"Emma" - Book Review by Syeda Ayesha Amreen of BA Final Year 

Picture Credit : Special Arrangement

The Book "Emma" was written by Jane Austen, and it was published by John Murry in the year 1815.

Jane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire on December 16, 1775, and grew up in a tight-knit family. Jane Austen is one of the most recognized names in English literature and also one of the greatest novelists of the 19th century. She occupies a high place among female novelists in England. Her contribution to the English novel is noteworthy. She was a careful artist, who imparted realism to her novels. It is also a notable contribution, that she feminized the English novel. Jane Austen completed only six official works during her lifetime, two of which were published after her death. Austen also wrote two incomplete novels. A favorite of filmmakers, Austen's best-known novels Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park have been adapted into successful films and mini-series.

Emma, the fourth novel by Jane Austen, was published in three volumes in 1815, set in Highbury, England, in the early 19th century. The novel is dedicated to a young woman, who enthusiastically wraps her acquaintances and neighbors. Emma, a clever, pretty, and self-satisfied young woman, is the daughter, and mistress of the house of Mr. Woodhouse. She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate indulgent father, and had, in consequence of her sister’s marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct

remembrance of her caresses, and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection. 

Emma believes she is an excellent matchmaker. As she tells her father and her dear friend Mr. Knightley, that she practically arranged the recent marriage between her former governess, Miss Taylor, and the widower Mr. Weston. (She did, after all, introduce them.) After such a clear “success,” Emma is determined to make another match. This time, she has set her sights on the village vicar, Mr. Elton. Both Emma’s father and Mr. Knightley caution her against interfering, but they ultimately fail to dissuade her. Shortly thereafter, Emma befriends Harriet Smith, a 17-year-old student at a local boarding school. Harriet’s parentage is unknown; she is “the natural daughter of somebody”, who many years ago placed her in the care of the school’s headmistress, Mrs. Goddard. Despite the obscurity of her birth and her perceived inferior social status, Emma decides that Harriet is a perfect match for Mr. Elton. Emma sets about improving her friend, by discouraging her interest in Robert Martin, who is a young farmer and whose family is renting land from Mr. Knightley. Harriet has feelings for Robert (and Robert for her). Emma convinces her otherwise; she tells Harriet that Robert is beneath her.

When Robert writes a letter asking for her hand in marriage, Harriet, with Emma’s counsel, refuses him. When Mr. Knightley visits Emma, he excitedly tells her about Robert’s intent to marry Harriet. After Emma informs him that Harriet has already rejected Robert’s proposal (with her help), and Mr. Knightley is furious. He criticizes Emma for interfering, claiming Robert is a respectable man and a good match for

Harriet. Mr. Knightley storms out. He does not visit Emma again for some time. In his absence, Emma continues to push Harriet and Mr. Elton together. With Robert out of the way, and Harriet and Mr. Elton spending more and more time together, Emma begins to celebrate the success of her endeavor. All seems to be going well until Christmas Eve, when Mr. Elton reveals to Emma that he is in love with her, not Harriet, and has been spending time with Harriet only to please her. Humiliated by her attempt to pair him 

with Harriet, Mr. Elton resolves to retire to Bath. Emma is forced to tell Harriet about Mr. Elton and spends the next several days consoling her. Meanwhile, two new visitors arrive in Highbury: Jane Fairfax, the beautiful orphaned niece of Emma’s neighbor Miss Bates, and Frank Churchill, the dashing young son of Mr. Weston. Initially, Emma dislikes Jane. She condemns her for being too “cold” and too “cautious.” (The narrator suggests that Emma is jealous of Jane because Jane had previously met Frank, whom Emma has taken a liking to.) Mr. Knightley defends Jane, reminding Emma that, whereas she is privileged, Jane has no fortune and must soon leave to work as a governess. Mrs. Weston suspects that Mr. Knightley harbors some romantic feelings for Jane. Emma adamantly denies this.

Emma’s initial interest in Frank does not last. After a while, she begins to imagine him as a potential match for Harriet, and when Harriet confesses her love for a man of a higher social status, Emma assumes she means Frank. As it turns out, Harriet is in love with Mr. Knightley, who, at a recent village ball, saved her from the embarrassment of being snubbed by Mr. Elton and his new wife. Suddenly, Emma realizes that she too loves Mr. Knightley. She realizes that if she had let Harriet marry Robert, she might have avoided this whole mess. And thus the denouement begins. Not long after Harriet’s confession, Frank makes a hasty departure from Highbury. As he later explains in a letter to Emma, he and Jane have secretly been engaged all along. His flirtation with Emma was just a ruse—a way to buy time until his relatives agreed to his marriage with Jane. Emma and Mr. Knightley discuss this surprise turn of events. To Mr. Knightley’s surprise, Emma confesses that she never loved Frank. Mr. Knightley, in response, confesses his love for Emma. She is overjoyed, and they implicitly agree to get married. Emma briefly worries about Harriet and how she will receive the news of their engagement. Emma is pleased to

learn that Harriet has decided to marry Robert after all this. The novel thus concludes with three marriages: Jane and Frank, Harriet and Robert, and Emma and Mr. Knightley.

In my opinion, I feel that I prefer "Emma" to all the other Jane Austen books except Pride & Prejudice, which I love just as well. Emma has this unique sense of carefree freedom and happiness. The characters in the book are so very close to life. Also, I feel that this theme of "Hooking Up" people is very real to most teenagers. So I guess I understand what Emma thinks and feels throughout the novel. On the whole, this book is full of fun and blunders and turns out to be a wonderful romance.