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Unit 8: Jane Austen—Emma

This parallels the events of Chapter Forty-two, in which Mr. Knightley acts as the voice of Notes
propriety and good manners in terms of Mrs. Elton. He upbraids Emma just as decisively, but
there is genuine warmth to his criticism. When he speaks to Emma about her mistake, he
points out how admired and warmly considered Emma is. His wish is to improve Emma and
not to put her in her place, as he did Mrs. Elton.
Chapter Forty-four: Ashamed of what she has done, Emma visits Miss Bates to apologize for
her behavior at Box Hill, but she is not home. Emma waits for her with Mrs. Bates. Miss Bates
does arrive and tells Emma that Jane was crying and writing letters to Colonel Campbell and
Mrs. Dixon. She will be going to be the governess for Mrs. Smallridge of Maple Grove, thanks
to Mrs. Elton, and will be paid well, according to Miss Bates. She also learns that Frank
Churchill has suddenly left, since the Churchills requested that he return home.
Analysis: Emma is appropriately ashamed of her behavior, and her attempts to remedy her
situation with Miss Bates are sincere and commendable. But Austen spends little time on
Emma’s newfound modesty, instead switching to news of Jane Fairfax. It is confirmed that
Jane must enter a profession as a governess, a job that she earlier compared to the slave trade,
and now she is in ill health. Despite Miss Bates’ protests that she will be happy as a governess,
Jane Fairfax is quite upset by this turn of events. Emma explicitly contrasts her fate with that
of Mrs. Churchill. Jane Fairfax is a gracious, talented woman who must take a subservient
position merely because of status, while Mrs. Churchill is a demanding, cruel woman who is
important in society.
There is now some explanation for Frank Churchill’s recent bad mood. Mrs. Churchill yet
again demands that Frank Churchill return home. There is more evidence that the fates of Jane
Fairfax and Frank Churchill are connected. Both suffer depression almost simultaneously, and
both are set to leave Highbury around the same time.
Chapter Forty-five: When Emma returns home, she finds that Mr. Knightley and Harriet have
arrived. He tells Emma that he is going to London to spend time with John and Isabella, and
is touched to learn that Emma has gone to see Miss Bates. He takes her hand and is about to
kiss it, yet suddenly lets it go. The following day, there is news that Mrs. Churchill has died.
Emma now realizes that there is no obstacle between Frank and Harriet. She also learns that
Jane Fairfax is now in ill health, likely depressed that she must go to Maple Grove.
Analysis: In this chapter, Emma is determined to set right her previous ill will toward Jane
Fairfax. She strenuously attempts to visit her and wish her better health. Not only does she
think well of Jane, she now wishes to do something about it. Emma acts with a newfound
modesty. She is even embarrassed when her devoted but delusional father compliments her
for kindness toward Miss Bates.

Mr. Knightley’s romantic attentions toward Emma become more overt in this chapter, although
he remains reluctant. He takes her hand when he senses her embarrassment over the false
praise, a subtle physical gesture that represents a shift from verbal expressions of emotion that
predominate the novel. He is at the verge of expressing his love for Emma but still hesitates.
The death of Mrs. Churchill is a truly unexpected event in the novel, for whatever illness she
earlier claimed seemed to be a false pretense for getting Frank Churchill to be near her. Still,
the major obstacle for Frank Churchill is now removed. He no longer is prevented from
declaring his love for anyone. Yet despite the overwhelming evidence that he must be in love
with Jane Fairfax, Emma persists in believing that he could love Harriet Smith.
Chapter Forty-six: Mr. Weston urgently requests Emma’s presence at Randalls, for Mrs. Weston
has important news. When Emma arrives, Mrs. Weston looks quite disturbed. She has news
that Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax have been secretly engaged. Emma tells Mrs. Weston
honestly that she was once interested in Frank, but that interest subsided. Still, she criticizes

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