Three Weddings and a Baby

*Emma* Reading Challenge Bonus, Volume Three, Part Three

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Volume 3, Chapter 13

I argued in the previous installment that Emma's agitation, along with her resolution to change her future behavior, constituted the conclusion of the heart of this novel. Perhaps a better way to say this is that the resolution of the internal plot makes the resolution of the marriage plot possible. And just as the weather (in the form of snow) brought about the climax of Volume One, the weather again (in the form of sunshine) brings about this vital moment with Mr. Knightley:

[. . .] the clouds were carried off; the sun appeared; it was summer again. With all the eagerness which such a transition gives, Emma resolved to be out of doors as soon as possible. Never had the exquisite sight, smell, sensation of nature, tranquil, warm, and brilliant after a storm, been more attractive to her. (292)

And in this outdoor venture, she encounters Mr. Knightley. They are both constrained—Mr. Knightley because he assumes that Emma has been disappointed by Frank Churchill, and Emma because she assumes that Mr. Knightley is in love with Harriet. They are both mistaken in their assumptions, which, as we have seen, continues and perhaps concludes the pattern from which the novel has been built: the opacity of the human mind and the consequent misreadings, which lead to misunderstanding and error.

There is so much going on in this conversation that it could take a whole series of posts to analyze it. (Sounds like a job for

Plain Jane

to me.) But I must quote one paragraph, which beautifully contextualizes the novel's misunderstandings:

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; but where, as in this case, though the conduct is mistaken, the feelings are not, it may not be very material.—Mr. Knightley could not impute to Emma a more relenting heart than she possessed, or a heart more disposed to accept of his. (297)

This is so real. It's true: we can't read the minds even of those closest to us. But what matters is mutual generosity, a real attempt to understand and empathize with the other. If we can do that, then we can resolve most of our misunderstandings.

Volume 3, Chapters 14 and 15: Frank's Letter

These two chapters constitute another metatextual and, as far as I know, unprecedented moment in the novel: the first is given over mostly to an explanatory letter from Frank Churchill, and the second to a critical analysis of it by Mr. Knightley. Text, followed by interpretation. The result is something, again, more nuanced and ambivalent that what we get, for example, after Willoughby's self-justification in Sense and Sensibility or Wickham's self-serving mendacity in Pride and Prejudice.

Frank is not so bad, and we would like to believe, along with Mr. Knightley, that perhaps he has a chance of becoming a better man with a woman like Jane Fairfax. The letter includes plenty of self-reproach, though it also is in some ways evasive. For example, when he tries to explain his reasoning behind asking Jane to join him in a secret engagement, he equivocates: "What did you look forward to?—To any thing, every thing—to time, chance, circumstance, slow effects, sudden bursts, perseverance and weariness, health and sickness" (301).

After all, he can't quite come out and admit that he was hoping for (expecting?) his aunt to die soon.

We also here see Emma and Mr. Knightley continuing to submit to Mr. Wodehouse's passive-aggressive tyranny, as they resolve that they will reside at Hartfield rather than Donwell. But at least that is better than Emma's initial response—that it must remain only an engagement while her father remains alive.

Volume 3, Chapter 16

While Emma defers the dreaded encounter with Harriet by sending her to visit her sister and brother-in-law in London (and to get her teeth checked), she does swallow her pride in order to pay a call to Jane Fairfax—and is rewarded by the appearance of the insufferable Mrs. Elton.

It is all worth it, however, for the reconciliation and mutual good feeling between her and Jane. "Oh!" she says to Jane, "if you knew how much I love every thing that is decided and open!" (317).

Volume 3, Chapter 17

The denouement of the novel gives us not only three marriages, but also the birth of a child—the daughter of the Westons. While Emma and Mr. Knightley agree that she will be spoiled by the indulgence of her amiable parents, the latter exclaims: "I am losing all my bitterness against spoilt children, my dearest Emma. I, who am owing all my happiness to you, would not it be horrible ingratitude in me to be severe on them?" (317).

This chapter provides us with a brief history of Mr. Knightley's affection for Emma, and we may be concerned to learn that he has "been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least" (318). If you do the math, then you will figure that Mr. Knightley would have been close to thirty when Emma was thirteen. Yes, it was a different culture from our own, but it still may make us cringe just a bit.

Others respond to the engagement with more ambivalence. Mr. Woodhouse, of course, is not pleased, or at least not at first: "Poor man!—it was at first a considerable shock to him, and he tried earnestly to dissuade her from it" (321). He gradually becomes reconciled to the idea, consoled at least by the idea that the couple will reside at Hartfield. And the Eltons are predictably appalled, especially Mrs. Elton: "Poor Knightley!" (323).

Volume 3, Chapter 18: Mr. Knightley has some news

Emma is spared the dreaded awkwardness with Harriet. Mr. Knightley brings the news that she is engaged to Robert Martin after all—the match that would have happened earlier if not for Emma's interference. Our transformed Emma, however, is not merely reconciled to the match, but happy for it.

This chapter also features the novel's final meeting between Emma and Frank Churchill, who is all apology and gratitude. Indeed, we may be ready to forgive his earlier scheming and artfulness, except that we might not quite appreciate the ways in which he objectifies Jane, as he forces Emma to follow the male gaze:

Did you ever see such a skin?—such smoothness! such delicacy!—and yet without being actually fair.—One cannot call her fair. It is a most uncommon complexion, with her dark eyelashes and hair—a most distinguishing complexion!—So peculiarly the lady in it.—Just colour enough for beauty. (329)

He is also pleased that "my uncle means to give her all my aunt's jewels" (330). This, surely, is a satisfying revenge upon the dead Mrs. Churchill, who must be spinning in her grave like a rotisserie chicken.

Volume 3, Chapter 19: the end

All sorts of alarming changes for Mr. Woodhouse in this final chapter: in addition to three marriages, Emma and Mr. Knightley intend to visit the sea-side. (She has never been so far from Hartfield.) However, her father in the end is not only reconciled to the marriage, but he is actually happy to have the resolute Mr. Knightley living at Hartfield so that he can protect the house from neighborhood poultry-thieves.

And life in Highbury will never be the same again.

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Thank you for joining me for our reading of this best of novels. I hope that you have relished it as much as I have.

And thanks for reading, from my fancy internet typewriter to yours.

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