End of Volume II: Chps 11-18

It seems that once again, there's a lot to talk about. Let's just get right to it then:

In these chapters, there were a few significant events, namely:

-Frank goes away

-Emma thinks she might be in love with him

-Emma decides she's not in love with Frank and begins to match Frank with Harriet

-Elton brings home his new wife
-Speculation as to Knightley's loving Jane Fairfax
-Emma suspects an attachment on the part of Jane Fairfax for Frank Churchill
-A debate on the merits of Frank Churchill's handwriting, with Emma and Mrs. Weston on one side and Knightley on the other (maybe the only disappointing part of the entire book, though not any less intriguing)
-A fair amount of dinner time chit chat that doesn't add a whole lot to the story,except the news that Frank will soon be back. The conversation also divulges that Mrs. Elton is "self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred" (pg 241), but that means she's perfect for Mr. Elton so hurrahs all around.

Before I officially begin, a quick character sketch of the new Mrs. Elton, previously, Miss Hawkins:

Ugh. She even looks annoying

Mrs. Elton, coming in after everyone circulated such positive rumors of her, is now the most pesky person in the community. Emma thought her annoying at first, then resolved to call again to get a more fair picture and came to this conclusion:
"...she [Emma] had a quarter of an hour of the lady's [Mrs. Elton's] conversation to herself, and could composedly attend to her; and the quarter of an hour quite convinced her that Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and thinking much of her own importance; that he meant to shine and be very superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert and familiar...." (pg 233 K)

Harsh. Evidently Mrs. Elton is not a very amiable person. Oh well! I don't pity Mr. Elton at all!

No cake for you Mrs. Elton!

Discussion

These chapters focused mainly on Frank Churchill and news regarding him. Unfortunately, very little was said of Harriet, even though she is the one feeling pretty bad right now, seeing as the guy she was provoked into liking just got married. I feel really bad for her---and now Mr. and Mrs. Elton are back in Highbury, and as newly weds, they must be called upon by everyone. Emma is sincerely trying to help Harriet now (not that she wasn't before, but here she can do it without messing up for the most part). Emma completely takes the blame again, which is sweet of her, and then there's this lovely passage(s) that make their friendship complete:

"Such expressions, assisted as they were by everything that look and manner could do, made Emma feel that she had never loved Harriet so well, nor valued her affection so highly before." and then further down the page "There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart."
[Both quotes from page 230 K]

So hopefully, after seeing Mrs. Elton, Harriet and Emma can sit back and laugh at the opportunity Mr. Elton passed up in not giving Harriet his attentions. Mrs. Elton is far inferior in manners and virtue to Harriet, even though Harriet is of lower birth.


Connection

This connection will be mostly based off of the passage below, in which Mrs. Weston and Emma are discussing the possibility of Mr. Knightley being in love with Jane Fairfax.

"Why, really, dear Emma, I say that he is so very much occupied by the idea of not being in love with her, that I should not wonder if it were to end in his being so at last. Do not beat me."
(pg 248 K)

Interesting......so its not exactly reverse psychology, because Knightley's not being persuaded, but its along those same lines.....here's a Wikipedia article that gives the basics on Reverse Psychology.


Passages

In these chapters, Emma does a lot of internal debating about whether or not she's in love with Frank Churchill. She finally concludes that she is not in love with him, but that he is very much in love with her....her thought process is pretty funny though:

"Emma continued to entertain no doubt of her being in love" (pg 226 K)
then
"...the conclusion of every imaginary declaration on his side was that she refused him." (pg 226 K)
and later
"When she became sensible of this, it struck her that she could not be very much in love." (same page as above)

Also, Frank Churchill gave two cents on Miss Bates:
"She is a woman that one may, that one must laugh at; but that one would not wish to slight." (pg 223 K)
(Keep this in mind.......)
Also, for all Knightley's disapproval of Frank, I think he'd appreciate that quote. And so,

For the first time in a long time

~Claire

Vol II: Chps 1-9

A quickly moving story is both a blessing and a curse; it keeps you engaged, but it means really long blog posts. We shall have to make do.

In these chapters, we meet more important characters, namely Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill.
Also in these chapters,
-the infamous piano forte from an anonymous donor
-tons and tons and tons of gossiping between Frank Churchill and Emma
-again, Knightley frowns upon all.

Jane Fairfax--She is very reserved and quiet, pretty but "lacking complexion"

Lacking complexion??

Frank Churchill-- personable, young, lively, and yet annoying. Really too attentive in my opinion

Definitely a nicer looking Frank Churchill than the other Frank Churchill

Discussion

There are two things I'd like to talk about for these chapters:

1st: Emma's violent mood swings: She's always indecisive. First loving people, then hating them, then thinking they're alright, then going back to hating them. This is a theme I've been noticing throughout the chapters I've read so far.

2nd: (The one I want to focus on) The passage that prompted this bit of discussion:

"Harriet was one of those, who, having once begun, would be always in love." (pg 156 K Location 2355)
And if you think about it, this is how most young, frivolous, silly girls act. Luckily for Harriet (HA), Emma is her dearest friend and tries to make ammends by sending her to the Martin's house for a call. Harriet is unfortunately always thinking of Mr. Elton, even though Mr. Martin is making more advances. (Poor Mr. Martin, I feel so bad for him.)

Connection

Something I've been thinking about through all this reading, as well as all through other Jane Austen books, is how much thought went into evaluating an acceptable suitor. It seemed there was a wealth of knowledge about each single man's life: his family history, his income, the name of his estate, everything!!! Today, all girls seem to know when thinking about this are people's looks. Shame. But all the same I can't completely be despairing, here's a website that sort of provides a solution similar to what I have in mind:
http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/getting-married/choosing-a-spouse/6-characteristics-for-a-potential-spouse#.VESz0_nF8wo


Passage

I thought Emma's first evaluation of Frank Churchill hilarious and I guess this first impression is much more "modern" than I was harsh enough to state above.

"...he was a very good looking young man; height, air, address, all were unexceptionable, and his countenance had a great deal of the spirit and liveliness of his father'; he looked quick and sensible. She felt immediately that she should like him; and there was a well-bred ease of manner, and a readiness to talk, which convinced her that he came intending to be acquainted with her, and that acquainted they soon must be."
(pg 162 K)

Emma is a "judge a book by its cover" kind of person and it can be very annoying at times.

I think that's it. This section really was mostly Frank and Emma gossiping about anything and everything, and a fair amount of that gossip was about Jane Fairfax and the Dixons.

Finally, here is possibly the worst incarnation of Frank Churchill ever, for your consideration:

I'm sorry, but what were they thinking?!!!!!

~Claire