Page 128 - DENG404_FICTION

Fiction

Notes sense of class. Her affection for and patience towards her hypochondriac father are also noteworthy.
While she is in many ways mature for her age, Emma makes some serious mistakes, mainly
due to her conviction that she is always right and her lack of real world experience. Although
she has vowed she will never ever marry, she delights in making matches for others.

Notes Emma Woodhouse seems unable to fall in love, until jealousy makes her realize
that she has loved Mr. Knightley all along.

George Knightley
George Knightley is about thirty-seven years old, is a close friend of Emma, and her only
critic, although he cares deeply for her. Mr. Knightley is the owner of the neighbouring estate
of Donwell Abbey, which includes extensive grounds and a farm. He is the elder brother of
Mr. John Knightley, the husband of Emma’s elder sister Isabella. Mr Knightley is very annoyed
with Emma for persuading Harriet to turn down Mr Martin, thinking that the advantage is all
on Harriet’s side; he also warns Emma against matchmaking Harriet with Mr. Elton, correctly
guessing that Mr. Elton has a much higher opinion of himself. He is suspicious of Frank
Churchill and his motives; although his suspicion turns out to be based mainly on jealousy of
the younger man, his instincts are proven correct by the revelation that Frank Churchill is not
all that he seems.

Mr. Frank Churchill

Mr. Frank Churchill is Mr. Weston’s son by his previous marriage, is an amiable young man,
who manages to be liked by everyone except Mr. Knightley, who considers him quite immature,
although this partially results from his jealously of Frank’s supposed ‘pursuit’ of Emma. After
his mother’s death, he was raised by his wealthy aunt and uncle, whose last name he took.
Frank enjoys dancing and music and living life to the fullest. Frank may be viewed as a
careless but less villainous version of characters from other Austen novels, such as Mr. Wickham
from Pride and Prejudice or Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility.

Jane Fairfax
Jane Fairfax is an orphan whose only family consists of an aunt, Miss Bates, and a grandmother,
Mrs. Bates, is regarded as a very beautiful, clever, and elegant woman, with the best of
manners, and is also very well-educated and exceptionally talented at singing and playing the
piano; in fact, she is the sole person whom Emma envies. She has little fortune, however, and
seems destined to become a governess – a prospect she dislikes.

Harriet Smith

Harriet Smith is a young friend of Emma’s is a very pretty but unsophisticated girl who is too
easily led by others, especially Emma; she has been educated at a nearby school. The illegitimate
daughter of initially unknown parents, she is revealed in the last chapter to be the daughter
of a fairly rich and decent tradesman, although not a “gentleman”. Emma takes Harriet under
her wing early in the novel, and she becomes the subject of some of Emma’s misguided
matchmaking attempts. Harriet initially rebuffs a marriage proposal from farmer Robert Martin
because of Emma’s belief that he is beneath her, despite Harriet’s own doubtful origins. She
then develops a passion for Mr. Knightley, which is the catalyst for Emma realising her own
feelings. Ultimately, Harriet and Mr. Martin are wed, despite Emma’s initial meddling. The
now wiser Emma approves of the match.

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