Response #1

Emma by Jane Austen is a story about a girl learning the consequences of her cleverness and learning to shed her vanity. Emma Woodhouse is a twenty one year old growing up in the populated fictional town of Highbury. Her father, Henry Woodhouse, is very wealthy and is a valetudinarian. Soon after Emmas birth, her mother dies. This provokes Mr. Woodhouse to never let his daughters leave his watch unless under the care of their governess, Miss Ann Taylor. Emma has been endowed with some of the best blessings of existence. She is handsome, clever and rich, making her spoiled and very vain as well. She is close with her governess of sixteen years, and shortly after her sister is married, she and her governess become close friends. Her governess, later, gets married to the widower Mr. Weston because of Emmas matchmaking talents. Emma continues to make matches between her friends that cause heartbreak, especially for her friend Harriet Smith. She convinces Harriet to refuse a farmer that Harriet loves because of his low social standing and matches Harriet to the local vicar, Mr. Philip Elton. Mr. Elton shows a great interest in Emma, and Emma mistakes this for love towards Harriet and encourages the match. Mr. Elton eventually reveals to Emma that it is she that he loves and not Harriet and Emma refuses his advances and proposal immediately but regrets her meddling, causing her to give up matchmaking. She dreads telling Harriet what has happened. Emmas meddling is immoral and unjust. She manipulates Harriet into thinking that Robert Martin is too lowly for her. She tells Harriet about Mr. Martin, He is very plain, undoubtedly remarkably plain... I had no idea that he could be so very clownish, so totally without air... He will be a completely gross, vulgar farmer, totally inattentive to appearances. Emma knows that Harriet takes her word as scripture and that she influences Harriet very much. By these few phrases, she plants doubts in Harriet about Mr. Martin. Harriet and Mr. Martin are well matched for each other in society Harriet is the daughter of somebody and Mr. Martin is a farmer. Because of Emmas high status, she disregards Harriets low social standing and forgets that Harriets standards are not her own. Emmas vanity plays a large part in her mistakes. She is vain to think that a lowly person such as Robert Martin could never be married to one of her close friends. She thinks very highly of herself and her matchmaking skills especially when she pairs Mr. Elton and Harriet. She is so sure of her skills that she neglects Mr. Eltons advances towards herself and not Harriet. When Jane Austen created Emmas character, she said that she would create a heroine whom no one but myself will much like. Emma is kindhearted but very manipulative, spoiled, snobby and vain as well. She is not a character that many like. I like Emmas character because she is very confident in herself. Confidence is a very needed trait in the world. Emma is sure of herself and she knows that everything she does is for the benefit of others in her mind. A question I had for Emma is why she chose to have Harriet and Mr. Elton matched up, despite the fact that she needed someone superior to Harriet to divert

her attention for Mr. Martin. Mr. Elton is a boring, vain vicar who is not goodnatured and is clever. Harriet, on the other hand, is lively, good-natured and rather dim. They are complete opposites. If they were to ever be married like Emma had planned, theyd have nothing to talk about for they have nothing in common. Jane Austen often wrote about social classes in her books. In Pride and Prejudice (a favourite book and movie of mine), she wrote about the difference of social standing between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as a recurring theme. Similarily, in Emma, she uses social status widely around the novel. Miss Bates was quoted to be very poor many times. Emma and her father were first in consequence in Highbury and Emma had no equals to her. As well, Emma obtained the companionship of Harriet with a purpose of enhancing her social status by marriage. She tells Harriet, She would notice her; she would improve her; she would detach her from her bad acquaintance, and introduce her into good society; she would form her opinions and her manners. It would be an interesting, and certainly a very kind undertaking; highly becoming her own situation in life, her leisure, and powers. Emmas life in Highbury is very boring however. She is intelligent, but she cannot use her intelligence for any good use. Because of her fathers valetudinarianism, she is limited to staying in Highbury. She can never see the seaside, as her sisters family often does. Her enjoyment comes from Mr. George Knightley, who travels to tell her news. It would be prisonlike to be stuck in one place for the rest of your life just for fulfilling the wishes of your father. Emmas greatest entertainment is matchmaking, which is why she feels the need to do it so often because she actually does not have anything better to do. Jane Austen is very witty and uses very descriptive language. Emmas father tells Emma that there is to be no cake at the Weston wedding on the advice of the local apothecary, Dr. Perry. Jane Austen hilariously adds this: There was a strange rumour in Highbury of all the little Perrys being seen with a slice of Mrs. Westons wedding-cake in their hands but Mr. Woodhouse would never believe it. She also describes characters in very high detail. She describes Harriet as a pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be a sort which Emma admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features and a look of great sweetness. Austen also uses hyphens to show breaks between words and to convey a message of confusion or hesistation. When Harriet is hesitant about Mr. Martins proposal, Austen wrote: Oh! no, I am sure you are a great deal too kind tobut if you would just advise me what I had best doNo, no, I do not mean thatAs you say, one's mind ought to be quite made upOne should not be hesitatingIt is a very serious thing.It will be safer to say 'No,' perhaps.Do you think I had better say 'No?'" Through the use of hyphens, she allows the reader to visualize Harriets confusion. The first part of this book opens us to Emmas lively yet manipulative character, Mr. Knightleys good sense and the people of Highbury.

