Revision:Jane Austen - Emma Quotes

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Emma Woodhouse

• ‘Comfortable home and happy disposition…little to distress or vex her.’
• ‘The real evils indeed of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way’
• ‘A disposition to think a little too well of herself.’
• ‘Emma had very early foreseen how useful she might find her.’
• Reasons for Emma’s attitude: ‘Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family…In her mother she lost the only person able to cope with her.’
• ‘Emma, too eager and busy in her own previous conceptions and views to hear him impartially.’
• ‘She was proud to have been universally mistaken and she had not quite done nothing.’
• ‘I think they will neither of them do the other any good.’
• ‘Emma’s services.’
• ‘I have never been in love and it’s not my way.’
• ‘Emma’s politeness was at hand directly.’
• ‘The wretchedness of the scheme to Box Hill was in Emma’s thoughts all evening.’
• ‘She is loveliness itself.’
• ‘Pretty – say beautiful rather.’
• ‘How could she have exposed herself to such ill opinion in anyone she valued?’

Mr Woodhouse

• ‘The Woodhouses were first in consequence.’
• ‘I do not know anyone who draws as well as you do.’
• ‘Hating change of every kind.’
• ‘He liked very much to have his friends come and see him.’
• ‘Never able to suppose that other people could feel differently from himself.’
• ‘Much older man in ways than years.’
• ‘Gentle selfishness.’
• ‘We invalids think we are privileged people.’
• ‘Could never allow for…anybody’s claims on Isabella, except his own.’
• ‘Had completely made up his mind to the visit.’
• ‘He looked to her [Emma] for comfort.’

Mr Knightley

• ‘Mr Knightley loves to find fault with me you know.’
• ‘A sensible man’ – the voice of reason.
• ‘You have made her too tall Emma.’
• ‘Upright integrity.’
• ‘Strict adherence to truth and principle’ – ‘penetrative.’
• ‘If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.’
• ‘He will be the most insufferable fellow breathing.’
• 'It was badly done Emma, badly done.'

Highbury Society

• ‘Emma should submit second to Mrs Elton…it was almost enough to make her think of marrying.’
• ‘Cannot you imagine… what a sensation his coming will produce?’
• ‘The large and populous village almost amounting to a town.’
• London ‘sixteen miles away’ yet ‘much beyond…daily reach.’

Frank Churchill

• ‘If she were to marry, he was the very person to suit her.’
• ‘I cannot depend upon his coming.’
• ‘I am sure there is a great wish on the Churchill’s side to keep him to themselves.’
• ‘I cannot believe that he has not the power of coming, if he made a point of it.’
• ‘Mr Frank Churchill did not come.’ – ‘a letter of excuse.’
• ‘Mrs Weston…foresaw nothing but a repetition of excuses and delays.’
• Emma – ‘My idea of him.’
• ‘He appeared to have a very open temper.’
• ‘He gave her to understand that Frank Churchill admired her extremely.’
• ‘If he wished to do it, it might be done.’
• ‘A little while ago, he was at Weymouth. This proves that he can leave the Churchills.’

Jane Fairfax

• ‘One is sick of the very name Jane Fairfax.’
• ‘That sweet, amiable Jane Fairfax.’
• ‘Jane is so great a favourite here.’
• ‘Miss Fairfax, whose performance both vocal and instrumental… was infinitely superior to her own [Emma}.’
• ‘A very pretty and a very well behaved young lady indeed.’
• Mrs Elton – ‘Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming… and with such talents.’
• ‘Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax are engaged: - nay, that they have been long engaged.’
• ‘Colonel Campbell, who had a very highly regarded Fairfax.’ – The butt of their jokes.

Mr Elton and Mrs Elton

• ‘His gallantry was always on the alert.’
• ‘Mr Elton was speaking with animation, Harriet listening in with a very pleased attention.’
• ‘Elton may talk sentimentally, but he will act rationally.’
• ‘Mr Elton would never marry indiscreetly.’
• ‘He seemed not merely happy with her, but proud.’
• ‘Mr Elton’s manners are not perfect.’ – ‘He joined them immediately, and with scarcely an invitation, seated himself between them.’
• ‘Mr Elton actually making violent love to her.’
• ‘I need not so totally despair of an equal alliance, as to be addressing myself to Miss Smith.’ Elton is higher in the social hierarchy than Harriet.
• ‘The charming Augusta Hawkins – the lady had been so very ready to have him.’
• ‘She brought no name, no blood, no alliance.’ – Harriet is illegitimate, yet Emma still views Mrs Elton as lower. ‘New’ money.
• ‘Mrs Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and thinking much of her own importance.’ – ‘no elegance’
• ‘And putting her hand to screen her words from Emma.’
• ‘Mrs Elton, who only wanted to be talking herself.’
• ‘Mr E; Knightley.’
• ‘The Elton’s with… all the insolence of imaginary superiority.’

Harriet Smith

• ‘The natural daughter of somebody.’
• ‘You have given Miss Smith all that she required.’
• ‘Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful disposition.’
• ‘The attractions you have added are infinitely superior to what she received from nature.’
• ‘An unpretending, single minded, artless girl.’

Mr Martin

• ‘Had his fortune entirely to make.’
• ‘He is very plain.’
• ‘The letter was much above her expectations.’
• ‘A young farmer…is the last sort of person to raise my curiosity.’
• ‘He is not her equal indeed, for he is as much her superior in sense as in situation.’
• ‘In one sense as much above my notice as in every other he is below it.’
• ‘He is desperately in love and means to marry her.’

The Bates

• ‘A quiet, neat old lady.’
• ‘Enjoyed a most uncommon degree of popularity for a woman neither young, handsome, rich nor married.’
• ‘Mrs and Miss Bates loved to be called on.’
• ‘Miss Bates must not be forgotten.’
• ‘She has an aunt who never holds her tongue’ - ‘tiresome woman.’
• ‘I am a talker, you know.’

John and Isabella Knightley

• ‘Mr John Knightley was a very clever man.’
• ‘But capable of being sometimes out of humour.’ – ‘sarcastic dryness’
• ‘Mrs John Knightley was a pretty, elegant woman.’
• ‘Wrapt up in her family; a devoted wife, a doting mother… a warmer love might have seemed impossible!’
• ‘Unable to see fault in any of them.’
• Brothers – ‘true English style, burying under a calmness that seemed all but indifference.’
• John is like George – ‘I think your manners to him encouraging.’

The Westons

• Mr Weston – ‘a native of Highbury, born of a respectable family.’
• ‘So truly a gentlemen, without the least conceit.’
• ‘Enough [money] to marry a woman as portionless even as Miss Taylor.’
• ‘The kind hearted, gentle Mrs Weston.’
• ‘The mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint.’

The Coles

• ‘They were of low origin, in trade, and only moderately genteel.’
• ‘The Coles were very respectable in their way, but they ought to be taught that it was not for them to arrange the terms on which the superior families would visit them.’

Comments

These notes are aimed at people studying for AS English Literature.

Originally posted by BelleReve on TSR Forums.