Emma Chapter 11 - 20 Summary

Emma Chapter 11 - 20 Summary

Emma becomes preoccupied with her sister's family, who have come to Hartfield to spend the Christmas holidays. Isabella Knightley, the mother of five small children, is amiable but not especially bright. John Knightley is a successful lawyer who does not have the social graces of his brother. The conversation turns to Mr. Weston's son, Frank Churchill, and speculation about whether he will visit the newlyweds soon. Emma says, "There was a strong expectation of his coming soon after the marriage, but it ended in nothing." Isabella comments that it is shocking that Mr. Weston allowed Frank to be "taken away from his parents and natural home. ... I really never could think well of any body who proposed such a thing to any body else." John Knightley characterizes Mr. Weston as without strong feelings. Emma is not pleased with his assessment of her friend's husband, but she keeps her opinion to herself.

Chapter 12

Emma has invited the elder Mr. Knightley to the family dinner, and they patch up their quarrel, although neither will give ground on the subject they fought over. Mr. Woodhouse's extreme narcissism is in evidence at the Hartfield gathering. "You and I will have a nice basin of gruel together," he tells Isabella. "My dear Emma, suppose we all have a little gruel," he suggests. But Emma overrides him. He then chides Isabella for going to South End (a seaside resort) in the autumn instead of coming to Hartfield, and Emma changes the subject. Isabella then asks for news about Jane Fairfax and Mrs. and Miss Bates. Mr. Woodhouse and Isabella return to the subject of health, discussing the prevalence of colds and respective opinions of their health-care practitioners. Mr. Woodhouse opines that it's always a "sickly season" in London and then returns to the topic of gruel and next faults his son-in-law for endangering his family's health with a seaside holiday, citing the authority of his apothecary. The younger Mr. Knightley angrily replies, "Mr. Perry ... would do as well to keep his opinion till it is asked for." Mr. Woodhouse becomes agitated, and his daughters smooth his ruffled feathers. In a way, this confrontation between the younger Mr. Knightley and Mr. Woodhouse mirrors many of the confrontations between the elder Mr. Knightley and Emma. Like Emma, her father is spoiled and used to having his way. Both Mr. Knightleys act as the voice of reason.

Chapter 13

During the holiday visit of the Knightley family, Mr. Weston insists that everyone come to dinner at Randalls, his small estate, on Christmas Eve. Mr. Elton and Harriet are also invited, but Harriet has come down with a bad cold and must stay at Mrs. Goddard's. On the day of the event, Mr. Elton meets Emma on her way out from checking on Harriet. As they walk back to Hartfield together, they run into John Knightley returning from Donwell Abbey, the elder Mr. Knightley's estate. Emma suggests that Mr. Elton stay home on this cold day with a threat of snow, thinking it will give him an opportunity to check on the invalid. But John Knightley offers Mr. Elton a ride in his carriage. After Mr. Elton leaves, John Knightley alludes to the vicar's infatuation with Emma, saying, "I never ... saw a man more intent on being agreeable than Mr. Elton." Emma defends his "perfect good temper and good will," and John Knightley ironically replies, "He seems to have a great deal of good-will towards you." Emma discounts her brother-in-law's observations and assures him that they are only good friends.

Chapter 14

When the party arrives at Randalls, Emma is thrilled to see her old friend Mrs. Weston. While Emma tries to ignore Mr. Elton's unwanted attentions, Mr. Weston excitedly tells the party that he is expecting a visit from his son, Frank Churchill, and it crosses Emma's mind that, if she were to marry, he would be a suitable match for her, even though she has actually never met him. Mrs. Weston mentions how difficult his aunt, Mrs. Churchill, makes it for Frank to get away: "Mrs. Churchill rules at Enscombe, and is a very odd-tempered woman; and his coming now, depends upon her being willing to spare him." Emma wonders why a grown man is so much under the thumb of his relatives.

Chapter 15

After tea, Mr. Elton continues to annoy Emma with his solicitous behavior. Emma now notices that he is exhibiting "the pretense of being in love with her, instead of Harriet" and has to control her temper. With regard to Harriet's illness, he says that Emma is "so scrupulous for others ... and yet so careless for herself!" Before this conversation can get much further, John Knightley comes in to announce that it is snowing hard, says sarcastically, "Another hour or two's snow can hardly make the road impassible; and we are two carriages; if one is blown over ... there will be the other at hand ... I dare say we shall be all safe at Hartfield before midnight." The party decides to leave, and in the haste of trying to get home, John Knightley gets into Mr. Woodhouse's carriage with his wife, leaving Emma to travel alone with Mr. Elton, who seizes the opportunity to declare his love. When Emma brings up Harriet, he says, "Oh, Miss Woodhouse! Who can think of Miss Smith, when Miss Woodhouse is near!" Emma decisively turns him down. He claims that she gave him encouragement, and she vehemently denies it. They both are very angry and spend the rest of the ride in silence. Emma is relieved when she finally gets home.

