Emma Chapters 1 -10 Summary

Emma Chapters 1 -10 Summary

Chapter 1

As Emma opens, readers learn that Emma Woodhouse has recently lost her governess, companion, and mother figure, Miss Taylor, to matrimony. Emma's remaining parent (her mother died when she was five) is her elderly, hypochondriac father. Both Emma and her father, Mr. Woodhouse, are feeling sad about the loss of Miss Taylor's companionship. This is typical for Mr. Woodhouse, who "hates change of every kind."

 

Following the wedding, Emma and her father receive a visit from Mr. George Knightley, an intimate family friend. He is recently back from London, where he has been visiting his brother's family. His younger brother, John Knightley, is married to Emma's older sister, Isabella. Mr. George Knightley owns a large estate, Donwell Abbey, about a mile from Highbury, where the Woodhouses live. Mr. Knightley and Emma exchange friendly banter after Emma claims credit for Miss Taylor's recent marriage. Emma announces that she now intends to find a mate for the handsome vicar, Mr. Elton, who has been in town for about a year.

Chapter 2

Miss Taylor's new spouse, Mr. Weston, is a gentleman of Highbury. The narrator relates that as a young captain in the army, Mr. Weston married a woman from the great Churchill family of Yorkshire. She was disinherited as a result and died three years later, leaving behind a young son. The boy's maternal uncle and his wife, who had no children, offered to adopt the child and raise him as a Churchill, and Mr. Weston agreed. Mr. Weston has improved himself financially over the years through trade and purchased his own small estate, Randalls, adjoining Highbury. Although Mr. Weston sees his son, Frank, once a year in London, the young man has yet to visit his father in the country. Frank has introduced himself to his stepmother by letter, and the letter has been passed around.

Chapter 3

Emma has a dinner party at Hartfield and invites Mrs. and Miss Bates, the widow of the former vicar and her spinster daughter; Mrs. Goddard, the headmistress of the local girls' boarding school; and Harriet Smith, "the natural daughter of somebody," meaning that she is illegitimate. Harriet is Mrs. Goddard's pupil and a parlor boarder, which means she socializes with Mrs. Goddard's family. Emma is quite taken with the beautiful Harriet and decides to mentor the 17-year-old and introduce her to society. At the dinner party, Emma learns that Harriet has been socializing with the Martins, a family that rents a farm from Mr. Knightley. She imagines they are unfit companions for a girl who needs "only a little more knowledge and elegance to be quite perfect." Emma determines to "improve" Harriet and get her away from her "bad acquaintance."

 

Chapter 4

Emma learns that Harriet spent two months with the Martins, yeoman farmers renting Mr. Knightley's land. As a result, Harriet has developed an attachment to the head of the family, 24-year-old Mr. Robert Martin, who provides for his mother and sisters. Harriet describes Mr. Martin as someone she no longer thinks of as plain, and when she asks Emma if she knows him, Emma superciliously replies, "A young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, is the last person to raise my curiosity. The yeomanry are precisely the order of people with whom I feel I can have nothing to do." Emma strongly discourages further acquaintanceship with a family she regards as socially inferior. She would like to see her friend "permanently well connected." Emma proposes the vicar, Mr. Elton, as the model of a gentleman and someone worthy of Harriet's consideration.

Chapter 5

Mr. Knightley tells Mrs. Weston (the former Miss Taylor) that he has reservations about the growing friendship between Emma and Harriet. Mrs. Weston defends Emma, saying that her former pupil may be inspired to do more reading if she intends to mentor Harriet, and that would be a good thing. But Mr. Knightley knows Emma well and recalls the many lists of books she has drawn up for the purpose of study—but never actually read. Mr. Knightley says Emma has never been forced to apply herself.

Rather than argue with Mr. Knightley, Mrs. Weston changes the subject and remarks on how pretty Emma looked the previous night. Mr. Knightley confesses that he has seldom seen "a face or figure more pleasing to me than her's. But I am a partial old friend." Mrs. Weston then assures him that Emma may have "little faults" but "she will never lead any one really wrong." Mr. Knightley responds with renewed concern, recalling Emma's declaration that she will never marry. He says, "I should like to see Emma in love, and in some doubt of a return; it would do her good."

