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Fiction

Notes abundant joy. Austen suggests that a match between the two was inevitable as they are the
two highest members of Highbury society. Moreover, Mr. Knightley’s criticisms of her were
merely preparation for making her a suitable wife.

Chapters 50-55
Chapter Fifty: Emma now has two obstacles to a marriage with Mr. Knightley: her father and
Harriet Smith. Emma cannot marry Mr. Knightley while her father lives, for any marriage
would greatly inconvenience him. Moreover, she does not know how to break the news to
Harriet. She attempts to get Harriet invited to stay with Isabella in London, where she could
be distracted. Frank Churchill writes a letter to Mrs. Weston, which expresses regret for his
deception and clarifies some of his behavior. He writes that Emma is a young woman unlikely
ever to be attached, for she is so complete in herself, and that he was often tempted to let her
know about Jane.

Analysis: This chapter serves mostly to clarify earlier inconsistencies in Frank Churchill’s
behavior, as well as imminent obstacles that Emma and Mr. Knightley must face. The letter
from Frank Churchill also solves some of the plot’s mysteries: he was the one who sent the
piano to Jane Fairfax, and he ordered it when he was in London ostensibly getting his hair cut.
When he left Emma to return to the Churchills and seemed to be on the verge of admitting
something, he was considering telling her the secret of his engagement. Finally, when Jane
Fairfax was miserable and ready to accept the job as a governess, it was because she was so
ashamed of her secretive behavior she broke off the engagement.

The letter also once again returns to the issue of manners and unspoken emotions. Frank
Churchill’s assumptions contrast directly with Mr. Knightley’s. While Mr. Knightley assumed
that Emma believed herself to be the object of Frank Churchill’s affections, Frank Churchill
assumed that Emma realized that Frank and Jane were secretly in love. Because Emma’s great
propriety left so much unspoken, both men made equally invalid assumptions about what she
believed.
Chapter Fifty-one: Mr. Knightley and Emma discuss Frank Churchill’s letter come to the same
conclusion: Frank Churchill did not behave well, but he was partially justified, especially
since there has been no final harm. They also consider the various options to deal with Emma’s
father. Mr. Knightley suggests moving him to Donwell Abbey with Emma, but Emma is
concerned that it will cause the old man great discomfort. Finally they decide that Mr. Knightley
will move to Hartfield instead.
Analysis: This chapter makes very clear that Mr. Woodhouse is more than just a harmless
curmudgeon who takes pleasure in his complaints. He is an intractable obstacle for Emma, too
concerned with his own comfort to allow his own daughter to marry. In this manner he
parallels Mrs. Churchill: both characters use appearances of frailty and ill health to demand
obedience from children they raised.
Austen also returns to the theme that Emma Woodhouse has the societal power of a man,
rather than a single young woman. In this way, the relationship between Emma and
Mr. Knightley reverses traditional gender roles. Mr. Knightley is the one who makes sacrifices
and must modify his customs and behavior. It is he who must give up his home to move
elsewhere upon marriage.
The considerations that the two of them make about their marriage reinforce the social dynamic
in Highbury. A marriage between Mr. Knightley and Emma affects more than just those two.
It affects Mr. Woodhouse, who might lose the daughter who cares for him. It affects Isabella’s
son, Henry, who now might lose his place as the inheritor of Donwell Abbey if Emma and
Mr. Knightley produce an heir. This particular situation also affects Harriet Smith, who once

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