DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

VISAKHAPATNAM, A.P., INDIA

PROJECT TITLE
EMMA BOOK REVIEW

SUBJECT
ENGLISH

NAME OF THE FACULTY

BEENA PUNJABI

Name of the Candidate

Roll No. & Semester
A.GEETHANA
19LLB030
ST
1 SEMESTER
INTRODUCTION

Author – JANE AUSTEN

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which at the
end of the 18th century interpreted, criticized and commented on the British landed gentry.
Austen's plots often explore women's dependence on marriage in pursuit of advantageous
social status and economic security. In 1833, when her novels were republished in Richard
Bentley's Standard Novels series, illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering, and sold as a set, a
significant transition in her posthumous reputation occurred. They gradually gained wider
acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, a convincing edition
of her nephew's A Memoir by Jane Austen was published.

Title – EMMA

Year 1st printed – 1815

Theme – Marriage and social status, The confined nature of women’s existence, The
obstacles to open expression

Genre – “Novel of Manners” which is fiction that details the mores and foibles of a
particular subset of society.

CHARACTERS

Emma Woodhouse, Mr. George knightely, Harriet Smith, Frank Churchill, Jane Fairfax, Mr.
Philip Elton, Mr. woodhouse, Miss Bates, Mrs. Anne Weston, Mrs. Elton( Miss Augusta
Hawkins), Mr. Weston, Mrs. Bates, Mr. John Knightely, Robert Martin, Mrs. Isabella
Knightely, Mrs. Goddard.

Setting: In the country side around London in a small town called Highbury during Regency
England.
Overview

Emma Woodhouse has the world readily available. She's young, beautiful, and savvy; she
additionally happens to be the supreme sovereign of her town's social scene. Emma lives in
Highbury, a community around sixteen miles outside of London, with her maturing father.
Mr. Woodhouse adores Emma, yet he's absolutely incapable to offer her any direction –
which is maybe why Emma doesn't appear to have any feeling of her own confinements. Life
appears to be entirely sweet – if somewhat exhausting – thus Emma chooses to zest things up
by taking on a protégé, Harriet Smith. Despite the fact that Emma's resolved never to wed
herself, she promptly chooses to discover Harriet a spouse.

Resolved to make Harriet into a courteous lady, Emma decides to refine Harriet's preferences
– particularly in men. She persuades Harriet to dump Robert Martin, the youthful rancher
who likes her, and put her focus on the town's minister, Mr. Elton. Tragically, Mr. Elton ends
up being enamoured with Emma – or possibly with Emma's cash. After the Mr. Elton
calamity, Emma believes that she's found out her exercises in matchmaking. Fortunately for
us (notwithstanding Harriet), she hasn't.

At the point when the running Frank Churchill comes to town, Emma makes a decent attempt
to experience passionate feelings for him herself. She can't fall head over heels for him,
however she manages to make a decent arrangement of evil by playing with him before Jane
Fairfax, a young lady who as of late came back to Highbury to live with her aunties. In the
interim, Emma chooses that Frank may very well be the ideal new man for Harriet.

Emma's endeavours are viewed – and remarked upon – by her great companion, Mr.
Knightley. In spite of the fact that Emma as often as possible disregards his recommendation,
she esteems his great supposition. At the point when Mr. Knightley blames her for putting
down her poor neighbours, Emma starts to think about her errors and even begins to alter her
way of life.

Lamentably, Harriet admits that she cherishes Mr. Knightley, not Frank. Unexpectedly,
Emma's arrangements disintegrate. She understands that she cherishes Mr. Knightley as well.
Persuaded that Mr. Knightley may be keen on Harriet, regardless of the way that he basically
lives with the Woodhouses, Emma smashes Mr. Knightley's endeavors to propose to her.
Inevitably all sentimental jumbles are cleared: Emma weds Mr. Knightley, and Harriet weds
her rancher, Robert Martin.
Emma's story is encompassed by side-stories of life in Highbury, including the sentiment of
Frank and Jane Fairfax, the marriage of Emma's previous tutor, Mrs. Weston, and the capers
of the social climbers, Mr. what's more, Mrs. Elton.

SUMMARY

Emma Woodhouse lives with her doting father and at a very young age she is the house's
mistress as her mother passed away long before and her elder sister Isabella is happily
married and lives in London. The story begins with the governess of Emma, and Ms. Taylor
has long been one of her most intimate friends, getting married to Mr. Weston and leaving
her.

Mr. Woodhouse is a happy old man who doesn't like things to change. Emma, having all that
a girl of her age might want, Emma is beautiful, rich, and smart too. She is lazy, mischievous,
and self-deluded, however. Even though she's convinced she's not going to marry, Emma
thinks she's a good matchmaker. She basically orchestrated the recent marriage between her
former governess, Miss Taylor, as she tells her father and her dear friend Mr. Knightley.