Response #2
After the first part, Mr. Elton spends the next few weeks in the town of Bath. Emma tells Harriet about Eltons proposal and Harriets is distraught but cannot let go of Elton. Emma vows to stop meddling in others lives. Mr. Westons son, Frank Churchill, who was sent away after the death of the late Mrs. Weston, has not visited his father since he left Highbury when he was young. Emma longs to meet Frank because the Westons have always intended Emma and Frank to be together. When Emma goes to visit Miss Bates, she finds out that Miss Batess niece, Jane Fairfax, has come home. Jane, an orphan, was sent to live with a Colonel because of her aunts reduced means. Emma suspects she has come home due to a romance between the Colonels daughters husband and herself. Emma dislikes Jane because of how superior Jane is to her in talents and how reserved she is. Frank Churchill expectantly arrives and Emma is delighted that Frank is attractive, clever and charming. He plants the idea that Highbury should have a ball. It is insinuated that Mr. Knightley has feelings for Jane Fairfax as she is sent a large pianoforte anonymously and he picked her up for a party in Highbury. Franks aunt has once again fallen ill and Frank departs but not before speaking to Emma. Just as he is about to say something serious, Mr. Weston appears and Frank departs. Emma wonders about whether or not she was in love with Frank. Mr. Elton comes back to Highbury married and with his new wife, whom Emma despises. Mrs. Elton is vain, superficial and pompous. Emmas dislike for Mrs. Elton is funny because Mrs. Elton is an exaggerated and over-the-top version of her. Mrs. Elton thinks very highly of herself just as Emma does. After a few days in Highbury, she takes Jane Fairfax under her wing and wishes to bring her out socially. This is similar to when Emma took Harriets companionship to not only accompany her but also to improve Harriets social standing. Often in life, many of the people you do not like are ones very similar to yourself because of the threat they bring to yourself and your state. I felt like Emmas interest in Knightleys affection for Jane stems a bit from jealousy. It seems like Emma feels her close intimacy with Mr. Knightley will be jeopardize by his affection for another woman. She tells Mrs. Weston: How could you think of such a thing? Mr. Knightley! Mr. Knightley must not marry!... I cannot at all consent to Mr. Knightleys marrying; and I am sure it is not at all likely. I am amazed that you should think of such a thing... I have never had such an idea, and I cannot adopt it now. And Jane Fairfax, too, of all women! Emmas disgust and shock at Mrs. Westons suggestion of the match shows that Emma does not want Mr. Knightley to marry. She cannot stand the thought of Mr. Knightley being closer to another woman because she has been his long time dear friend. Similarily, Emmas father was upset when Miss Taylor (Emmas governess) decided to marry Mr. Weston. He was upset that Miss Taylor was leaving his home for anothers. Miss Batess character is very similar to that of the author herself Jane Austen. Miss Bates is a single, middle-aged woman who is dependent and caring for

