Genre: Romantic literature

Literary period: Romantic

Published: 1815

Author: Jane Austen

Emma Woodhouse, who is privileged, handsome, and wealthy, believes she is an excellent matchmaker. When Emma’s governess marries the affluent widower Mr. Weston, a match she believes she arranged, Emma becomes friends with the lower-class Harriet Smith and decides to assist her in a similar manner. Despite the fact that Harriet’s own parents are unknown, she believes her friend deserves a gentleman. Emma believes Mr. Martin, a farmer, is beneath Harriet, so she manipulates Harriet into rejecting him and instead encourages her companion to admire Mr. Elton, the town vicar.

Emma’s brother-in-law and close friend, Mr. Knightley, discourages her from arranging marriages. It turns out that all of the signs Emma mistook for Mr. Elton’s attraction to Harriet were actually directed at her. Emma feels ashamed, and Harriet is devastated. Mr. Elton retires to Bath, humiliated by Emma’s rejection and attempt to pair him with Harriet.

Emma realises that her own feeling of self-worth and desire for Harriet prevented her from recognizing the truth. She promises never to act as a matchmaker again.Jane Fairfax, a similarly brilliant and lovely young woman, returns to Highbury to visit her aunt, Miss Bates, and grandmother, Mrs Bates. Jane was raised by her father’s friends, the Campbells, after becoming orphaned at a young age. Given that she lacks a separate inheritance, she is expected to become a governess.

Emma embraces her visit with jealousy and admiration, since she is another favorite in their social circle. Emma believes Jane dated Mr. Dixon, the spouse of one of her friends.Frank Churchill, Mr. Weston’s son, is also expected to arrive after several delays. He lives in London with his snooty aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Churchill. Emma looks forward to his arrival and finds him charming. Mr. Knightley, on the other hand, despises him immediately because he is shallow and ignorant. Frank swiftly selects Emma as the target of his charming attentions. Mrs. Elton, an arrogant woman who has fallen in love with Jane and dislikes Emma, follows Mr. Elton home from Bath with his new bride.

As numerous characters ponder about burgeoning romances, confusion reigns. There are numerous ways to interpret who loves whom when it comes to word puzzles, riddles, and letters. Although Emma enjoys Frank’s attention, she eventually realizes he is not the perfect man for her. Mrs. Weston believes Mr. Knightley and Jane are compatible, but Emma strongly disagrees. When Mr. Elton rejects Harriet, Mr. Knightley jumps in to save her from social shame and invites her to dance.

Emma supports Harriet’s apparent developing attraction to Frank, whom she feels previously saved her from the gipsies.Everyone thinks Frank and Emma are an excellent match, but Mr. Knightley is concerned that Frank may have emotions for Jane. Emma absurdly dismisses his counsel since she believes she understands every character’s innermost thoughts. However, after receiving a warning from Mr. Knightley for mocking the innocent Miss Bates, Emma repents deeply and pledges to act better around the Bateses.

When Mrs. Churchill passes away, it becomes tragically clear that Frank and Jane were secretly engaged. Frank’s courtship of Emma served as a cover for his true feelings, which his aunt considered unpleasant. Jane ended their engagement owing to a series of terrible misunderstandings and was scheduled to accept a governess position. The two were reunited after Frank quickly obtained his uncle’s approval for their marriage.

Harriet subsequently explains that she is in love with Mr. Knightley, therefore Emma misunderstood Harriet’s attraction to Frank for something else. Emma’s anxiousness about this discovery leads her to realise she is in love with Mr. Knightley. Emma’s numerous illusions about Frank, Jane, Harriet, and herself cause her enormous distress. She berates herself for allowing her own desires and self-interest to cloud her judgment.

Emma worries that Mr. Knightley would admit his love for Harriet, so she is surprised and delighted when he confesses his love for her instead. Emma accepts Mr. Knightley’s proposal with joy, and she subsequently has the chance to discuss with Frank how, despite their numerous mistakes, they have both been luckier than they deserve in terms of their loved ones. Emma is even more delighted to learn that Harriet accepted Mr. Martin’s second offer after rejecting the first one. Three marriages: Harriet and Mr. Martin, Jane and Frank, and Emma and Mr. Knightley are praised as happy unions of equals as the book comes to a close.