Emma is determined to make another match after such an easy "win." She has set her sights
on Mr. Elton, the village vicar, this time. Both Emma's father and Mr. Knightley caution
against intervening with her, but they fail to dissuade her in the end. Shortly afterwards,
Emma is having friends with Harriet Smith, a 17-year-old student at a local boarding school.
Harriet's parentage is unknown; she is "someone's natural sister" who placed her in the care
of the headmistress of the school, Mrs. Goddard, several years ago. Emma decides that
Harriet is a perfect match for Mr. Elton despite the darkness of her birth and her perceived
inferior social status.

First, by discouraging her interest in Robert Martin, a young farmer whose family rents Mr.
Knightley's land, Emma sets out to improve her friend. Harriet's feelings for Robert (and for
Robert) are obvious. Alternatively, Emma persuades her; she informs Harriet that Robert is
under her. As Robert writes a letter of marriage asking for her hand, Harriet rejects him with
Emma's advice.

When Mr. Knightley visits Emma, he excitedly tells her about Robert's intent to marry
Harriet. Mr. Knightley is furious after Emma tells him that Harriet has already rejected the
proposal from Robert (with her help). He criticizes for intervening with Emma, saying that
Robert is a respectable man and Harriet's good match.
Mr. Knightley is storming. He hasn't been seeing Emma for a while. Emma continues to push
together Harriet and Mr. Elton in his absence. With Robert out of the way and Harriet and Mr
Elton spending more and more time together, Emma is starting to enjoy her endeavour’s
success.

Everything seems to go well until Christmas Eve, when Mr. Elton reveals to Emma that he is
in love with her, not Harriet, and spent time with Harriet just to please her. Humiliated by her
attempt to pair him with Harriet, Mr. Elton is determined to retire to Bath. Emma is forced to
tell Harriet about Mr. Elton and is consoling her the next few days.

Mr. Knightley defends Jane, telling Emma that while she is fortunate, Jane has no fortune and
must resign as a governess in the near future. Mrs. Weston hopes that Mr. Knightley would
give Jane some romantic feelings. Emma disputes it categorically.

The initial interest of Emma in Frank doesn't last. She begins to picture him as a potential
match for Harriet after a while, and when Harriet confesses her love for a higher social status
man, Emma assumes that she means Frank. As it turns out, Harriet is in love with Mr.
Knightley, who saved her from the embarrassment that Mr. Elton and his new wife were
snubbing at a recent village ball. Then Emma learns that Mr. Knightley is also loved by her.
She admits that she could have prevented this whole mess if she had let Harriet marry Robert.
And so ends the denouement.

Frank is making a hurried escape from Highbury not long after Harriet's confession. As he
states later in a letter to Emma, he and Jane have been engaged even secretly. His flirtation
with Emma was just a ruse — a way to buy time before his parents agreed with Jane to marry
him. Emma and Mr. Knightley are thinking about this sudden turn of events. To the shock of
Mr. Knightley, Emma reveals that she never loved Frank.

Every response, Mr. Knightley professes his love for Emma. She is overjoyed, and they
decide to marry indirectly.

Emma worries briefly about Harriet and how she is going to receive the news of her
commitment. Emma is delighted to learn that after all, Harriet decided to marry Robert.
Therefore, the novel ends with three marriages: Jane and Frank, Harriet and Robert, and Mr.
Knightley and Emma.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Emma Woodhouse: Beautiful, clever and rich, "Emma is a twenty-one-year-old daughter of

a wealthy gentleman who is accustomed to" having her own way "and cursed with a"
disposition to think a little too well of herself. "Even though Emma is a meddler who shows a
maddening self-confidence, she is generally well-meaning and considerate women, able to
accept the idea of love.

Mr. George Knightely: His brother had married the elder sister of Emma, Isabella, a
sensible man of thirty-seven. Courteous, noble, sincere and intelligent, for behavior he is a
paragon, yet not afraid to correct Emma for her mistakes. At the end of the novel, he marries
Emma.

Harriet Smith: She is of rather questionable origins, a short, plump and fair woman of
seventeen. Emma is largely responsible for bringing Harriet into Highbury society and
continuously instructing and guiding her, though not always for her advantage. Emma fills
her with an unnecessary pretension of her status. Finally, she marries Mr. Martin, a farmer
Emma finds to be too harsh but more suitable in status for Harriet.

Frank Churchill: Mr. Weston's son, he was raised by his uncles, the Churchills, who at the
time were better able to support him. Highbury society looks forward to his newly married
father's visit, but he delays consistently. Frank Churchill is more interested in pursuing
pleasure than any concrete pursuit, but he is also beautiful and charming enough to attract
Emma. He is secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax, but cannot reveal this because the aunt who
raised him would strenuously object.