her elderly mother. Austen herself was also of reduced means. However, Austen is clever and intelligent where Miss Bates is not. I like the character of Mr. Knightley very much. He is kind to Miss Bates, who is annoying. He scolds Emma for her mistakes and her meddling and highly disapproves of her actions but does so in a caring way. Mr. Knightley is always reasonable except around Frank Churchill. He disapproves of Frank very much yet there is not much ground on why he dislikes Frank so much except that he finds Frank very superficial and a people pleaser. Emma does not understand why he dislikes Frank so much as well. This beginning of this part illustrates the consequences of Emmas careless actions and imagination. Not only has she hurt Harriet, who is in love with Elton now, she has hurt Robert Martin. When Harriet visits the Martins briefly, Emma sees that the Martins feel snubbed by Harriets refusal of Mr. Martin. Mr. Knightley also tells Emma when she inquires about Mr. Martins happiness that a man cannot be more bitterly disappointed than Mr. Martin. Mr. Elton and his new wife constantly tease and pick on Harriet as well, causing Harriet much pain. Mr. Woodhouse, like most people in the world, think that their preference is the preference of everyone else. When Miss Taylor is married, he does not cease to say: Ah poor Miss Taylor! and calls her marriage a misfortune. He does not like this change; therefore he thinks that she is unhappy with her marriage to Mr. Weston. Also, he does not like to eat tasty food because of its health disadvantages. He makes everyone around him eat gruel, a thin liquid food of oatmeal, thinking that they must all like it just as much as he does: I recommend a little gruel to you before you go You and I will have a nice basin of gruel together. My dear Emma, suppose we all have a little gruel. He also has a distaste for travel, especially the seaside and is convinced that Emma does not like or need to travel because of his dislike for travelling. I was confused at Mr. Churchills attitude toward Jane Fairfax throughout this section. It seems at first that Frank is very eager to visit Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax but he then seems willing to postpone the visit. He was also uneager to have a servant or anyone else lead him to the Bates home when Mr. Woodhouse offers him one. He avoids Emma when she asks him: Did you see her (Jane Fairfax) often at Weymouth? Were you often in the same society? Frank ducks into a glove store and evades her question of their acquaintance. When Emma tells him about her suspected romance between Mr. Dixon and Jane, he is at a loss of words and does not know what to say. I feel like there is an unsaid history behind Jane and Frank that the narrator does not reveal for the sake of advancing the plot.

Response #3
Franks aunts health has improved and they have moved to a home nine miles away from Mr. Westons home, allowing Frank to roam in Highbury as much as he pleases. He prepares for the ball that he proposed at the Crown Inn. At the ball, Emma and Frank dance the first two dances. Emma knows she does not love Frank but wishes that she did because it is expected. Mrs. Weston tells Mr. Elton to dance with Harriet, but Mr. Elton refuses and Harriet is humiliated. Mr. Knightley, seeing that Emma is distressed by her friend and to save Harriets dignity, asks her to dance even though he was sworn off dancing. The next day, Harriet is attacked by a group of gypsies and luckily Frank Churchill is there to save her. Emma sees an attachment between Frank and Harriet, however she vows not to meddle between them. Harriet comes to visit Emma to confess that she is over Mr. Elton and has moved on to someone far more superior. Emma believes this to be Frank Churchill and encourages the match to give Harriet hope. The Eltons could not have been ruder when they snubbed Harriet! Harriet did not deserve Mr. Eltons refusal. I feel like the Eltons are rude to Harriet but not Emma because there are far more consequences if they are rude to Emma due to Emmas high social standing. Harriet has a weak personality and is very fragile in nature; therefore making her easy to target and hurt. Emma, on the other hand, is not such an easy target and any snubs against her would be treated much differently. This is an example of Austens use of social class as a theme without the social status of Emma, Harriet is an easier target to humiliate. I find it strange that Frank would need to borrow a pair of scissors from the Bates. When Harriet was attacked by the gypsies, Frank was on his way home from returning a borrowed pair of scissors: By a most fortunate chance his leaving Highbury had been delayed so as to bring him to her assistance at this critical moment. The pleasantness of the morning had induced him to walk forward, and leave his horses to meet him by another road, a mile or two beyond Highbury and happening to have borrowed a pair of scissors the night before Miss Bates, and to have forgotten to restore them, he had been obliged to stop at her door, and go in for a few minutes: he was therefore later than he had intended; and being on foot, was un seen by the whole party till almost close to them. The Westons are wealthy enough to have a pair of scissors. Why would one want to borrow a pair of scissors from a poor family such as the Bates? The Westons are in fact wealthier than the Bates and it is strange that Frank would go to the Bates for scissors. Emmas home, Hartfield, is closer to the Westons home than the Bates home. I feel again that this has something to do with the attachment between Jane and Frank. It is funny that Harriet tells Emma that she will never marry. Emma once told her that she would never marry thus sparking this idea in Harriet. Emma does not need to marry. She has wealth, status and is mistress to her own estate when her father passes away. Unlike Harriet, who is the daughter of somebody, and has no sense of direction in life, Emma can afford not to marry.

