Jane Austen discussion

Frank is off to London for a hair cut, and the Coles' hold a party. Jane Fairfax has received a most unusual gift of a piano, from a Mr Dixon perhaps? Although Mrs Weston has other ideas about who the piano is from. A visit to the Bates' turns into rather a party, Mrs Weston and Mr Churchill joining them and then Mr Knightley as well. Emma and Frank begin to plan a ball which pleases everyone, except perhaps Mr Woodhouse and Mr Knightley. But unfortunately Frank is called away to his Aunt before the ball can take place.

Emma again shows her snobbish nature by wanting to have the power to refuse the Cole's kind invitation even when she thought them sending her one is talking a liberty inviting the highest family to dinner.They even got a special screen for Mr.Woodhouse.

I do have to say Mr.Woodhouse is a very kind person.He doesn't seem to think the Cole's inviting them is bad just that he doesn't like later dinners and such.He even says to have them walk over for tea sometime.I wonder where Emma got I am better then everyone else.I know her father tells her she is great all the time but he doesn't seem to think himself above anyone.Mr.Woodhouse worries about his coachman and horses more then most people of that rank did at that time.Well maybe they worried about there horses but the coachman not so much.

You can tell Harriet still loves Robert Martin because she was unset when he dined with the Coxes and talked a lot to Anne Cox who seems to like him.Poor Harriet.She could be happily married by now.

I love it when Emma is so upset about the idea of Mr.Knightley marrying.This is when I started seeing her having feelings for him.Even when she gets the ridiculous idea she is in love with Frank at the end of chapter 30.

Jane Fairfax gets a piano and Emma runs away with her imagination and believes some love affair between her friend's husband Mr.Dixon and Jane.Then she tells Frank about her ideas.(view spoiler)[I think Emma unwittingly helped Frank come up with a cover story for his behavior (hide spoiler)]

@Nicole

I commented on this in another thread.
This again shows Emma's conflicting beliefs - she knows she won't accept as they are from trade, and then she thinks again when she fears she is the only one being left out!

You make some good points about Mr Woodhouse. He is a kind man and does care for everyone's health and well being, not just his own - perhaps excessively so but the thought is sweet. He does not think himself above everyone else and does take care and is considerate of his servants.

Yes all little mentions or experiences with Mr Martin stir up feelings in Harriet, and show her to deep down be still in love with him.

Yes! I loved to see Emma's reaction to the idea of Knightley marrying! This really throws Emma of guard and she does not like the notion!

Oh I agree about what you say in the spoiler! Most definitely! This is another example of her mind running wild with an idea!

CH 25

Mr. Knightley doesn’t care for Frank Churchill, while Emma is not discouraged by Frank’s behavior (going to London for a haircut). Emma is falling in love with Frank, and she thinks that he is falling in love with her. (Silly girl!)

The Coles family, merchants in London, who are accepted as landed gentry, are planning a large dinner party. Emma hears about it and wants to decline the offer. Surprisingly she learns that she is not on the guest list. She is hurt, and wants to attend especially because the Westons, the Knightleys, and Frank Churchill will be there. Why would she not get an invitation? Because the Coles knew that Mr. Woodhouse dislikes large, late parties, and they felt that Emma would not attend without her father. Spoiled Emma gets her invitation, and leaves her father at home alone.

CH 26

Emma’s imagination runs wild . . .

Frank returns after dinner. Mrs. Coles talks about the big piano at Miss Bates, who states that it is a gift for Jane. Since the Coles also have a big piano, they suggest playing it after dinner. Emma thinks Mr. Dixon is the donor, but Frank Churchill disagrees.

After dinner, the party gathers in the drawing room, where Emma is much impressed by the dignified and graceful bearing of Jane. Emma is delighted that Frank sits beside her, convincing her even more that she is the object of Frank's love. But she sees that Frank looks intently across the room at Jane. On being questioned about his staring, he tells Emma that Jane's strange hair-do has aroused his curiosity. He then goes over to Jane, pretending to ask about her hair.

The debate between Emma and Mrs. Weston is cut short when Mr. Cole requests Emma to play. Emma readily goes to the piano, and Frank joins her in singing, which takes Emma by surprise. After Emma is done, Jane is asked to play. Emma notices that Knightley is listening attentively while Jane sings and then praises her performance.

Emma wonders – “Does Knightley has an interest in Jane?” Emma must firmly assert that Mr. Knightley must not marry. Emma is certain that Knightley would never degrade himself by marrying Jane. Mrs. Weston suggests that perhaps Knightley has sent Jane the piano since he admires her singing and playing.

When Emma talks to Knightley about Jane's piano, she is convinced that he has not sent it. She is surprised, however, when Knightley gently warns Jane to sing no more after her voice cracks. Frank, however, asks her to sing one more, which annoys Knightley.

After the singing, dancing is proposed. Frank approaches Emma, and the two of them are the first on the dance floor. Knightley does not dance, which makes Emma extremely happy. She is now convinced that Knightley has no interest in Jane.

