$Unique_ID{bob01233} $Pretitle{} $Title{Works of Jane Austen Emma: Chapters 14 - 25} $Subtitle{} $Author{Austen, Jane} $Affiliation{Instructor Of English, Rutgers University} $Subject{emma harriet jane elton frank chapter knightley mrs weston miss} $Date{} $Log{} Title: Works of Jane Austen Book: Emma Author: Austen, Jane Critic: Fitzpatrick, William J. Affiliation: Instructor Of English, Rutgers University Emma: Chapters 14 - 25 Chapter XIV Emma and Mrs. Weston take pleasure in gossiping together. Mrs. Weston is the only person with whom Emma is on terms of real intimacy. Emma is disappointed to find that Mr. Elton is sitting next to her. She notices that, far from being concerned about Harriet, he seems especially interested in her. She wonders if her brother-in-law can have been correct in his suggestion. She finds the idea "absurd and insufferable." Mr. Elton's "nonsensical" conversation keeps Emma from listening to Mr. Weston talk about his son, Frank Churchill. It happens that Emma considers Frank Churchill's "age, character, and condition" very much suited to hers and thinks that if she were to marry, he would be just the person for her. She is aware that Mr. and Mrs. Weston have thought about such a match, and Emma looks forward to meeting him. Finally, she gets an opportunity to talk to Mr. Weston about his son. He expects him down for a visit the second week in January. He explains that Frank has been kept from visiting him in the past by his aunt, who is a mean and selfish woman. Later, when she talks to Mrs. Weston alone about the same subject, Emma finds that she is not nearly as optimistic as Mr. Weston about Frank's coming down. Mrs. Weston thinks that his aunt will succeed in preventing it again, for the Churchills are jealous of their adopted nephew. Emma replies that a young man ought to be able to spend a week with his father if he wants to. She does not see how anyone could stand in his way. Comment: The first third of the book (Chapters I through XVIII) is primarily concerned with Emma's interference in the lives of Robert Martin, Harriet Smith, and Mr. Elton - with her mistakes and her meddling. Frank Churchill's relations with Emma come to play a dominant part in the second third of the book, and Jane Austen takes pains to introduce him now and again in the first part to prepare the reader for Emma's second folly. Chapter XV Mr. Elton comes, sits between Emma and Mrs. Weston, and asks Emma for information about Harriet's condition. Emma is pleased to hear him asking after her friend, but she begins to notice that his concern is rather for her than for Harriet - a fear that she might catch Harriet's infection. Mr. Elton begs her to promise him not to put herself in this danger again by visiting Harriet. Emma is shocked and annoyed at his appearing to be in love with her instead of Harriet. She is offended at his presuming to have a right to be so extremely solicitous of her activity. John Knightley comes in and declares that the strong wind and the heavy snow will make it difficult for them to get home. Mr. Woodhouse is very upset at this news. And John Knightley goes on to fan his fears with pictures of a carriage being blown over. Isabella is as worried as her father and suggests that he and Emma stay the night at Randalls, but Emma is very glad when George Knightley comes in to say that he has inspected the road for some ways on and found that the snow is not in the least bit deep and so there is nothing to worry about. He and Emma then take charge of the departure and everyone sets out. On the way back, Emma finds herself alone with Mr. Elton in the second carriage. Being annoyed at his behavior earlier and suspecting him of being slightly drunk, she is rather displeased. Suddenly Mr. Elton seizes her hand and begins to make love to her, declaring that she must be aware of how much he loves her and that he desires to be accepted as her fiance. Emma is shocked at Mr. Elton, the lover of Harriet, professing himself her lover. At first, she charges it to drunkenness: "You take me for my friend - I shall be happy to deliver any message to Miss Smith." Mr. Elton protests in confusion this reference to Miss Smith and insists that Emma accept his desire for her hand in marriage. Emma replies that she is most displeased that he should now be making these advances to her after having made them to Harriet for the past month. But Mr. Elton says that he never had any thought for Miss Smith. Her own fancies must have misled her. He never paid the smallest attention to her - only to Emma. He is