Chapter 16

Alone at the end of the evening, Emma feels humiliated, but her worst pain is for Harriet as she realizes that "the effects of her blunders" are not "confined to herself." She begins to think back on the events of the imaginary courtship. She understands that she had not been able to look realistically at all the facts. Emma admits to herself that both Knightley brothers have more insight into the situation than she does. She feels angry that the vicar would have the audacity to "raise his eyes to her" in his ambition to marry well. She is provoked by the fact that he would consider himself her "equal in connection or mind" when he is so fine-tuned to "the gradations of rank below him." Moreover, "he must know that in fortune and consequence she was greatly his superior ... that the Woodhouses have been settled for several generations in Hartfield, the younger branch of an ancient family—and that the Eltons were nobody." At the same time, she can see how he was misled by her behavior. She feels remorse for raising Harriet's hopes and dreads having to explain to her friend what has happened.

Chapter 17

When the weather clears, the Knightleys leave and Mr. Elton sends a note to Mr. Woodhouse, saying he is going to Bath for a few weeks to spend time with friends. Emma summons her courage to visit Harriet and tell her about the disastrous proposal. She is mortified by Harriet's grief, abundant and genuine, and thinks that she herself would do better to be more like her artless friend. Still, the narrator ironically comments, "It was rather too late in the day to set about being simple-minded and ignorant; but she left her with every previous resolution confirmed of being humble and discreet, and repressing imagination all the rest of her life." Emma sees it as her duty to comfort Harriet, and she moves Harriet to Hartfield so she can spend most of her time there. Emma at first thinks Harriet will easily get over Mr. Elton, but the younger woman proves herself "more resolutely in love than Emma had foreseen."

 

Chapter 18
Following upon Mr. Elton's departure, Highbury learns that Frank's visit has been postponed for the usual reasons (his aunt's interference). Emma is too distracted by her own troubles to care much about Frank's doings. When she relates the news to Mr. Knightley, he criticizes Frank for neglecting his duty to his father and new stepmother. His opinion is that Frank falls short of many virtues. Emma defends Frank. She says he has been under the control of the Churchills for so long that it might be hard to change. Mr. Knightley's prejudice surprises Emma, as he is usually more open-minded.

 

Chapter 19

Emma has taken charge of Harriet, and in an effort to divert her friend as they are out walking one morning, she suggests dropping in on Mrs. and Miss Bates. Although Emma finds the Bates women tiresome, especially the talkative Miss Bates, she has the social obligation to keep up their acquaintance. Miss Bates reports that her niece, Jane Fairfax, is expected to arrive for an extended visit. Jane was orphaned as a young girl but was provided an education by friends of her father's, Colonel and Mrs. Campbell. Jane is good friends with the Campbells' daughter, Miss Campbell, who recently married Mr. Dixon and moved to Ireland. Jane has been invited, along with the Campbells, to visit the newlyweds, but instead she is returning to Hartfield because of ill health. The narrator says, "At that moment, an ingenious and animating suspicion entered Emma's brain with regard to Jane Fairfax, this charming Mr. Dixon, and the not going to Ireland." Emma wonders if there are inappropriate feelings between the two. Emma escapes with Harriet before Miss Bates has a chance to read them Jane's entire letter.

Chapter 20

Jane Fairfax, orphaned at three, was raised by Miss Bates, her maternal aunt, and Mrs. Bates, her maternal grandmother. Additionally, she was educated and nurtured by Colonel and Mrs. Campbell. Jane's father, a lieutenant in the infantry, took care of Colonel Campbell when he was ill and saved his life. When the Colonel returned to England, he made sure Jane received an education, and she began to spend time with the Campbells. The family showed a lot of affection for Jane, and she grew up to be a beautiful and highly accomplished young woman. Because the Campbells are of modest means and cannot provide for her, however, she plans to take a job as a governess after enjoying a few months' vacation in Hartfield. Emma dislikes Jane because they are about the same age, although Jane is much more accomplished in her studies. She is also annoyed because Miss Bates dotes on Jane and constantly brags about her.

Emma resolves during their first visit to change her attitude toward Jane and allows herself to feel compassion for the other woman, who will waste her talent and elegance in the teaching trade. But her heart is hardened by Jane's aloofness. When Jane and the Bates women come to Hartfield, Emma learns that Jane and Frank spent time together in Weymouth. Jane, however, will not provide any information about young Churchill. For this, "Emma could not forgive her."