Emma, Character Introductions

As the story of EMMA by Jane Austen begins a lot is already going on in the house Emma lives in. Emma is the main character of the story and from the first chapter we can already tell that she is a very privileged young lady. The first line of the novel even describes her as “handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition”. Her mother died when she was very young so she has no memories of her; instead all of her memories were made with Miss Taylor, who came to the house to take care of the children. Miss Taylor like both of the daughters but developed a special bond with Emma and became more of a friend of Emma than a mother figure. Emma’s father, Mr. Woodhouse, is also introduced as a very “indulgent”, kind and loving father. He has shown to be so friendly with Emma that he became almost a push over and Emma could get whatever she wanted. Mr. Woodhouse also is characterized as someone who is unable to understand any feelings but his own, which makes him a very interesting and funny character.

The main action of the story as it opens up is the marriage of Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston. Emma and Mr. Woodhouse seem to be very sad about the marriage because it will result in the loss of their close friend Miss Taylor. Mr. Weston, having the trait of thinking others feel as he does, often says “poor Miss Taylor” because he is sad that she is moving out of their house after sixteen years. Easily depressed Emma feels the need to always be a very happy person and look at the bright side of every situation to cheer up her father.

The topic of Miss Taylor’s marriage continues when Mr. Knightley is introduced into the novel. The first impression I got of Mr. Knightley is an easy going man with a “cheerful manner”. Mr. Knightley comes over to Mr. Woodhouse’s house at a late hour and Mr. Woodhouse claims that he must have had a “shocking walk”, but Mr. Knightley actually enjoyed the pleasant moonlit sky which I found to be very Ironic considering that his name is Mr. Knightley. With a name like that and someone who enjoys the night as much as Mr. Knightley I would expect his character to be more mysterious as opposed to a man with a “cheerful manner”. The relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley is also very interesting because he is described as the only one who could see “faults in Emma” and is “only one who ever told her of them”.  They seem to have a very playful and jokingly relationship.

In the second chapter we are introduced to Mr. Weston and Frank Churchill. Mr. Weston is depicted as a man who married above his class into the Churchill family and when he was widowed by his wife was left to poverty, but because of the high expectations that the Churchill’s used to impose on him he has become very hard working and gained his fortune back. Frank Churchill is the son of Mr. Weston, but was “adopted” by the Churchill family after Mrs. Churchill died. Frank seems to be a prize of Mr. Weston but oddly never returns the feelings and has not visited Mr. Weston in a long time. Now that he is remarried however, Frank has written a “handsome letter” and will come visit his father.