Harriet tells Emma that she will never marry because she has fallen in love with a man who is too greatly her superior to think of her. She tells Emma that she has gotten over Mr. Elton and that this man is even superior to Elton. Emma believes she is talking about Mr. Frank Churchill so she is not surprised at Harriets affections for this man. I feel like Emma is wrong here in believing that it is Frank Churchill. It is established that this man saved her the night of the Crown Inn ball and is of a high social status. Frank Churchill did not save Harriet until the morning after the ball. However, both of those characteristics apply to Mr. Knightley. Emmas character has gone through much character development from the beginning. It is clear that she has taken Mr. Knightleys advice to heart about the meddling. She tells Harriet: I do not advise you to give way to it, Harriet. I do not by any means engage for its being returned. Consider what you are about. Perhaps it will be wisest in you to check your feelings while you can: at any rate do not let them carry you far, unless you are persuaded of his liking you. Be observant of him. Let his behavior be the guide of your sensations. I give you this caution now, because I shall never speak to you again on the subject. I am determined against all interference. Henceforward I know nothing of the matter. Let no name ever pass our lips. We were very wrong before; we will be cautious now. Emma has learned that her careless actions often lead to consequences and is taking precautions this time with Harriet. Emma has now given up her need to control Harriets life and has allowed Harriet to be in control of her own life. She has learned that her meddling leads nowhere good and says that she is determined against all interference. This is a great example of the ways that Emma has grown throughout the novel in both maturity and sophistication. It is now a little more obvious of Knightleys feelings for Emma. When Emma apologizes to him about her meddling between Mr. Elton and Harriet, he laughingly tells her that he will not scold her and that she would have chosen for him better than he has chosen for himself. He not only compliments her skills but does not scold her like he usually does. When dancing is recommenced, Emma tells him that they are no really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper so that they can dance together. Knightley quickly dismisses the fact that they are like brother and sister: Brother and sister! no, indeed!. I think this is strange because throughout the book, they are referred to each other as brother and sister and he is so quick here to dismiss it that it might suggest he have feelings for her other than sibling-like feelings. Also, when Emma sees Knightley standing beside the old men, she admires his build and his looks: She was more disturbed by Mr. Knightleys not dancing than by anything else he could not have appeared to greater advantage perhaps anywhere, than where he had placed himself. His tall, firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of the elderly men, was such as Emma felt must draw every bodys eyes. There was not one among the whole row of young men who could be compared with him. Here she exclaims that there was not one other man in the group of young men who could be compared to her dear old Mr. Knightley. Emma seems to also be realizing a few of her own feelings for him as well.

Response #4
Mr. Knightley tells Emma of his suspicious about an attachment between Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill after an incident where Frank shared seemingly inside joke between Jane and Emma that caused Jane to quit the room. Emma laughs and dismisses this notion almost immediately. Mrs. Elton plans a picnic at Donwell, Mr. Knightleys estate, and expresses that she will handle the invitations. Mr. Knightley immediately disagrees and says that the only woman who will be able to invite whomever she wants to Donwell will be the future Mrs. Knightley. Emma sees Jane, who wishes to leave early and walk home because she is