Chapter 6

Mr. Elton has entered into friendship with Harriet and Emma. He praises Emma for improving Harriet, while Emma stresses her friend's natural charm. To further interest Mr. Elton in Harriet, Emma hits on the idea of drawing Harriet's portrait, and Mr. Elton strongly encourages her. When Emma pulls out her portfolio, he praises her half-finished work, and when she begins drawing Harriet, he closely follows the progress of the drawing. When it is finished, he volunteers to take the sketch to London to get it framed.

Chapter 7

Harriet receives a letter from Mr. Martin proposing marriage. When Harriet asks if it is a good letter, Emma replies that it is but directly tells her to turn him down. Harriet then asks again, for a second time, if she should refuse Mr. Martin. At this point, Emma says that when a woman is in doubt, she should always refuse. Harriet asks a third time, and Emma doesn't answer directly, saying she wouldn't dream of interfering. Harriet takes Emma's cue, and Emma is relieved, saying that they can now remain friends. Harriet responds in horror, not having realized that the friendship was in jeopardy. Then Emma practically writes Harriet's letter of refusal while holding out the prize of Mr. Elton. In the end, Harriet expresses sadness, imagining Mr. Martin reading her letter. Emma has the last word, responding with a fantasy about Mr. Elton showing Harriet's picture to his mother and sisters before he takes it to London for framing.

Chapter 8

While Harriet is at Mrs. Goddard's, Mr. Knightley pays a call at Hartfield and opens up a conversation with Emma about her young friend, praising her disposition and complimenting Emma for being a good influence. He also mentions that Mr. Martin is "desperately in love" with Harriet and intends to propose marriage. Mr. Martin came to Mr. Knightley as a friend and asked for advice, and he gave his approval. Emma then informs Mr. Knightley that Harriet has already refused. Mr. Knightley gets very angry, saying Harriet is a fool to refuse a gentleman farmer, given her illegitimate birth. Emma says that Harriet, as a beautiful girl, has a claim to "marry well." Mr. Knightley defends his friend's gentility when Emma implies that he is not fine enough for her friend. He has guessed that she has Mr. Elton in mind for Harriet and warns her that she is mistaken, because the vicar "does not mean to throw himself away" and is looking for a match that will bring him financial security. Mr. Knightley leaves abruptly and feels mortified that he encouraged his young friend. Meanwhile, Emma is a little frightened about Mr. Knightley's appraisal of Mr. Elton, but she dismisses her fear and reassures herself that she is a better judge of human nature in matters of love.

 

Chapter 9

As predicted by Mr. Knightley, Emma and Harriet have not gotten around to serious study, but Harriet is compiling a book of riddles, to which Emma and others have contributed. Emma suggests that Mr. Elton write something original for the collection, and the next day he presents Emma with a "charade" he claims was written by a friend and not meant for Harriet's collection. After he leaves, Emma deciphers the riddle and passes it to her friend, who can't make sense of it. The riddle mentions "ready wit," which Emma has to admit does not apply to Harriet. Still, after she explains that the riddle is asking for permission to enter into courtship, Emma says to Harriet, "There can be no doubt of its being written for you and to you." When Mr. Elton returns, Emma tells him they both read and admired his riddle and that it was too good not to put in the book. Mr. Elton is initially chagrined but then says his friend "would consider it as the proudest moment of his life" to have a place in the riddle book.

Chapter 10

Emma and Harriet are walking back from charitably visiting a poor family when the conversation turns to marriage. Emma reiterates her intention not to marry, and Harriet expresses surprise and regret, saying, "You will be an old maid! and that's so dreadful!" Emma responds that a single woman with no income is thought of as somewhat disagreeable, while a single woman of good income is considered quite pleasant. The women then run into Mr. Elton, and Emma contrives to give Harriet and the vicar a chance to speak alone by trailing behind them. Then she sneakily breaks off the string of her boot lace so that they have to stop at the vicarage and get some string from the housekeeper to lace up her boot. This allows the "couple" more minutes of privacy. When nothing happens, Emma thinks the vicar is merely cautious in courtship.