"What did she say? — Just what she ought, of course. A lady always does. She said enough to show there need not be despair — and to invite him to say more himself."
Chapter 44 Quotes. The wretchedness of a scheme to Box Hill was in Emma's thoughts all the evening. . . . If attention, in future, could do away the past, she might hope to be forgiven. She had been often remiss, her conscience told her so; remiss, perhaps, more in thought than fact; scornful, ungracious.
The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her. This quotation, which appears early in the novel’s first chapter, foreshadows the novel’s structure as a whole. What Emma fails to perceive—that it is possible to have too much of one’s own way or to be too satisfied with oneself—is exactly what she learns over the …
Emma Quotes and Analysis. Buy Study Guide. The real evils indeed of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of …
"What did she say? — Just what she ought, of course. A lady always does. She said enough to show there need not be despair — and to invite him to say more himself."
'" Emma says, "'Ah, ma'am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me—but you will be limited as to number—only three at once'" (370). Miss Bates is slow to catch her meaning, but when she does she says to Mr. Knightley, "'I will try to hold my tongue.
Summary: Chapter 12 Knightley tells Emma that Mr. Martin has been terribly disappointed by Harriet's rejection. Isabella is filled in on all of the latest news from Highbury. She inquires after Jane Fairfax, Miss Bates's niece, and suggests that Jane would make a good companion for Emma.
Martin's “appearance was very neat and he looked like a sensible young man,” she tells Harriet, “He is very plain … remarkably plain, but that is nothing compared to his entire want of gentility.” Mr.
“There is an anxiety, a curiosity in what one feels for Emma,” he tells the new Mrs. Weston. Unlike everyone else in Highbury who sees little or no fault in Emma, Mr. Knightley recognizes a sense of superiority she has that leads her to believe she can read people's desires and urge them to act according to her will.
Background. Living in genteel poverty with her ageing widow of a mother and only one servant, Miss Bates was nonetheless on visiting terms with the best in Highbury society. At the same time, she was dependent on her neighbours for much support – pork from Mr.
Jane Fairfax, with all her elegance and grace, is “out” on the market. She gives herself until the age of twenty-one to be chosen by a wealthy suitor, then she puts herself “out” in the governess trade. Jane Fairfax's value then has little to do with her elegance and everything to do with her lack of fortune.
three volumesIn three volumes.
Why does Frank flirt with Emma? He wants to marry her.
37 yearsMr. Knightley is a neighbour and close friend of Emma, aged 37 years (16 years older than Emma). He is her only critic. Mr. Knightley is the owner of the estate of Donwell Abbey, which includes extensive grounds and farms. He is the elder brother of Mr. John Knightley, the husband of Emma's elder sister Isabella.
However, Emma believes that she can find someone of a better education for Harriet so she is naturally prejudiced when she comments on some of Mr. Martin's character traits, like his lack of manners. Emma believes that if she introduces Harriet to other gentlemen, Harriet would lose her interest in Mr. Martin.
The real evils, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself: these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
The joy, the gratitude, the exquisite delight of her sensations may be imagined. The sole grievance and alloy thus removed in the prospect of Harriet's welfare, she was really in danger of becoming too happy for security.—What had she to wish for? Nothing, but to grow more worthy of him, whose intentions and judgment had been ever so superior to her own. Nothing, but that the lessons of her past folly might teach her humility and circumspection in future.
With insufferable vanity had she believed herself in the secret of everybody's feelings; with unpardonable arrogance proposed to arrange everybody's destiny. She was proved to have been universally mistaken; and she had not quite done nothing—for she had done mischief. She had brought evil on Harriet, on herself, and she too much feared, on Mr. Knightley.—Were this most unequal of all connexions to take place, on her must rest all the reproach of having given it a beginning; for his attachment, she must believe to be produced only by a consciousness of Harriet's;—and even were this not the case, he would never have known Harriet at all but for her folly.
The wretchedness of a scheme to Box Hill was in Emma's thoughts all the evening. . . . If attention, in future, could do away the past, she might hope to be forgiven. She had been often remiss, her conscience told her so; remiss, perhaps, more in thought than fact; scornful, ungracious. But it should be so no more.
