Emma+by+Jane+Austen

  Table of Contents: Author Information Plot Summary Major Characters Quotations from __Emma__ Visual Art Musical Section
 * = "Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor, which is one very strong argument in favour of matrimony" -- Jane Austen, letter of March 13, 1816 ||

__Author Information__

Jane Austen was a major English novelist. Her novels are known for demonstrating the transition from the 18th century to the 19th century. This is the transition from English neoclassicism to romanticism. She was born on December 16, 1775 in the village of Steventon. She was the seventh of eight children. She was born to Reverend George Austen and Cassandra Austen. Austen had the majority of her education at home and spent a happy childhood with her brothers and sisters. She was encouraged to write at a young age. She wrote her first novel at age 14, __Love and Freindship__ (sic). She wrote the novels __Sense and Sensibility__, __Pride and Prejudice__ and __Northanger Abbey__ in her early twenties. Jane enjoyed dancing and attending balls in her neighborhood. She loved nature and went on country walks. In 1801 her family moved to Bath, a busy town. While living there, Austen was often unhappy for she did not like being in such a busy town instead of being in the country. When Jane's father died in 1805, Jane's mother and sisters were left in financial strain. They had to rely on the Austen sons for their livelihood. While on a holiday in the West Jane fell in love, but the young man died. She then accepted a proposal from Harris Bigg-Wither, but changed her mind the next morning. In 1809, after Jane's brother Edward gave the Austen women a home in his Chawton estate, Jane was able to move back to the countryside. This provided Jane a home in which she could write. Later in life, Jane Austen contracted Addisons Disease, a tubercular disease of the kidneys. No longer able to walk far, she used to drive out in a little donkey carriage. By May 1817 she was so ill that she and Cassandra, to be near Jane's physician, rented rooms in Winchester. Tragically, there was then no cure for this and Jane Austen died in her sister's arms in the early hours of 18 July, 1817. She was 41 years old. She is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

__Plot Summary__

The young, wealthy Emma Woodhouse loses her best friend, the newly married Mrs. Watson. She then adopts Harriet Smith as a new friend and project for social improvement. Deeming herself a matchmaker and with all together too much time on her hands she decides that she will make a match between Harriet and the local parson, Mr. Elton. What ensues is pure irony and chaos as Emma meddles in the affair of love. Various other characters enter the scene of the local village of Highburry and ensure that Emma's matchmaking will not be easy. The question is: between taking care of her hypochondriac father, meddling in other people's affairs and helping Harriet climb the social ladder, will Emma have time to find love for herself? Does she even want too?

__Characters:__


 * Emma Woodhouse** is the lovely protaganist of the story. She takes care of her father when her mother dies and her older sister Isabella marries and leaves home. She enjoys taking charge of people’s lives, including the young Harriet Smith. She also enjoys matchmaking, gossiping, and being right.
 * Henry Woodhouse** is Emma’s father. He is concerned primarily for his health and that his daily routine not be altered more than necessary.
 * Mrs Weston** is Emma’s governess and best friend. She marries Mr. Weston and leaves Hartfield. Though Mrs. Weston is only a short walk away from Emma, Emma misses her constant companionship. Mrs. Weston is sensible and acts as a mother figure for Emma.
 * Mr. Weston** is a wealthy man who marries Miss Taylor, Emma’s former governess. Frank Churchill is his son by his first marriage.
 * Harriet Smith** is a pretty girl who Emma befriends. She is the illegitimate child of unknown parents and as such has a lower social standing. Emma wishes to teach Harriet sophistication and to raise her social standing.
 * Philip Elton** is the well mannered, exceptionally good looking young vicar of the villiage. Emma wishes for him to marry Harriet Smith
 * Mr. George Knightley** is a Woodhouse family friend. He is fond of Emma but is also her only critic. He is John Knightley’s older brother and Emma’s brother-in-law. He owns the estate Donwell, which is adjacent to Hartfield.
 * Mr. Frank Churchill** is a young man who is easy to get along with. He is the son of Mr. Weston but was raised by his aunt and uncle when his mother died. He enjoys music, dancing, and flirting.
 * Jane Fairfax** is a beautiful woman who is well-educated and talented, especially at singing and playing the piano. While she has many virtues that recommend her, she has no fortune. This leaves her with the dismal future of becoming a governess.

__Quotations__

"Oh, to be sure," cried Emma, "it is always incomprehensible to a man, that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage" (p 50).

"But still, you will be an old maid! -and that's so dreadful!" (p 73).

__Art Selection__





__Musical Selection:__

media type="custom" key="3786667" I'm making this one special evening Taking a chance in my life Hoping you feel the same way as I do tonight Just try and look into my eyes Don't be scared of what you might see there The first time I saw you I knew love at first sight must be true, so true, oh so true And now I just have to explain why I feel this way I feel joy, I feel pain You're in my heart and it's tearing me apart 'Cause I love you, I love you, I love you!
 * //Michael Buble// __Love at First Sight Lyrics__**:

media type="custom" key="3786719" She was pretty She was smart She was witty Yeah she had charm Cupid shot me That's what got me down the aisle but that match made in heaven Went straight to hell Split up our possessions Put the house up for sale and I learned a lesson I won't be forgetting the next time around.
 * //Trace Adkins// __Marry for Money Lyrics:__**

I'm gonna marry for money I'll be so rich it ain't funny I'm gonna have me a trust fund, yacht club, hot tub piece of the pie find me a sweet sugar mama with a whole lot of zeros and commas don't really care if she loves me she can even be ugly I'm gonna marry for money

I won't have to love her family I won't have to like her friends and if it works out like I planned it, I won't ever have to work again

I'm gonna marry for money I'll be so rich it ain't funny I'm gonna have me a trust fund, yacht club, hot tub piece of the pie find me a sweet sugar mama with a whole lot of zeros and commas I don't care if she loves me she can even be ugly I'm gonna marry for money show me the money

cha-ching

y'all I'm gonna find a wife on a leer jet the old lady buys me I'll call her sweet heart & honey if she's a hundred and twenty I dont care if she loves me she can be really ugly I'm gonna marry for money

oh, cha-ching mucho deniro

come over here you good lookin' thing, you there's your walker in the corner

__Sources__

[|Love at First Sight Lyrics] [|Jane Austen Quotes] [|About Jane Austen]