Impressions of Emma in Volume 1

In the novel Emma by Jane Austen, Emma Woodhouse is an intriguing young girl who seems to be far too spoiled and concerned with the affairs of other people’s lives in the village of Highbury. In the first chapter, Austen promptly warns that Emma’s most detrimental limitation in her character is the fact that she has “rather too much of her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself” (3), which is essentially what we continue to see throughout Volume 1 of the novel. My first impression of Emma is that she is a self-assured, meddlesome, confident, matchmaking, perceptive, and sharp young English girl who has never faced any misfortunes in her life, despite the fact that her mother has died.

 

Emma’s prying tendencies manifest themselves in chapter 3, when we are introduced to Harriet Smith, “a short, plump, and fair [girl], with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair…and a look of great sweetness” (20). Emma is immediately taken by Harriet’s gentility and kindness, but more importantly, she is already contemplating a potential suitor for Harriet, a fitting gentleman whom she could marry. Very rapidly, Emma’s inclination to meddle in other people’s lives becomes evident, as she eagerly decides that Mr. Elton and Harriet “would be an excellent match; and only too palpably desirable, natural and probable, for her to have much merit in planning it” (31). This excerpt clearly exemplifies Emma’s somewhat selfish motives for encouraging and advocating this couple, as Austen emphasizes Emma’s profound concern for the originality of her match, and whether it has been thought of before. Thus, in the next few chapters, Emma makes it her number one priority to ensure that Mr. Elton clearly professes his fondness for Harriet, before Robert Martin, a gentleman who Emma considers to be a “very inferior creature” (29), even has a chance at expressing his liking. Emma purposefully degrades Mr. Martin in front of Harriet, and not-so-subtly belittles his suitability by emphasizing his inadequate social standing, which is clearly inappropriate for a woman as beautiful as Harriet.

 

Thus far, I think George Knightley is epitomizes the voice of reason, since he is the only one who has the audacity and nerve to disagree with Emma’s behavior. He a sensible and rational man who expresses his concern regarding the new friendship between Harriet and Emma, and how Harriet is the “very worst sort of companion that Emma could possibly have” because she “looks upon Emma as knowing everything” (35), which is clearly a negative thing because the last thing Emma needs is for someone as ignorant and inexperienced as Harriet to flatter Emma and encourage her meddling attitude. In chapter 8, he is the only one who tries to talk some sense into Emma and to make it clear to her that her “infatuation about [Harriet] blinds [her]” and that Harriet’s social rank is no higher than Mr. Martin’s enough to be a conflicting factor in the union of the two (56). However, Emma is unyielding and stubborn, as she refuses to listen to Mr. Knightley’s realistic and practical explanation, which could be detrimental later on.

 

Overall, I am enjoying the depth of Emma’s seemingly snobbish and proud character, and I am eager to see how Emma’s behavioral qualities will affect her and other characters throughout the novel.