 2010
First published in 2010, reprinted 2011 by
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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:
Thomas, Ruth, 1980Jane Austen’s Emma : text guide / by Ruth Thomas.
9781921411625 (pbk.)
Insight text guide.
For secondary school age.
Austen, Jane, 1775-1817. Emma.
823.7
Printed in Australia by Ligare
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contents
Character map
Overview
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iv
1
About the author
1
Synopsis
2
Character summaries
4
Background & context
6
Genre, structure & language
10
Scene-by-scene analysis
14
Characters & relationships
32
Themes, ideas & values
42
Different interpretations
52
Questions & answers
58
Sample answer
65
References & reading
68
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iv
Insight Text Guide
CHARACTER MAP
Mr Weston
Convivial and
affable; owner of
Randalls
Married
Father
and son
Stepmother
to
Mrs Weston
Gentle and dutiful;
Emma’s governess for
16 years, until her
marriage to Mr Weston
Mrs Bates
Old lady; widow of a
former vicar in Highbury
Mother
Frank Churchill
Handsome, charming
and sociable 23 year
old; visits Highbury
regularly from
Enscombe
Friends; former
pupil and
governess
Miss Bates
Loquacious spinster who
lives with her mother;
popular because of her
kind-heartedness
Aunt
Flirt
Secretly
engaged
Jane Fairfax
Elegant and accomplished
21 year old orphan;
educated by the Campbells
Friends; former
employer and
governess
Emma Woodhouse
Handsome, clever
and rich 21 year old;
Father and first in consequence
Mr Woodhouse
Emma’s father; seems daughter in Highbury; an
‘imaginist’ who
much older than
enjoys match-making,
he is because of his
but vows never to
hypochondria and
marry herself
resistance to change
Father and
daughter
Isabella Knightley
Emma’s older sister; lives in
London with her husband
and five children
Proposes
to
Sisters
Tries to
control
Dislike
Marries
Mr Elton
Highbury’s handsome young
vicar; object in Emma’s first
match-making scheme
Marries
Falls in love
with
John Knightley
Lawyer; lives
Brothers
in London with
his family;
unsociable
Mr Knightley
Wealthy owner of Donwell
Abbey; highly respected
in Highbury; longstanding
and trusted friend of the
Woodhouses
Mrs Elton
Brazen daughter of
a Bristol merchant;
meets and marries
Mr Elton in Bath
Falls in love
with
Harriet Smith
Sweet, docile 17 year old;
illegitimate daughter of
unknown parents; educated
at Mrs Goddard’s school
Marries
Robert Martin
Respectable 24 year
old farmer; proposes
to Harriet twice
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1
OVERVIEW
About the author
Jane Austen (1775–1817) was born in the Hampshire village of Steventon
where her father, a distinguished classical scholar, was a rector. The
Austen family, though not wealthy, enjoyed high status and moved in
the polite, gentrified circles that Austen would later reconstruct in her
novels. The eight children, including Jane and her sister Cassandra, were
well educated and the family delighted in entertaining each other with
conversation, reading aloud and by putting on plays.
By 1797, Austen had written her first novel, Eleanor and Maryanne,
which would later be published as Sense and Sensibility (1811). Pride
and Prejudice, which would be published in 1813, was also drafted at
this time. By 1798, at age 23, Austen had also completed a manuscript
titled Susan, published in 1814 as Mansfield Park.
Austen’s prodigious and prolific writing halted abruptly in 1800. Her
father retired and the family moved to Bath, a fashionable and thriving city
in England’s south-west: a place alarmingly foreign to Austen. Her father
died in 1805 leaving Austen, Cassandra and their mother dependent
upon Austen’s six brothers. The Austen women were effectively homeless
until Edward, one of Austen’s brothers, inherited an estate in 1809 and
gave them a home in Chawton, Hampshire.
Here began the six most important years in Austen’s literary life. Her
earlier manuscripts were revised and published. Sense and Sensibility
was the first to go to press in 1811. Pride and Prejudice followed in 1813
and Mansfield Park in 1814. Emma was finished in 1814 and published
in 1815. A decline in health in early 1816 did little to curb Austen’s
capacious writing, but by the middle of that year, as Persuasion was
drafted, her decline was unmistakable. Austen died in July 1817 aged 41.
Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were both published posthumously
(after her death) later that year.
Austen is buried in Winchester Cathedral; her epitaph there, composed
by her brother James, makes no mention of her literary achievements.
