Frank Churchill Harriet Smith
Emma’s character changing also shown when she invites Jane Fairfax to the party. Formerly in the previous part of the analysis, the writer tells that Emma
dislikes Jane Fairfax, a niece of Miss Bates, because she equals to Emma in beauty, education, and talent. Therefore, the presence of Jane Fairfax in
Highbury makes her jealous. But then, Mr. Knightley reminds Emma that Jane Fairfax become friends
with Mrs. Elton because nobody pay attention to Jane, except Mrs. Elton. To make the situation better, Emma decides to have a dinner party at Hartfield and
she invites Jane. The Eltons, Harriet Smith, and Mr. Knightley also invited to the party. Although it is obvious that Emma dislikes Mrs. Elton, she is forced to
invites her. But she invites Jane sincerely. The author describes. She was delighted with the fortitude of her little friend – for fortitude she
knew it was in her to give up being a company and stay at home; and she could now invite the very person whom she really wanted to make the eight,
Jane Fairfax. Since her last conversation with Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley, she was more conscience-stricken about Jane Fairfax than she
often been. Mr. Knightley’s words dwelt with her. He had said that Jane Fairfax received attentions from Mrs. Elton which nobody else paid her
Austen, 1988: 231.
From the quotation, can be seen that Emma’s character has changed. She becomes more modest toward lower class people such as Jane Fairfax. She also
becomes sociable and spends time with more people. Emma also tries to visit Jane Fairfax when she was ill and wishes her to get better. She also help Jane by
goes to the Maple Grove. She feels pity on Jane because she was ill and must go to be a governess for Mrs. Smallridge in Maple Grove.
When Emma afterwards heard that Jane Fairfax had been wandering about the meadows, at some distance from Highbury, on the afternoon of the very
day on which she had, under the plea of being unequal to any exercise, so peremptorily refused to go out with her in the carriage, she could have no
doubt – putting everything together – that Jane was resolved to receive no kindness from her. She was sorry, very sorry. Her heart was grieved for a
state which seemed but the more pitiable from this sort of irritation of spirits, inconsistency of action, and inequality of powers; and it mortified
her that she was given so little credit for proper feeling or esteemed so little worthy as friend Austen, 1988: 310.
The minor characters affect Emma’s character development also happens when Emma was in a public sphere. There is a party at Box Hill. Mrs. Weston
and Emma wanted to go to Box Hill for a long time, so they are planning to go there.They only want two or three more people to join them. But, at the same
time, Mrs. Elton is planning to go to Box Hill. Therefore, Mr. Weston proposes to combine the two parties.
When the group arrives at Box Hill the whole party is a bit dull at least Frank Churchill and Emma think so. Both of them are a bit bored and that
makes them reckless. Their action could even be called flirtation. However, this bothers the others a lot because it was very improper to flirt so openly.
To amuse her, and be agreeable in her eyes, seemed all that he cared for – and Emma, glad to be enlivened, not sorry to be flattered, was gay and
easy too, and gave him all the friendly encouragement, the admission to be gallant, which she had ever given in the first and most animating period of
their acquaintance; but which now, in her own estimation, meant nothing, though in the judgement of most people looking on it must have had such
an appearance as no English word but flirtation could very well describe. “Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse flirted together excessively.”
They were laying themselves open to that very phrase Austen, 1988: 291- 292.
The quotation shows that Frank Churchill and Emma are not aware of their flirtation because they do not want a romance between them. This is not clear
for the rest of the group, they think there is a romance going on between Frank and Emma and this flirtation is an example of it. When they are bored again,
Frank pretends that Emma ordered him something. I am ordered by Miss Woodhouse to say, that she waives her right of
knowing exactly what you may all be thinking of, and only requires something very entertaining from each of you, in a general way. Here are
seven of you, besides myself, who, she is pleased to say, am very entertaining already, and she only demands from each of you either one
thing very clever, be it prose or verse, original or repeated – or two things moderately clever – or three things very dull indeed, and she engages to
laugh heartily at them all Austen, 1988: 293.
This plan is in itself doubtful, but when Miss Bates says that it is not hard for her to say three things very dull indeed, Emma adds that she has to limit
herself to only three things. The author describes Miss Bates feeling. 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 showed that it could pain her Austen, 1988: 294.
It can be seen that this mockery is instantly recognized by Miss Bates and she is hurt by it. She does not know why Emma makes such a comment towards
her and says “I must make myself very disagreeable, or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend” Austen, 1988: 294.
That shows how hurt Miss Bates is. But, she also seeks the fault in herself. She thinks she made herself very disagreeable that is for her the only reason
why Emma could make such a harsh comment on her. Since that, people’s dissapoinment to Emma becomes very clear.