CH 27

Emma thinks of Jane Fairfax as a rival, even though she feels that Jane is socially inferior to her. Finally, Emma begins to practice the piano feverishly in hopes that she can play as well, or even better, than Jane.

Emma is sensitive about Harriet's feelings, yet she is blinded about Frank's feelings. She has no clue that Frank is infatuated with Jane Fairfax. And Emma is convinced that Frank is attracted to completely to her.

CH 28

Emma should have realized that there was something between Jane and Churchill. It is not like the sensible Jane to put up with ungentlemanly behavior, but she is always tolerant of Frank. Frank behaves as if he were a member of the Bates family, mending the spectacles of Mrs. Bates and welcoming Emma as if he were the host. Emma looks only at the appearance of things from her point of view, never seeing the reality, and she is still convinced that Frank is interested in her.

Frank is greatly admired by Emma and the Bates, but not by Mr. Knightley. Knightley refuses to go in to the Bates house when he realizes that Frank is inside.

CH 29

Frank hides his true feelings (from Emma and the Weston) regarding Jane. When Frank gives his attention to Emma, it appears that his interest is in Emma and not Jane. Emma believes that Frank wants to have a ball because he wants to dance with her. She is so happy because she believes that she is a better dancer than Jane. Most everyone is convinced that Frank is attracted to Emma by having Frank ask Emma to dance the first two dances with him at the ball.

CH 30

Emma is happy for having Frank's company for a few more days as well as dancing with him at the upcoming ball, at the Crown Inn. Mr. Knightley is the only person who opposes the ball and calls it "noisy entertainment."

Unfortunately, the ball is cancelled because Mrs. Churchill fell ill, and that Frank must return immediately. Before Frank departs, he has a long visit the Bates' home. And then Frank comes to Hartfield to take leave of Emma. He praises the Highbury community, expresses his warm feelings for Hartfield. A naïve Emma still believes that Frank is in love with her, and that he is shy regarding a marriage proposal.

Mr. Weston arrives at Hartfield and informs Frank that they must leave. Emma is very sad over his departure and, yet, Emma thinks about how happy Mr. Knightley will be once he learns there will be no ball.

Chapter 27

I am having trouble keeping up with Miss Bates' train of thought. God, that woman can talk :)

She can talk and talk without actually saying anything! Jane Austen is a genius with this sort of endless and pointless chatter!

@ Carol CH 25

Well, I cannot blame Emma completely. Frank is being very charming toward Emma! it is easy to charm a girl of 21 who enjoys being flattered!

@ Carol CH 26

Frank really is so rude about Jane - when caught staring he commented on her awful hair cut? How gallant.

I think Emma will not consider Knightley being attached to Jane because she does not like the idea in her mind, even if she does quite know why the notion displeases her.

@ Carol CH 28

Emma is rather blind, once again, where Frank is involved, but Frank is hardly helpful with all his comments and flattering/flirting with Emma.

Knightley really does have a strong prejudice against frank!

@carol CH 30

The end of this chapter is interesting, Emma thinking perhaps frank would propose.

Once again Frank's aunt getting in the way of things!

The Woodhouses are by birth the highest family in the neighbourhood, it is not that Emma thinks she personally is above everyone else but that she owes something to her status, I’m not saying that her own inclinations make her opposed to this, she firmly believes in her family’s superiority as she has been brought up to do, however there are no other families of equal footing which means if she sticks to her principles she cannot attend the Coles dinner... the only one of her circle who would be excluded. The Coles know their station is lower and until they acquired more money never tried to enter those circles, by having Emma attend they have successfully moved up in the world. The fact that Mr Woodhouse and Mr Knightly approve of the Coles suggests that they are good people and there is no harm in this, although Emma does describe the Miss Cox as vulgar, which suggests she does not usually socialise with them which could lead to some awkwardness. It is not just Emma’s personal bias, at that time status was everything.


@ Carol "Spoiled Emma gets her invitation, and leaves her father at home alone."
That’s not fair at all Carol, she didn’t leave him alone, she arranged for two of his closest friends to spend the evening with him, would you never have her go anywhere without her father?


I would also say that there is nothing in Frank’s behaviour towards Emma to suggest anything but that he does admire her, and that he does not like Jane Fairfax. Why should Emma believe any different to the whole of the neighbourhood? Everyone, including Frank, believes her to be remarkably observant but that is a lot to live up to, yes if she had looked closely she may have observed some odd behaviour from Jane and Frank, but that does not excuse his behaviour towards her if he was not trying to attach her.

I agree with you Louise. Especially regarding Churchill. Why should she not see what everyone else saw? That he admired Emma and didn't Jane?

@ Louise

I was so disappointed that the Coles' gave Emma an invite at all. If they had not invited her to their dinner with the view that Emma would snub them anyway, and invited all her friends, Emma would have been hoist by her own petard of self imposed superiority over her neighbors.

Except that if the Coles hadn't invited her, they would have been observing the proper distinction, because her superiority wasn't self imposed, as I said, it was her family right. These things cannot be judged by modern times.