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Unit 8: Jane Austen—Emma

centered, less concerned with Miss Taylor’s new happiness than her own loss of a companion. Notes
Austen also identifies the main problem of the book and the arc of Emma’s development:
Emma must learn to be a better person with greater respect for others. Mr. Woodhouse is
presented as partially to blame for Emma’s self-absorbed nature: his constant complaints and
focus on what he perceives to be his numerous burdens has given him a narrow view of the
world that Emma has come to share.
Here we find a view of Emma’s world. It is one of leisure, in which she spends time drawing,
visiting with friends, or playing games, but more importantly, Emma’s world is static and
orderly. There is little change in her life, and what changes occur, in this case the marriage
of Miss Taylor, greatly disturb her. When Emma desires change (as when she suggests that
Mr. Elton should be married), it is to set things in greater order.
Emma’s viewpoint predominates the novel, and Austen gives her perspective on nearly every
event, but it is not the only perspective. The novel is told from the third person, which gives
Austen the ability to critique Emma’s own behavior. The character Mr. Knightley serves this
same purpose, acting as the voice of sound judgment in the novel and pointing out where
Emma is faulty in thought or action. This chapter clearly juxtaposes Mr. Knightley with
Mr. Woodhouse, with Mr. Knightley representing a sensible view of the world in contrast to
Mr. Woodhouse’s unduly occupation with his own feeling and comforts.
Chapter Two: This chapter begins with the background of Mr. Weston, who was first married
to a Miss Churchill during his youth. Miss Churchill was of a higher social status and lived
a life beyond what the couple could afford, a fact that contributed to their unhappy marriage.
She died only a few years after their marriage but left a child to be raised by Mr. Weston.
Lacking the financial stability to care for a child, Mr. Weston sent the boy to be raised by his
late wife’s relative. The child, now grown and having adopted the name of those who raised
him (Frank Churchill), keeps in contact with Mr. Weston and is considered a curiosity to those
in Highbury.
Analysis: An important consideration in Emma and, Jane Austen’s novels in general, is social
status, particularly when it concerns marriage. Part of the reason that Mr. Weston’s first
marriage failed is that he married a woman who was accustomed to a different life style.
Although the marriage benefited Mr. Weston socially, he suffered from his wife’s inability to
lower herself to his level. The story also details some peculiar aspects of marriage and courtship
during the time period: in this case, Miss Churchill’s parents took offense to her choice of
partner and promptly cut her off without any inheritance. This severe decision foreshadows
some of the problems that Frank Churchill will encounter from his family when he decides to
marry, especially if he chooses a woman who is not deemed to be his equal.
Another recurring theme in the novel is the relationship between profession and social status.
Mr. Weston is below only the Woodhouses and Mr. Knightley in terms of social rank in
Highbury, but this was not always the case. Mr. Weston had to climb the social hierarchy,
moving from the military up to trade and then finally establishing himself as the owner of an
estate. Other than the nobility, the highest members of British society were people who had
owned property and did not have an actual profession. Working, whether as a clergyman or
governess or merchant, denotes a lower social rank.

Chapter Three: This chapter introduces a number of minor characters, including the impoverished
Mrs. Bates and her daughter, Miss Bates; Mr. Elton, a local clergyman; Mrs. Goddard, the
mistress of a boarding school; and most importantly Harriet Smith, a young girl whom Emma
takes under her wing. Emma takes it upon herself to improve Harriet, starting with an adjustment
of her choice of acquaintances, specifically the Martin family.

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