“Encouragement should be given.”
This is of Emma, and her perhaps unwise decision to encourage Harriet Smith into a different sphere of life. But it’s a good sentiment all the same, no?
Emma, volume 1, chapter 3
Category Archives: Emma Woodhouse
Encouragement
Comments Off on Encouragement
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Friendship, Harriet Smith
Flattery, my dear…
“Emma knows I never flatter her.”
Mr. Knightley, to Mr. Woodhouse
Emma, volume 1, chapter 1
I’m just re-reading chapter 1 in Emma and realizing how many hints Austen gave us.
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Flattery, Mr. Knightley
Complete truth
“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken . . .”
Of Emma’s conversation with Mr. Knightley as he proposes, when she cuts him off and then suggests they “take another turn” in the garden. Knightley was ready to forgive any sort of awkwardness, because he understood Emma’s heart.
Emma, volume 3, chapter 13
Comments Off on Complete truth
Filed under Conversation, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Mr. Knightley, Proposals, Truth
A lady always does
"What did she say? Just what she ought, of course. A lady always does."
Of Emma’s reply to Mr. Knightley, when he proposes
Emma, volume 3, chapter 13
Comments Off on A lady always does
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Mr. Knightley, On being a lady, Proposals
Once
"They say everybody is in love once in their lives."
Emma reflecting on her feelings for Frank Churchill-of course, at this point, she doesn’t really know what love is.
Emma, volume 2, chapter 13
Coming in a little over a week (March 23) — our next installment of Masterpiece’s Complete Jane Austen Season. Love this version of Emma with Kate Beckinsale.
Image ©ITV plc (Granada International) for Masterpiece™
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Frank Churchill, Love
I cannot make speeches
Happy Valentine’s Day, dear readers! One of my favorites…
Here is Knightley echoing Darcy’s thoughts of the other day:
“I cannot make speeches, Emma . . . If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
Emma, volume 3, chapter 13
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Love, Mr. Knightley, Proposals
Incomprehensible
“Oh! to be sure,” cried Emma, “it is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anybody who asks her.”
Emma discussing with Mr. Knightley the face that Harriet Smith has refused Robert Martin
Emma, volume 1, chapter 8
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Harriet Smith, Marriage, Mr. Knightley, Proposals
Badly done, Emma
“It was badly done, indeed! You, whom she had known from an infant, whom she had seen grow up from a period when her notice was an honour, to have you now, in thoughtless spirits, and the pride of the moment, laugh at her, humble her-and before her niece, too-and before others, many of whom (certainly some,) would be entirely guided by your treatment of her.-This is not pleasant to you, Emma-and it is very far from pleasant to me; but I must, I will,-I will tell you truths while I can.”
Dear Mr. Knightley chastising Emma for her ill treatment of Miss Bates
Emma, volume 3, chapter 7
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Miss Bates, Morality, Mr. Knightley, Pride
Vanity
“Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief.”
Mr. Knightley, on Emma’s encouraging Harriet Smith to raise her sights too high
Emma, volume 1, chapter 8
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Harriet Smith, Mr. Knightley, Pride
Judging unfairly
“It is very unfair to judge of any body’s conduct, without an intimate knowledge of their situation. Nobody, who has not been in the interior of a family, can say what the difficulties of any individual of that family may be.”
Very wise, Emma. (Of course, at that point, she’s defending Frank Churchill to Mr. Knightley, and his judgment ends up being closer to the truth.)
Emma, volume 1, chapter 18
Comments Off on Judging unfairly
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Family, Frank Churchill, Morality
The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman (May, 2012)
A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith