Really quickly, here's a summary of what happened in the past 10 chapters:
- Frank returns; Emma is certain that his regard for her has decreased
-Mr. Elton slights Harriet at a ball
-Knightley saves Harriet in her distress^!
(-Knightley dances with Emma)
-Harriet gets attacked by gypsies, is saved by Frank
-Harriet and Emma destroy Harriet's treasures of Mr. Elton
-Knightley hates Frank because he thinks Frank is pursuing Emma
-Trip to Box Hill: Emma severely slights Miss Bates (REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT LAUGHING AT MS. BATES, BUT NOT SLIGHTING HER?!)
-Emma and Knightley fight a little
-Emma visits the Bateses to make up for her poor behavior
-Knightley rushes away to London (REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT BOYS RUNNING AWAY BEFORE COMING BACK 'FULL OF LOVE'?!)
-Mrs. Churchill dies (!!)
-The news breaks that Frank and Jane Fairfax have secretly been engaged since last October!
So, there's a quick summary of what happened. Lots of big events, both for society and internal character growth.
Discussion
I'd like to discuss Knightley's behavior throughout these chapters; he is becoming very over protective of Emma, even though (as of yet) he has no claims to her, and his criticism has become less of a friend and more of "something infinitely more dear". Something along these lines that I really liked was this passage:
"'Whom are you going to dance with?' asked Mr. Knightley.
She hesitated a moment, and then replied, 'With you, if you will ask me.'
'Will you?' said he, offering his hand.
'Indeed I will. You have shewn that you can dance, and you know we are not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper.' [remember, they are sort of pseudo siblings because their siblings are married.]
'Brother and sister! no, indeed.'"
(pg 285 K)
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a Victorian-era-sly-comment-suggesting-flirtation.
So this slight flirtation grows throughout what we (I)'ve read, becoming an intense hatred for Frank Churchill, suggesting jealousy......in fact, he becomes so upset about Frank that while sitting with Mr. Woodhouse and Emma one night,
"He found he could not be useful, and his feelings were too much irritated for talking." (pg 303 K)
Then a small bump in the road when Emma is rude to Miss Bates:
"It was badly done, indeed." (pg 324 K)
(^Hence the name of this blog "Badly Done Emma")
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And then we get the infamous "I've-got-to-get-away-from-you-to-clear-my-head-'cause-I-love-you-too-much"-move. Knightley suddenly develops a burning desire to go to Brunswick Square to spend a few days with his brother John and Isabella. And before leaving, joy of joys, this happens:
"...a little movement of more than common friendliness on his part.---He took her hand;---whether she had not herself made the first motion, she could not say---she might perhaps, have rather offered it,----but he took her hand, pressed it, and certainly was on the point of carrying it to his lips--when, from some fancy or other, he suddenly let it go." (pg 333)
JUST MARRY HER ALREADY, WOULD YOU?!
We have to wait and see what happens to Knightley's emotions when he comes back in the last 10 chapters.....
Connection
So, I noticed that Emma, even though she doesn't like Frank, and even though she's certain he doesn't like her as much, and even though she's resolved to not give him any encouragement, is very wrapped up in whether or not he notices her and is being attentive to her. Really annoying. And for all Emma's great qualities, it shows she can be vain. Arthur Schopenhauer did an essay on the vanity of existence: scroll down a little to read it.
Passages
So many to chose from! So many that really should be included! And most of them are incredibly long and I'm sure you don't want to read them! I guess I just have to pick a few then.......
1. Emma's opinion of what a man's character should be like with regard to his dealings with other people:
"General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be."
(pg 275 K)
2. After Harriet is attacked by gypsies and Frank brings her to Emma's house, she thinks to herself:
"Such an adventure as this,--a fine young man and a lovely young woman thrown together in such a way, could hardly fail of suggesting certain ideas to the coldest heart and the steadiest brain."
(pg 288).
3. Knightley's firm opinion on who can invite people to his house (a rebuttal to Mrs. Elton):
"'No', --he calmly replied--'there is only one married woman in the world whom I can ever allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and that one is---'
'---Mrs. Weston, I suppose,' interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified.
'No----Mrs. Knightley; ---and till she is in being, I will manage such matters myself.'"
(pg 306)
4. Emma's slight to Ms. Bates at Box Hill:
"'Three things very dull indeed.' That will just do for me, you know. I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever open my mouth, shan't I? (looking round with the most good-humoured dependence on every body's assent)---Do not you all think I shall?'
Emma could not resist.
'Ah! ma'am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me---but you will be limited as to number---only three at once.'
Miss Bates, deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner, did not immediately catch her meaning; but, when it burst on her, it could not anger, though a slight blush shewed that it could pain her."
(pg 320 K)
This one is so important to Emma's character development, I think it deserves a movie clip:
I think that's everything!
~Claire
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