sure that Emma must have understood him. Emma replies that she has been in grave error about his intentions. She believed that he was pursuing Harriet. Mr. Elton replies that Harriet is beneath his level and could hardly hope to attract him. (This is an allusion to Harriet's illegitimacy.) He remarks about the encouragement he received from Emma. Emma emphatically denies that she gave him any encouragement. She saw him only as Harriet's admirer. She was not aware of Harriet's being on a lower level. At any rate, she has no thoughts of getting married herself. For the rest of the trip each sits angrily in silence until they reach Vicarage-lane and exchange cold good-byes. Comment: In this chapter, we see John Knightley's lack of interest in social amenities lead him to upset his father-in-law and wife in his desire to get home. George Knightley and Emma, on the other hand, handle this minor crisis with efficiency and realism. Mr. Elton's proposal to Emma is one of the consummate ironies in the book and a great comic scene. Chapter XVI Before bed that evening, Emma sits down to think over the events of the evening. All her plans for Harriet were upset. Her judgment was "disgraced." She had blundered in persuading Harriet into liking Mr. Elton and conceiving of him as a suitor. She had interpreted everything that happened to fit her own idea. Though she had considered Mr. Elton as wanting in judgment, knowledge, taste, and elegance, she had never suspected that he was interested in anyone but Harriet. She recalls that Mr. John Knightley had warned her about Mr. Elton's being interested in her and that George Knightley told her that Mr. Elton would never marry a girl without proper "connections." Those brothers had had a much better estimate of the conceited Mr. Elton than she. Emma is insulted by Mr. Elton's proposal. She considers that he was motivated not by love but by the desire to marry well. She can recall no indication of real affection. He wanted only to enrich himself with "Miss Woodhouse of Hartfield, the heiress of 30,000 pounds." Just as Mr. Elton looks down on Harriet, so Emma considers Mr. Elton her inferior in connection, intellect, manners, and talent. It is inconceivable that Emma Woodhouse, of a family settled for several generations at Hartfield, would ally herself with a "nobody" like Mr. Elton, whose connections were only in "trade" and who had no outstanding qualities. But Emma faces the fact that in trying to promote the match between Harriet and Mr. Elton, she had been uncommonly courteous and attentive to him. And as she had misinterpreted his feeling, so he had misinterpreted hers. She acknowledges to herself that it was foolish and wrong for her to try to bring two people together. It was superficial and immature. She thinks that she was right to persuade Harriet to reject young Martin, but she should have stopped there. Perhaps William Coxe, the lawyer, would be more suitable for Harriet. "Oh no - I could not endure William Coxe." But here, Emma sees that she is relapsing into the vanity of her former error. The thought that Harriet is not a person capable of deep feelings makes it easier for Emma to think of the dreadful explanations she will have to make to Harriet. Comment: We arrive in Chapter XVI at the fullest explanation thus far of the theme and central action of the book: Emma's progress to self-knowledge, humility, and maturity. Her pride and self-importance, her being the center of attraction at Hartfield, have led her to make light of the feelings of others. She has attempted to manipulate persons' lives just for her own diversion, and this has blinded her to the reality at hand. But events - Mr. Elton's proposal to her - have forced her to discover, at least momentarily, the truth about herself. She has thus reached a milestone in her essay in self-discovery. It should be noted that Emma does not have a very high opinion of Harriet's qualities. That is why she could have thought of Mr. Elton for her in the first place. But the snobbery which she displayed, in Chapter IV, in her remarks about farmers and Mr. Martin, is different from her thought about Mr. Elton's "inferiority" here, for the reader cannot but agree with her judgments about him. And though the modern reader might tend to dismiss such considerations as family position and status, let him be advised that these considerations are only prudent and are still important. The only outmoded distinction here is the low esteem in which business - "trade" - was held. Business as we know it was just beginning to acquire "respectability" in Jane Austen's day. Chapter XVII Isabella, John Knightley, and their children soon depart for their home in London. On the day of their departure, Mr. Woodhouse receives a note from Mr. Elton announcing that he is leaving Highbury for a visit in Bath (a resort town noted for its springs). Emma is pleased that he is leaving, for it will make it easier for Harriet to forget him; but she does notice that Mr. Elton excluded her name in the greeting of his letter. Emma now visits Harriet in order to destroy all the hopes that she herself had built up in the past six weeks. Harriet receives the news that Mr. Elton was really interested in Emma with abundant tears, but with graciousness, for she felt herself unworthy of Mr. Elton. Harriet's naive reaction strengthens Emma in her resolve to be "humble and discreet, and repressing imagination all the rest of her life." Chapter XVIII As Mrs. Weston foresaw, Frank Churchill did not come to visit his father. Mr. Weston is very disappointed, but cheers himself up with the thought that he will come at another time soon. When Emma tells Mr. Knightley of Frank Churchill's letter that he was unable to get away, she exaggerates the pleasure that she anticipates in Frank Churchill's prospective visit. She defends his neglect of his father in spite of her real thoughts on the matter (see Chapter XIV). Mr. Knightley replies that Frank Churchill has no excuse for not coming to see his father. His foster parents, the Churchills, could not keep him from his duty if he wanted to fulfill it. He must be a proud and superficial young man not to do the right thing regardless of the wishes of others. Thus, Frank Churchill must be a very weak young man used to leading a life of idle pleasure, capable of writing a flattering letter, but with no real consideration of the feelings of others. Emma replies to Mr. Knightley that his aunt and uncle, the Churchills, fully account for his not coming to visit his father, Mr. Weston. Since they have provided for his education and upbringing and maintained him in a state of comfort, he must defer to their wishes. Emma provokes Knightley by saying that he will be a "sensation" when he comes to Highbury. But Knightley foresees only a spoiled puppy. Although Emma was exaggerating in her defense of Frank Churchill, she nevertheless cannot understand why Mr. Knightley should be so unjust to Frank Churchill. Comment: Chapter XVIII brings us to the end of Volume I of Emma. It is the first movement in the book, the action of which consists of the self-deception and undeception of Emma in the affair of Harriet Smith and Mr. Elton. But even as Emma discovers her grave mistakes, she begins to make another which will turn out to be even more serious. Although she actually shares some of Mr. Knightley's judgments of Frank's unmannerliness in not paying his respects to his father (in Chapter XV she argued in almost the same way as Knightley does here), she nevertheless disagrees with him over Frank's character. This disagreement will be deepened during the second volume (Chapters XIX-XXXV), for Emma has not yet sufficiently acquired the humility and honesty to shed her pride and see into her own feelings. That will take twenty-seven more chapters. The reader might suspect that the rather strong animus that Mr. Knightley bears Frank Churchill has something to do with Emma's readiness to like him. Chapter XIX In order to keep Harriet's mind off Mr. Elton, Emma decides to take her on a visit to Mrs. and Miss Bates - even though Emma cannot stand their company. Mrs. and Miss Bates live in a moderate-sized apartment occupying one floor of a house, in conditions of "genteel poverty." Although Emma has felt guilty of failing in her social and charitable obligations to Mrs. Bates and her garrulous daughter, she nevertheless avoids the company of her intellectual inferiors. Miss Bates, chattering on at a great rate of speed and jumping rapidly from subject to subject, mentions that she received a letter from her niece, Jane Fairfax. Emma is thus forced - contrary to her expectation and much to her displeasure - to listen to an account of Jane's doings. It seems that the Campbells (the people who have brought Jane up) are going to Ireland to visit their recently married daughter, Mrs. Dixon; and Jane, who has not been feeling too well lately, is coming to Highbury to visit her aunt, whom she has not seen in two years. Jane apparently got to know her friend's husband very well, since she was usually present during their courtship. One time, during a boat