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2
This omission, however, need not be interpreted as illustrative of early
nineteenth-century attitudes towards women, as Austen’s writing
was predominantly a private and personal practice. She published
anonymously. She did not mix in literary circles, nor contribute to
influential journals. Her social circle was very small, willingly restricted
to family visits. Austen’s measures to hide her writing are well-known: if
anyone interrupted her writing, she would instantly hide the manuscript.
She worked on scraps of paper that could be quickly thrown into a
drawer. She reputedly refused to have a squeaking door in the Chawton
cottage fixed, because the squeak gave her enough notice of interruption
to hide her writing.
Despite Austen’s reticence (reserve), and the exclusion of her literary
life from her epitaph, she is inarguably remembered for her writing. Her
novels have been in print continuously since 1833. They regularly make
the top ten in ‘best’ book listings around the world, they have been made
into hugely successful movies and television series and they invariably
appear in school and university literature courses the world over on
account of Austen’s exquisite and extraordinary literary talent.
Synopsis
Emma Woodhouse is Highbury’s most eligible young woman. But
possessing fortune, entertainment and consequence, and professing
it against her nature to fall in love, Emma has neither inducement nor
inclination to marry. Her romantic fantasies and attentions are instead
directed towards match-making.
After claiming as a personal success the marriage of her governess,
Miss Taylor, to Mr Weston, Emma fixes upon making a match between her
friend Harriet Smith and Highbury’s handsome vicar, Mr Elton, despite
stern warnings from her trusted friend and brother-in-law, Mr Knightley.
Emma feeds Harriet’s infatuation and is so blinded by her own plan that
she misinterprets Mr Elton’s behaviour. She is surprised and insulted
when Mr Elton proposes to Emma herself and she resolves against further
match-making.
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3
When Frank Churchill (Mr Weston’s son) arrives, Emma’s ‘imaginist’
ways are given a fresh outlet. Despite Mr Knightley’s suspicions about
Frank’s character, Emma finds the young man charming and handsome.
His attentions are flattering and she soon imagines herself in love with
him. Emma is less enthused about Jane Fairfax’s return to Highbury. Mr
Knightley, however, sees much to admire in the elegant and accomplished
Miss Fairfax and reproves Emma for her lack of attention to her. Mrs
Weston sees Mr Knightley’s regard and concern for Jane as evidence of
an attachment, a suggestion Emma treats with scorn and alarm.
While Highbury’s gentry, including Mr Elton’s brash new wife,
socialise at balls, dinners and picnics, Frank and Emma continue to
flirt. Mr Knightley, still suspicious of Frank and worried by exchanges
he has witnessed between he and Jane, warns Emma of Frank’s possible
duplicity. Emma laughs off this suggestion. She has already dismissed
him as suitor and instead marked him as a desirable match for Harriet.
Emma’s continued flirtation with Frank annoys Mr Knightley and he is
incensed when Emma publicly insults Miss Bates, a well-respected and
kind-hearted spinster. Emma weeps after Mr Knightley’s reprimand.
Mrs Churchill, Frank’s demanding aunt, dies. Free now to marry as
he wishes, an unexpected announcement is made: Frank and Jane are
secretly engaged. Emma is worried for Harriet, whom she believes to be
in love with Frank, and is appalled to learn that Mr Knightley is Harriet’s
object. Emma is shocked by Harriet’s presumption in looking so high as
Mr Knightley, and distressed by Harriet’s conviction that her affections
are returned. She quickly realises that this distress is because she herself
loves Mr Knightley. After some torturous days believing he might love
Harriet (a fear made all the more unbearable for her own part in bringing
it about) Mr Knightley declares he loves her, not Harriet. Mr Knightley is
delighted and surprised to learn that Emma returns the affection. After a
short period of secrecy to protect Emma’s frail and stubborn father, Emma
and Mr Knightley’s engagement is announced. Harriet accepts a second
proposal from Robert Martin, a respectable farmer whom Emma made
Harriet refuse months earlier. The novel ends with three weddings: that of
Harriet to Robert Martin, Jane to Frank and Emma to Mr Knightley.
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4
Character summaries
Emma Woodhouse
Beautiful, intelligent and rich, 21-year-old Emma is mistress of Hartfield
and accustomed to having her own way. She likes to manage other
people’s lives and is an ‘imaginist’. Her redeeming features are a readiness
to see her own faults and a desire to remedy them.
Mr Knightley
A long-standing family friend of the Woodhouses and Emma’s only critic.
He owns Donwell Abbey and is a magistrate. He is highly regarded by
Highbury’s residents for his judgement and chivalry. His one weakness is
jealousy which sometimes clouds his judgement.
Harriet Smith
Pretty, unsophisticated Harriet is the illegitimate daughter of unknown
parents. Aged 17 and easily led, she is a perfect friend for Emma after Mrs
Weston leaves Hartfield. She is the primary object of Emma’s misguided
match-making attempts.
Jane Fairfax
Jane is 21, elegant and accomplished. She is an orphan given an education
and entry into the best society by the Campbells. Without an income,
Jane looks destined to become a governess, a prospect she abhors. She
returns to Highbury to live with her aunt Miss Bates and grandmother
Mrs Bates.
Frank Churchill
Mr Weston’s son, adopted by his aunt and uncle, the Churchills. Frank
lives at Enscombe, but begins visiting Highbury after Mr Weston remarries.
Frank is 23, handsome, charming and sociable. His faults, namely his illtreatment of Jane, are exposed when their secret engagement is revealed.
Mr Elton
Highbury’s handsome vicar. Emma attempts to match him with Harriet,
but he proposes to Emma. After she rejects him, he meets Miss Augusta
Hawkins in Bath and quickly marries her.
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5
Mrs Elton
The abrasive and domineering daughter of a Bristol merchant, Mrs Elton
comes to Highbury after marrying Mr Elton. She is disliked by Emma’s
circle, though their own good manners prohibit them from making this
openly known.
Mrs Weston
Emma’s former governess and closest friend. Mrs Weston is gentle, dutiful,
accommodating and always ready to attend to Mr Woodhouse’s needs.
Mr Weston
An affable and convivial (warm, welcoming) widower who marries
Emma’s governess. Frank’s father.
Mr Woodhouse
Emma’s father. A hypochondriac who is suspicious of any change. He is
well-liked in Highbury for his friendliness. He is unable to find any fault
with Emma.
Mr John Knightley
Mr Knightley’s brother and Isabella’s husband. John is a lawyer who lives
in London with his family. He is unsociable and sometimes intolerant of
Mr Woodhouse’s quirks.
Isabella
Emma’s older sister. She shares Mr Woodhouse’s anxiety about health and
dotes on her five children. She lacks Emma’s intelligence, but is amiable
and happy. Married to John Knightley.
Miss Bates
Jane Fairfax’s aunt. A spinster who lives with her elderly mother. Miss
Bates is kind-hearted and popular in Highbury, despite her social situation
and her incessant talking.
Mrs Bates
Miss Bates’ aged mother. Widow of a former vicar of Highbury. Well
respected and a good friend of Mr Woodhouse.
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6
BACKGROUND & CONTEXT
Austen’s reception in her own lifetime
Jane Austen is a celebrated writer today. Her much-loved books are
regarded as classics of English literature and have not been out of print
since 1833. But Austen was not seen as a major novelist in her own
lifetime. Why?
Firstly, men dominated the nineteenth-century public sphere. Men
ruled in politics, religion, commerce and education. Emma’s male
characters occupy such positions: Mr Knightley is a magistrate, his brother
a lawyer, Mr Elton the vicar. Women, as Jane Fairfax’s predicament and
Mrs Weston’s history show, can only be wives or governesses, both strictly
domestic roles. Men also controlled the publishing industry, the business
of printing presses, contracts and selling books. They had power over what
types of literature existed, a dominance extending back to the beginnings
of literature itself. Traditionally, most forms of literature excluded female
writers. The first great age of writing in most societies is the ‘epic’ age –
glorious stories of war. Women had no firsthand experience of fighting
wars, and were thus excluded from writing epics. In England, when
the Renaissance followed the epic age, the predominant literary form
was the love sonnet. Of course, females can write about love, but the
conventions of the sonnet again excluded their voices: sonnets had to
praise one’s mistress. In the subsequent period, the Restoration, public
British literature was preoccupied with serious writing about politics,
religion and society: again, topics on which women, confined to the
domestic realm, could not be authorities. The evolution of the novel,
the genre Austen took up, finally gave women a legitimate public
voice. Novels allow description and consideration of domestic things,
of feelings, of relationships between people. Women at last could be
authorities in print.
So, by the late 1790s, with an acceptable literary framework available
to her, 19-year-old Austen decided to write a novel. She’d already tried an
epic and a history, both written to entertain her clever family; perhaps her
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