In another moment a happier sight caught her;—Mr. Knightley leading Harriet to the set!—Never had she been more surprised, seldom more delighted, than at that instant. She was all pleasure and gratitude, both for Harriet and herself, and longed to be thanking him; and though too distant for speech, her countenance said much, as soon as she could catch his eye again.
Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken; but where, as in this case, though the conduct is mistaken, the feelings are not, it may not be very material.—Mr. Knightley could not impute to Emma a more relenting heart than she possessed, or a heart more disposed to accept of his.
What Emma fails to perceive—that it is possible to have too much of one’s own way or to be too satisfied with oneself —is exactly what she learns over the course of the book. She is permitted too much influence over Harriet and comes to understand that this power threatens not only Harriet’s happiness but also her own.
The real evils, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself: these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
This quotation is spoken by Mr. Knightley at the point of his proposal to Emma. As in the rest of the novel, Mr. Knightley maintains his emphasis on truth and honesty. Unlike the rest of Highbury, Mr. Knightley has always told Emma the truth, even when she did not want to hear it.
This quotation is spoken by Mr. Knightley and is the first time in the novel that any character expresses a negative view of Emma. Although he cares for her greatly, Mr. Knightley is still able to recognize Emma's bad qualities and make an effort to help her improve.
Miss Bates represents a more typical scenario: a woman with little intellectual background who was unable to find a husband (and financial security) during her youth. With a diminishing annual income, Miss Bates has little to look forward to and relies primarily on the charity of the Woodhouse family, among others. Yet, in this case, the narrator assures the readers that Miss Bates is not wholly pitiable; despite her unstable situation, she is completely content with her life. Ironically, it is this overwhelming contentment that makes her so popular among the members of Highbury high society.
Knightley's good opinion. Emma is also upset by her failure to thank Mr. Knightley for his criticism.
Emma immediately perceives Harriet as a project, as raw material that can be shaped into an ideal upper class woman. Yet, Emma's seemingly "kind" plan also demonstrates her arrogance and lack of consideration for others.
Knightley's critique of Emma reveals his discerning judgement (as the character manifestation of the narrator), as well as his understanding of Emma's nature. He is the only character who truly knows her, good qualities and bad. A few minutes were sufficient for making her acquainted with her own heart.
This quotation describes Miss Bates, the novel's characterization of the poor, unmarried woman. Although Emma has money, intelligence, and security, she is unique among most ...
Emma, By Jane Austen. Jane Austen began to write Emmain January of 1814 and finished it a little over a year later, in March of 1815. At the time of completion, Austen was thirty-nine years old. Emmawas published at the end of 1815, with 2,000 copies being printed—563, more than a quarter, were still unsold after four years.
Chapter I (19)— Harriet needs to stop talking of him, a visit to the Batses should help. A letter from Miss Fairfax, who is expected in a week. Chapter II (20)— Poor Jane's very few hundred pounds make independence impossible. Jane and Emma meet, and Jane is uncommunicative.
She earned less than forty pounds from the book during her lifetime, though it earned more after her death. Austen died a year and a half after publication. [Source: The Cambridge Companion To Jane Austen, Edited by Edward Copeland and Juliet McMaster, Cambridge University Press, 1997.]
Chapter VII— A proposal arrives, but the lady must decide on her own without any interference from anyone else. Chapter VIII — Mr. Knightley knows and approves of the proposal. Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief. Chapter IX— A book of riddles.
Emma continues to point out Mr. Elton’ s finer qualities to Harriet and is convinced that he is already in love with her friend. Mr. Elton praises the graces that Harriet has gained in Emma’s company, and he quickly seconds Emma’s idea to paint a watercolor portrait of Harriet.
Emma and Harriet strike up an immediate intimacy as Harriet replaces Mrs. Weston as Emma’s companion on her habitual walks. Emma remains unimpressed with Harriet’s intelligence but appreciates her willingness to be guided. Emma encourages Harriet to tell everything about herself, and their conversation soon centers on the Martin family, ...
