(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)
S: Colour me surprised! I was prepared to not like this book from the get go, just because others have mentioned to me I may not like it, but I laughed out loud quite a bit from the first sentence.
The first chapter is very interesting and quite different from the previous three books. Austen lays everything on the table so the reader can be sure of what they’re getting into. Emma, we find, is spoiled and is never really reprimanded by her father, older sister, or her nurse/friend. There doesn’t seem to have been much discipline for her, which is a shame, but at least we know where she’s starting. She almost sounds like Miss Crawford! I’m very interested to see how her story is going to play out. Will she grow as a person, which we unfortunately didn’t get to see Miss Crawford do, or will she have a more happy ending?
R: Austen certainly drops the reader right into the middle of things in Emma. After the long, slow introduction of Mansfield Park, I was grateful for this quick opening. We are brought right into a scene with what I believe are most of the main characters, and given a good overview of all of them.
S: I agree! I liked the quick introduction; it seems fitting for the type of character Emma appears to be. Her father is an old widower who seems to not want to marry again and is very self-focused. In fact, he reminds me quite strongly of Lady Bertram! I’m excited to see if the Mr. Knightley character plays a large role in the book since he’s really the only one who stands up to Emma when she’s wrong.
R: Mr. Woodhouse definitely has Lady Bertram vibes! It’s fun to see the characters who have similarities to previous books. Mr. Woodhouse also reminds me a lot of Mrs. Bennet.
S: Yes! He does remind me of Mrs. Bennet! That’s funny.
R: I like the interplay between Emma and Mr. Knightley. He reminds me a little of Mr. Darcy, though he’s perhaps not quite as severe, and he sees Emma’s matchmaking endeavours as meddlesome. I think Emma may be the most negatively-viewed protagonist of any of Austen’s books so far.
S: I feel like I’m in a constant state of waiting and wondering what in the world she will do next mainly because she just makes me roll my eyes and laugh.
I felt a little lost during most of Chapter 2 until I figured out that it was a flashback of sorts, and even writing out my thoughts I had to go back and reread – there are so many people mentioned! The important point, however, is that Emma’s scheme of marrying off her governess, Miss Taylor to Mr. Weston, has come to fruition.
R: Chapter 2 does seem to make an abrupt shift of topics; but the backstory is interesting, and I believe it is important for later.
S: In Chapter 3 we are introduced to even more characters, my favourite being Miss Bates. I love this line about her and stopped reading for a time to just enjoy its beauty: ‘And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without good-will. It was her own universal good-will and contented temper which worked such wonders’. Isn’t that lovely? After reading it a few times the only thought in my mind was, ‘I want to be just such a woman’.
R: That is a lovely description. Miss Bates is similar to Emma in wanting good for others, but I have a feeling she doesn’t go around meddling in their affairs to bring about what she believes is for their good.
Mr. Woodhouse is funny in a potentially irritating way. He likes company, but only on his terms, at his house. And he’s always trying to get his guests to have less of all the good things that usually come with dinner parties. I do like how Emma manages him: ‘Emma allowed her father to talk–but supplied her visitors in a much more satisfactory style…’
S: Oh, that section was so funny to read!
We are also introduced to Harriet Smith and, in a roundabout way, to Mr. Martin, who I believe are going to play large roles in Emma’s character development. Her discourse with Miss Smith left me feeling very uncomfortable and I want Miss Smith’s character to not be swayed by Emma, but I’m not sure that will happen. My initial reaction to Emma’s bigotry against Mr. Martin was shock, but after thinking about it and about what we know of her already it makes sense. I was offended on Mr. Martin’s behalf and embarrassed for Emma! She may be rather clever, but her opinions are rather rude.
R: Oh, yes. This scene with Miss Smith shows Emma’s character at its worst. Harriet likes Mr. Martin, but Emma doesn’t think he’s good enough for Miss Smith. She wants what she thinks is best for Harriet and manipulates her to try to bring it about.
S: Chapter 5 is quite amusing and I laughed aloud a number of times. The discourse between Mr. Knightley and Mrs. Weston is cute and lets the reader know where each character stands regarding Emma. I agree with Mr. Knightley – I don’t fancy Emma and Miss Smith being intimate acquaintances. I’m afraid it’s going to turn out very badly and someone, if not both of them, will end up hurt.
My favourite part of Chapter 5 is when Austen casually mentions without mentioning that Mr. and Mrs. Weston think Mr. Knightley and Emma should marry. Again, Austen’s command of story and of the English language is beautiful!
R: This was an interesting chapter. I feel that Austen is giving more insight into the main character than we usually get by this point, but I like that she’s done so from the perspective of other characters rather than telling us directly. Mr. Knightly’s opinion of Emma reminds me a little of how Mr. Darcy viewed Elizabeth at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice.
I agree with you about Emma and Harriet Smith. I don’t think that relationship will be good for Miss Smith, certainly, and maybe not for Emma either. She doesn’t need someone who does whatever she says, but someone who will stand up to her and push back.
S: I feel like Austen has taken her writing to another level in her fourth novel and I am loving it! There is so much snarkiness and so much satire! I think that parts of this are going to be uncomfortable to read, but I am very much looking forward to reading the story nonetheless.
R: As am I! This was an excellent start to this novel and I am excited to continue the story.
All the Writings 