outing. Mr. Dixon caught Jane as she was about to fall into the water. Emma begins to wonder whether Colonel and Mrs. Campbell's having urged Jane to visit her aunt may not in fact have been due to the desire to keep Jane away from Mr. Dixon's company. Her suspicions are heightened by the knowledge that Jane is far more attractive than her friend, Mrs. Dixon. After listening to Miss Bates chatter on about what her niece has had to say in the letter, Emma and Harriet quickly take their leave before they are forced to hear the letter read verbatim. Comment: As we have seen in the affair of Mr. Elton and Harriet, Emma's superior intelligence leads her into the trap making snap judgments about personal relations. The reader will wonder whether Jane Austen is not again preparing Emma for a fall, as Emma begins in this chapter to build another theory about the feelings of someone else. Chapter XX "Jane Fairfax was an orphan, the only child of Mrs. Bate's youngest daughter." Her father, Lt. Fairfax, had died in action abroad; and her mother died from consumption soon afterwards. A friend of her father's, Colonel Campbell, had taken her into his household and provided for her education. She became a good friend of his only daughter. Because Colonel Campbell's income was limited, it was decided that Jane should plan a career as a governess and tutor - since the Colonel's small income had to be fixed on his daughter. Jane Fairfax received an excellent education and all the benefits of growing up in London society. The Campbells' only daughter (who was inferior to Jane in looks and accomplishments) had recently married Mr. Dixon, a rich young man. As Jane was now twenty-one, she was preparing sadly to take up her career. Colonel and Mrs. Campbell have gone off to visit their daughter in Ireland and Jane has come to Highbury for a last visit with her aunt (Miss Bates) and her grandmother (Mrs. Bates). Emma does not like the idea of socializing with Jane, whose accomplishments Mr. Knightley has suggested Emma envies. Although Emma privately admits that he may be right, she resents Jane's "coldness and reserve." But because Emma feels guilty for having been unfair to Jane, she resolves to treat her kindly. When Jane arrives and visits Hartfield, Emma is forced to admit to herself that Jane Fairfax - in manners and in beauty - is very elegant indeed. Emma feels sorry that such an elegant creature will shortly have to leave polite society in order to work for a living. Emma decides there probably was nothing to her suspicion about Jane's "having seduced Mr. Dixon's affections from his wife." Emma regrets that there is no young man in Highbury whom she could scheme about for Jane. But Emma soon reverts to her normal attitude toward Jane. She is annoyed at her aunt's and grandmother's admiration to her; she is annoyed at Jane's accomplishments; and she is especially annoyed at her reserve and lack of openness. Jane does not confide in Emma any opinion or information about Mr. Dixon or Frank Churchill (whom Jane has met). Because her curiosity is frustrated, Emma is angry at Jane and decides that perhaps there was something to her suspicions about Jane and Mr. Dixon after all. Comment: Jane Fairfax's anticipated career as governess and tutor is regarded as a kind of approaching death; for she will no longer have the life of leisure which is required (especially for women) for the pleasures of cultivated social intercourse. Jane Austen's novel is written about and for people who have such leisure. It is plain from the egotism that Emma reveals in this chapter - her readiness to suspect Jane, to build fancies around her - that she has not yet learned the lesson of her naive attempt to manage the lives of Mr. Elton and Harriet. Chapter XXI The morning after Jane's visit to Hartfield, Mr. Knightley expresses his pleasure at seeing Jane and Emma together. Mr. Woodhouse chatters on about sending the Bateses some pork and about the best way of cooking it. Mr. Knightley is about to convey to Emma a piece of news, when Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax arrive and Miss Bates beats him to it by announcing that Mr. Elton is going to be married to a Miss Hawkins of Bath. Everyone is excited and pleased with the news and Miss Bates chatters on in her usual flighty and incoherent way. Emma remarks on the short acquaintance before the engagement (for Mr. Elton has been gone only four weeks). Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax soon leave. Emma is amused at the knowledge that Mr. Elton quickly got over being rejected by her; but she is sorry for Harriet, who she is sure will be much grieved. Shortly afterwards, Harriet arrives with her own bit of news. While she was at the haberdasher's shop, she met Mr. Martin and his sister Elizabeth. They exchanged greetings and the Martins were very pleasant. Although Emma admits to herself that the Martins have behaved very well, she does not regret having thwarted Harriet's romance with young Martin. She still considers the Martins to be an inferior connection for Harriet. In order to turn her mind away from them, Emma breaks the news about Mr. Elton's engagement. Harriet reacts to this with a mixture of pain and pleasure. Comment: In this chapter, the reader will notice three things: Mr. Elton's becoming engaged, perhaps almost as a result of Emma's having turned him down; Emma's continuing attempt to control the direction of Harriet's life; and Harriet's easily manipulated and flighty character (how quickly she makes the transition from Mr. Elton to Mr. Martin and back again). Mr. Knightley has previously pointed out to Emma the absurdity of her thinking that the Martins would benefit by a connection with Harriet (Chapter VIII). Chapter XXII Augusta Hawkins Mr. Elton's fiance, is now the talk of Highbury. She is said to be extremely elegant and accomplished and in the possession of 10,000 pounds. When Mr. Elton returns to Highbury, Emma notices that he is as petty and pretentious as ever. She observes that although Mr. Elton was disdainful of Harriet for her "lack of connections" (Chapter XVIII), Miss Hawkins herself is only the daughter of a Bristol merchant. Emma regrets that although she had been able to talk Harriet into love she could not so easily talk her out of it. Only another lover would suffice for that; but there is none available, thinks Emma, and Harriet now hears of nothing else but Mr. Elton and his coming marriage. Emma is privately amused at the way Harriet's interests alternate between Mr. Elton and Robert Martin. Elizabeth Martin calls at Miss Goddard's (where Harriet lives) one day and leaves a note for Harriet. In order to distract Harriet from thoughts of Mr. Elton, Emma decides that it would be well for Harriet to return Elizabeth Martin's visit. She very carefully arranges to drive Harriet to the Martins and to call for her in fifteen minutes so that the renewal of deep ties between Harriet and the Martins will not be encouraged by a long visit. Comment: The urbanity and cleverness with which Emma is running Harriet's life should not obscure for the reader the real cruelty of Emma's presumption. Chapter XXIII Emma takes Harriet to visit the Martins in her carriage and returns for her in just fifteen minutes. It turns out that Harriet has seen only Mrs. Martin and her two daughters. Emma thinks regretfully of how ungrateful it is for Harriet to spend only fourteen minutes with a family that she had spent six weeks with less than six months ago, but because the Martins are not of a high enough rank for Emma's ambitions for Harriet, she maintains her resolve that Harriet must be separated from them. They call at Randalls, but Mr. and Mrs. Weston are out. However, on their way back home they meet them. Mr. Weston says that he has received a letter from Frank this morning and that he is coming to spend a whole fortnight with them. He is expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon. By the next day at noon, Mr. Weston and his son call on the Woodhouses at Hartfield. Frank arrived at Randalls the night before - a day early. Emma is gratified at Frank's attentions to his father and Mrs. Weston. His great praise of Mrs. Weston pleases Emma very much. Emma thinks of how Mr. and Mrs. Weston hope that she and Frank will have a romance. Frank mentions that he must make a call on Jane Fairfax, whom he met at Weymouth. He appears reluctant to do so and decides to call on her and her aunt and grandmother that day merely out of social obligation. He and his father take leave of the Woodhouses. Chapter XXIV Frank Churchill and Mrs. Weston visit the Woodhouses next morning. Emma is again cheered at Frank's attentions to Mrs. Weston. The three of them spend a couple of hours walking around the grounds at Hartfield. Frank seems to be going out of his way to show his interest in Highbury, and Emma decides that Mr. Knightley had not done him justice in the past when he accused him of being insincere (see Chapter XVIII). They take a walk into town. Frank tries to persuade Emma that the large room at the Crown Inn would be perfect for a ball. Emma asks him if he paid his visit to the Bateses the day before. He replies that he did and alludes to the garrulity of Miss Bates, which kept him there for three quarters of an hour. He says that Miss Fairfax's complexion is too plea and sickly and implies that she is not at all to his taste. When Emma asks if he saw her often at Weymouth, he suddenly suggests that they go into Ford's haberdashery so that he can buy some gloves. After they go in. Frank answers Emma's question by saying that it is for the lady (i.e., Jane) to say how well she knew the gentleman. When Emma replies that Jane is extremely reserved with any information, Frank then comments that he met her and the Campbells frequently at Weymouth. Emma then asks him if he knows what Jane is destined to be (i.e., working for her living as a governess). Frank replies, "Yes - I do." Frank asks if Emma is familiar with Jane's piano playing; and when Emma replies that she plays charmingly, Frank remarks that Mr. Dixon would always ask her to play for him even when his fiancee (Miss Campbell) was present. Emma replies that she would have been very annoyed if her fiancee's taste for music got in the way of his romantic affections. She goes on to say that because Jane went on playing despite the implied slight to Mr. Dixon's fiancee, one may well have grounds for suspicions. Frank agrees with Emma that reservedness - or extreme caution in speech and manner - is a repulsive quality and likely to suggest suspicions that the person has something to conceal. "One cannot love a reserved person," he says. Emma is exceedingly pleased with Frank and, in his remark that a large house is not necessary for a man in love with his wife, detects an inclination to marry early. Comment: The reader should follow very closely everything that Frank says about Jane Fairfax and everything that Emma thinks about Jane and Frank; for Jane Austen is preparing the reader and Emma for a crushing irony - that is, a discrepancy between what Emma thinks is true (and her smugness in the knowledge) and what in fact is true. Emma's readiness to believe evil things of Jane Fairfax is perhaps traceable, as Mr. Knightley hinted, to envy of her accomplishments. Chapter XXV Emma's very good opinion of Frank Churchill is a little shaken the following day, by hearing that he was gone off to London, "merely to have his hair cut." Emma is disappointed at this "foppery." "vanity," and "restlessness." But as Mrs. Weston remains extremely happy with Frank, and as Mr. Weston indicates that Frank thinks Emma extremely beautiful and charming, Emma decides that he is not unworthy of the "honor" of being in love with her - though, of course, she has not changed her mind about never marrying. But Mr. Knightley is not influenced by "public opinion" or Mr. Churchill's "charms". "Just the trifling, silly fellow I took him for." When Emma finds that the Coles (a family "in trade" who have recently acquired sufficient wealth to live at leisure and to entertain in society) are planning a dinner party, she wishes "to teach them a lesson" by refusing to accept any invitation they might make her. (She regrets that neither Mr. Knightley nor Mr. Weston can be counted on to join her in enforcing this social discipline.) But when she discovers that the Westons and Mr. Knightley have received invitations to a dinner party at the Coles' and not the Woodhouses, Emma not only regrets the loss of an opportunity to refuse, but she now begins to wonder if, since the evening promises to be gay and successful and to include Frank Churchill, she might not be tempted to accept. And when an invitation finally does come for her and her father, she quickly permits the Westons to persuade her to accept it - though, of course, her "invalid" father will not make the extremely arduous journey out of doors in the evening. Emma arranges to have her father comfortable and with company on the night of the party. Comment: The reader will again notice the contrast between Emma's snobbery and Mr. Knightley's good sense (see Chapter VIII). However, Emma's quick change of heart about going to the Coles' party indicates that her snobbery is not so strong as to overcome her natural love of gay society. Emma's imagining that Mr. Churchill is in love with her should remind the reader of the time when she imagined that Mr. Elton was in love with Harriet. The general action of the novel can be described as the disciplining of Emma's imagination, which is a function of her vanity - that is, she imagines (fancies) a false reality because she is vain and conceited.