(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)

R: This was a great chapter! I loved Mr. Knightley’s comments as he read Frank Churchill’s letter. I tend to agree with him in his assessment of Frank’s character. I think Mr. Knightley moving to Hartford in order to marry Emma is a good solution.

S: The way that Mr. Knightley reads Frank’s letter is highly amusing. It makes complete sense to me that he (Knightley) is willing to move to Hartfield while Mr. Woodhouse is still living; it keeps with his character we see in the rest of the story. 

What a change in Chapter 52 in people’s attitudes! I feel very sad for Emma’s and Harriet’s relationship and hope it can be resolved amicably, but I am happy that Jane and Emma are becoming friends. Sadly, Mr. and Mrs. Elton really are not quite a good example of a pastoral family. I was rather surprised at the way Mr. Knightley snubbed Mr. Elton, but then again I don’t think he cares much for people who are rude. 

R: I appreciate that Emma is attempting to make things right with Harriet while keeping her distance as well. I’m not quite sure if I’m clear on whether Harriet is already aware of the understanding between Mr. Knightley and Emma or not. My impression is that they haven’t told anyone yet and Emma is trying to avoid having to conceal it from Harriet while not encouraging Harriet’s interest in Mr. Knightley, or if she’s afraid of having to tell Harriet directly to turn her interest from the gentleman.

Mrs. Elton is infuriating, but I’m glad that Emma is able to reconcile with Jane. I hope that they’ll be able to remain friends from now on. I feel like Mr. Knightley didn’t so much snub Mr. Elton, but forgot him because of being distracted by Emma.

S: I do hope that the Weston’s little girl will grow up to be the best of Emma and Jane. 

The flirting between Mr. Knightley and Emma is very funny. (It is a bit strange to think that he had started falling in love with her when she was thirteen and he twenty-nine, although I suppose he could just be teasing her about that.) I’m honestly shocked that so many people in the village were surprised by the match between Emma and Mr. Knightley – I would have thought most would have assumed it would happen. Sometimes when you’re close to something, though, it is strangely difficult to see what’s happening. Emma did protest quite a bit that she would never marry and Mr. Knightley appears to have never courted anyone, so perhaps everyone’s surprise is not as surprising.

R: This was a fun chapter! They were so sweet and careful in how they told Mr. Woodhouse about their engagement, and I loved the support the Westons gave in cajoling Mr. Woodhouse into approval. I thought everyone’s surprise was a little surprising too, because people always seem to match up others who are in close proximity with one another.

S: Finally – Mr. Martin tells Harriet yet again that he loves her! I knew his feelings hadn’t changed and that his family was so sad and hurt when she turned him down. I’m very pleased.

R: I’m really happy that Emma has reconciled herself to Harriet marrying Mr. Martin! Not just reconciled, Emma truly seems happy for her friend. I’m glad that Mr. Knightley encourages her to get to know Mr. Martin.

S: I am, too.

The final chapter is so very funny. Mr. Woodhouse changing his mind about the wedding makes me smile. Time changes relationships and that’s okay; sometimes they need to change. 

R: I can’t decide whether I found the ending amusing or am annoyed that Mrs. Elton got the last words in the book. Otherwise, it was a very sweet ending. I’m glad all of the relationships turned out happily!

S: This book is so very different from the other three we’ve read! We get a much clearer picture of what is inside the head of the protagonist, which I think is the main reason it is the longest of her works. 

R: I agree. This one had many characters and elements reminiscent of Austen’s other works, but at the same time enough differences to keep the story fresh. Emma, so far, has been the most flawed of Austen’s protagonist ladies, and Mr. Knightley the most involved protagonist gentleman. I think he’s the only one who is present and an important part of the lady’s life from the beginning of the story. It made for a unique and engaging dynamic as Emma grew and changed throughout.

S: If you have read Emma we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Our last post for this book with be a comparison between it and the 1996 movie adaptation of Emma, which stars Gwyneth Paltrow.