Jane Fairfax: An orphan, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Bates ' only child. She was taken in
by Colonel Campbell after her mother's death, who served in the army with her father. Emma
is the same age, she is just as talented, beautiful and well-looked, a fact that vexes Emma
quite a bit. She is involved with Frank Churchill secretly.

Mr. Philip Elton: The church vicar in Highbury whom Emma selects as Harriet Smith's
possible suitor. Ultimately, Mr. Elton reveals his own romantic interest in Emma, but she
rejects him. He marries Augusta Hawkins, the pretentious and rude.

Mr. Woodhouse: The father of Emma is a wealthy man with a large estate, Hartfield.
Isolated in his estate, there are few pleasures for Mr. Woodhouse. While doting on Emma, he
also indulges her more egotistical tendencies and is largely unpleasant. His complaints and
lack of activity make him look much older than he is.

Miss Bates: Mrs. Bates ' daughter, Miss Bates is not young, married, beautiful, or wealthy.
She lacks any distinctive features like intellect or cleverness, yet she is generally happy and
treats others with great goodwill. One of the novel's turning points is Emma's cruel treatment
of Miss Bates during the picnic at Box Hill.

Mrs. Anne Weston( Miss Taylor): The governess of Emma who raised Emma after the
death of her mother. She marries Mr. Weston, a slightly older gentleman, at the beginning of
the book. Mrs. Weston is a humble and self-possessed Emma, but still does not see many of
the flaws in Emma that Mr. Knightley tries to correct throughout the book.

Mrs. Elton( Miss Augusta Hawkins): A Bristol merchant's daughter who marries Mr. Elton.
Her place in society depends solely on the fact that her sister married very well, and her
attitude is presumptuous, arrogant and rude when she arrives at Highbury. She fails to treat
others with due respect, including Mr. Knightley.

Mrs. Weston: Mr. Weston was married much earlier, the older man that Miss Taylor
marries. He had a son, Frank Churchill, from this marriage, whom he sent away to be raised
by the relatives of his late wife. He comes from a respectable family that has gradually
moved up in society and earned a modest wealth.

Mrs. Bates: A former vicar of Highbury's widow and Miss Bates ' daughter. She is
considered a harmless old lady, and the Highbury society largely ignores her.

Mr, John Knightely: A tall, gentleman-like, smart, respectable, reserved man. He's married
to Isabella, the sister of Emma. For his severity and lack of patience, Emma dislikes him
somewhat.

Robert Martin: A kind farmer who lives on the estate of Mr. Knightley. Emma persuades
Harriet to reject his first marriage proposal because she thinks he's too coarse. At the end of
the novel he marries Harriet.

Mrs. Isabella Knightely: Emma's elder sister, a stunning, elegant, friendly girl. Contrary to
the more sharp-witted Emma, she is frail and pales.

Mrs. Goddard: A boarding school's mistress where girls could be sent for a little schooling.
Harriet Smith is one of her former students, who is now supporting her.
Conclusion:

Emma Woodhouse is anything but difficult to aversion and difficult to excuse. Regardless of
whether it's her control of Harriet Smith, her misleading indictments of Jane Fairfax, or her
forceful assault of Miss Bates, Emma has all the earmarks of being less a champion than a
lowlife. Be that as it may, Austen clarifies that Emma is a character worth pulling for in spite
of every last bit of her slip-ups and stumbles. Tony Tanner, writer of "The Match-Maker,"
composes of Emma, "Her occupation is chiefly worried about tending a dad who is the
negative of a legitimate dad, and tending her dreams. In the first place, Emma was raised with
not exactly sufficient direction, and honestly her high status did little in the method for
showing her order.

Emma can reliably commit errors without inspiring changeless disdain. The entryway to
absolution is constantly left open. Emma shows numbness and control as she compels herself
between Harriet Smith and Mr. Martin, however Austen clarifies her sincere goals. Emma
shows haughtiness and envy as she criticizes Jane Fairfax, however Austen permits Emma to
rely on the success of Frank Churchill subverting a portion of the fault. Emma shows
malevolence and animosity as she unnecessarily disparages Miss Bates, however Austen
shows Emma's regret and acknowledgment of her error. Austen clarifies that absolution is
constantly conceivable, and with the direction of Mr. Gallant Emma can at long last pursue
the way of genuine recovery.
CRITICAL COMMENT

Full of interesting characters and their interwoven stories of courtships and loves, "Emma" is
a highly eventful tale in which characters in the game of love seem to chase each other. And
there is misunderstanding, jealousy, and heart breaks where there is love. The mastery of Jane
Austen in dealing with romances between people of different natural arrangements,
characters, temperament and social status is well shown here.

The book is a lot of fun to read as you witness the courtships and their consequences one by
one exposing the idiocies and discontinuities in the human characters, who sometimes show
their best and/or worst depending on their circumstances.