Harriet’s flattery, Knightley suspects, will reinforce Emma’ s self-regard, while Emma’s influence will injure Harriet’s happiness, because Harriet “will grow just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstance have placed her home.”.
When Mr. Knightley scolds Emma for insulting Miss Bates, she is ashamed. The next day, she visits Miss Bates to atone for her bad behaviour , impressing Mr. Knightley. On the visit, Emma learns that Jane accepted a governess position from one of Mrs. Elton's friends.
Emma was written after the publication of Pride and Prejudice and was submitted to the London publisher John Murray II in the autumn of 1815 . He offered Austen £450 for this plus the copyrights of Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility, which she refused. Instead, she published two thousand copies of the novel at her own expense, retaining the copyright and paying a 10% commission to Murray. The publication in December 1815 (dated 1816) consisted of a three-volume set in duodecimo at the selling price of £1.1s (one guinea) per set.
Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and romantic misunderstandings. It is set in the fictional country village of Highbury and the surrounding estates of Hartfield, Randalls and Donwell Abbey, and involves the relationships among people from a small number of families. The novel was first published in December 1815, with its title page listing a publication date of 1816. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian – Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners, and depicts issues of marriage, sex, age, and social status .
The British critic Robert Irvine wrote that unlike the situation in Austen's previous novels, the town of Highbury in Surrey emerges as a character in its own right . Irvine wrote that: "In Emma, we find something much closer to a genuinely communal voice, a point of view at work in the narrative that cannot be reduced to the subjectivity of any one character. This point of view appears both as something perceived by Emma, an external perspective on events and characters that the reader encounters as and when Emma recognises it; and as an independent discourse appearing in the text alongside the discourse of the narrator and characters". Irvine used as an example the following passage: "The charming Augusta Hawkins, in addition to all the usual advantages of perfect beauty and merit, was in possession of as many thousands as would always be called ten; a point of some dignity, as well as some convenience: the story told well; he had not thrown himself away-he had gained a woman of £10,000 or therebouts; and he had gained with delightful rapidity-the first hour of introduction he had been so very soon followed by distinguishing notice; the history which he had to give Mrs. Cole of the rise and progress of the affair was so glorious". Irvine points out the adjective "charming" appears to the narrator speaking, but notes the sentence goes on to associate "perfect" with "usual", which he pointed out was an incongruity. Irvine suggested the next sentence "would always be called ten" is in fact the voice of the community of Highbury, which wants the fiancée of Mr. Elton to be "perfect", whom the narrator sarcastically calls the "usual" sort of community gossip is about a new arrival in Highbury, whom everyone thinks is "charming". Since the character of Mrs. Elton is in fact far from "charming", the use of the term "charming" to describe her is either the gossip of Highbury and/or the narrator being sarcastic.
Emma, written after Austen's move to Chawton, was her last novel to be published during her lifetime, while Persuasion, the last novel Austen wrote, was published posthumously. This novel has been adapted for a number of films, television programmes, and stage plays.
Unlike other heroines in Jane Austen's novels, Emma is a wealthy young lady, having a personal fortune amounting to £30,000. Therefore, there is little pressure on her to find a wealthy partner.
For the most part, the poor in Emma are overlooked by the characters in the novel due to their socioeconomic status.
Though Mr. Knightley and Mrs. Weston both desire the best for Emma, they possess different views of what she needs to develop as a person.
Knightley believes that Harriet’s admiration and ignorance will increase Emma’s vanity and self-assuredness, while Emma’s refinement will render Harriet just polished enough to feel uncomfortable with her own circumstances and society.
Knightley nor Mrs. Weston foresee the independent and self-assured Emma falling in love with anyone in the neighborhood .
Miss Bates had never boasted either beauty or cleverness. Her youth had passed without distinction, and her middle of life was devoted to the care of a failing mother, and the endeavor to make a small income go as far as possible. And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without good will.
It is very difficult for the prosperous to be humble.
Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken.