Page 104 - DENG404_FICTION

Fiction

Notes Frank Churchill, and Emma is pleased by the beginning of this acquaintance.

Analysis: Through Harriet’s long tale of her visit with Robert Martin, Austen gives some
insight into Harriet’s limited imagination. The mere sight of a trunk that will be delivered to
Mr. Elton disturbs poor Harriet and ruins her visit to the Martins. This reaches past mere
shame and mourning over her unsuccessful courtship with Mr. Elton and absolves Emma of
some blame for her pain. Emma may have attempted to design a romance between Harriet and
Mr. Elton, but it is now Harriet’s duty to let go of her obsessive pain.
Frank Churchill’s final arrival at Highbury reveals little substantial information about the
young man, who still remains a mystery. More significant is that, despite this lack of any more
tangible information, Emma is quite pleased with Frank. She knows that she will like Frank
at first sight, when he has had no opportunity to exhibit any personal qualities, positive or
negative, and she takes every minor shading to his personality as an example of his excellence,
just as she earlier idealized Harriet Smith and Mr. Elton when she had designs for them.
Although the two plotlines have no apparent connection, Austen continues to tie together Jane
Fairfax and Frank Churchill. Since there is little reason for the two plotlines to connect with
one another, this must be taken as foreshadowing for later developments between the two
characters.
Chapter Twenty-four: Frank Churchill and Mrs. Weston visit Emma, who decides that
Mr. Knightley must have been wrong about him. When visiting the Crown Inn and seeing its
ballroom, Frank suggests to Emma that she, with her resources, should hold dances there.
Surprisingly, Frank disparages Jane Fairfax to Emma, who defends her. While they shop for
gloves at Ford’s, Frank tells Emma more about Jane Fairfax and how she is destined to be a
teacher. He even mentions Mr. Dixon. Emma finds Frank to be more moderate and warmer
than she expected, and less a spoiled child of fortune.
Analysis: Frank Churchill reveals himself to be more complicated than Emma originally imagined
in this chapter, more interested in his family and Highbury society and also more intelligent
and engaging. This seems to confirm suspicions that Frank Churchill was kept from Highbury
through his aunt’s influence. Yet one must take into account perspective: these positive shadings
to his character are taken from Emma’s eyes and not those of a more objective or authoritative
source such as Mr. Knightley. Emma seems to take every detail of Frank’s personality to be
a credit to him; even when he makes a catty comment; it is about the one person with whom
Emma competes. This seems to echo Mr. Elton’s earlier manipulation of Emma. Frank Churchill
flatters her vanity, but in a more subtle way, by disparaging the one person for whom Emma
holds any jealousy.
Also, Frank Churchill’s comments seem to presume knowledge of Jane Fairfax that goes beyond
mild acquaintance. Earlier comments connecting the two indicated that they had met each
other only briefly, but Frank Churchill knows a considerable deal about Jane Fairfax, even the
gossip about Mr. Dixon. This foreshadows later developments: what does Frank know about
Jane Fairfax, and how does he know it?
Chapter Twenty-five: Emma’s good opinion of Frank Churchill is shaken when she hears that
he has gone to London simply to get a haircut. The Coles, a family of low origin involved in
trade, invite the better families of Highbury to dine with them. Although Emma thinks that
this is an affront to her high place in society - she should decide her social circle and not have
it decided for her - she accepts the invitation.
Analysis: Frank Churchill’s trip to London for a haircut reveals a suspicious arrogance—travel
is difficult, and to go to London simply for a haircut is an immense waste of time and resources—
but Emma thinks only slightly less of him for it. She has made up her mind that she would
like him, and perhaps marry him, far before she actually met him, and vain, indulgent actions

98 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY