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Unit 8: Jane Austen—Emma

by actual health concerns. She becomes most ill and most in need of her family’s company Notes
when she wishes to exert control on Frank Churchill.
There is a moment before he leaves in which Frank Churchill nearly breaks down his consistent
air of insincerity. He speaks of his warm regard for Hartfield and shows a genuine wish to
reveal some honest or true emotion. It is this moment in which Emma believes that Frank
Churchill may be in love with her. However, whether or not Frank is interested in Emma or
someone else entirely is still unclear. When Frank is prepared to admit to something, it is soon
after he mentions a visit he made to see Miss Bates, in which he implies that he spoke to Jane
Fairfax.
This is perhaps the best evidence that Frank Churchill does not intend to manipulate Emma
into believing that he loves her, but that his attention to her stems instead from his naturally
social demeanor. There is a sincerity of emotion here that is never present in Mr. Elton.
Despite Frank Churchill’s faults, in this matter, his purpose is not to deceive.
Nevertheless, Emma finds herself believing that Frank might love her and convinces herself
that she might be in love with him. Emma, who has previously thought of romance only in
practical terms, finds herself considering actual love. However, she has no concrete idea what
love actually entails. She lists as examples of her love listlessness, weariness, and stupidity,
indicating a passing fancy or crush and not substantial emotion. Furthermore, this doubt is
inconsistent with Emma’s normal behavior. She usually holds firm to her emotions to the
point of stubbornness - as she did with Harriet Smith - and the fact that she is unsure whether
or not she is in love is a good indication that she is not.
Chapter Thirty-one: Emma has no doubt that she is in love but wonders how much she can
actually love Frank Churchill if she is no less happy during his absence. She realizes that she
is not in love to her vow never to marry or quit her father. Emma starts to wonder if Frank
might instead be a good match for Harriet. Emma scolds Harriet for worrying about Mr. Elton,
claiming that it is a constant reminder of her mistake. She asks Harriet to speak less of
Mr. Elton for her own sake, and Harriet apologies for being ungrateful.
Analysis: After Emma has opened herself to the idea of falling in love with Frank Churchill
(and not simply marrying him as a pragmatic move), she realizes that she does not truly love
him. Her realization shows a practical reasoning and introspection previously uncharacteristic
of Emma. Still, although she does not love Frank Churchill, she still enjoys his attention. It
bolsters her own very high self-regard to know that a man such as Frank is so attentive to her.
However, Emma continues to make the same errors that caused her so much aggravation
earlier in the book. She has not learned the lesson of Mr. Elton and fancies the idea of making
a match between Frank Churchill and Harriet. She knows the dangers of such thinking and
actions but is inordinately tempted.
What Emma does realize with regard to Harriet Smith is how unfortunately obsessive she can
be with regards to Mr. Elton. This vexes Emma for a number of reasons. It is a reminder of
Emma’s mistake in judgment, and, in talking about Mr. Elton, Harriet does not serve her
primary purpose to Emma. Harriet is useful by flattering Emma, and, in this situation, she
annoys. The situation is only remedied when Harriet apologizes and resumes her role as the
obedient, dutiful friend.
Chapter Thirty-two: Emma first sees the new Mrs. Elton at church, but she cannot be in the
vicinity of the Elton’s without recollecting Mr. Elton’s bad behavior and Emma’s meddling.
Emma finds that Mrs. Elton has no elegance and maintains that Harriet would have been a
better wife for Mr. Elton because of her higher social connections. When Emma meets with
Mrs. Elton, she compares Hartfield to Maple Grove, where her brother resides, and is quite

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