OMG! I have just finished chapter 16 and my head is spinning!!!!
Where to begin? First off I do want to point out how Emma is a caring and compassionate person. pg. 405
"They are now approaching the cottage, and all ilde topics were suspended. Emma was very compassionate; and the distress of the poor was as sure of relief from her personal attention and kindness, her counsel, and her patience, as from her purse. She understood their ways, could allow for their ignorance and their temptations, had no romantic expectations of extraordinary virtue from those for whom education had done so little, entered into their troubles with ready sympathy, and always gave her assistance with as much intelligence as good-will. In the present instance, it was sickness and poverty together which she came to visit; and after remaining there as long as she could give comfort or advice, she quitted the cottage with such an impression of the scene as made her say to Harriet, as they walked away: "These are the sights, Harriet, to do one good. How trifling they make everything else appear! I feel now as if I could think of nothing but these poor creatures all the rest of the day; and yet who can say how soon it may all vanish from my mind?" "Ah, Harriet, here comes sudden trial of our stability in good thoughts. Well" (smiling), "I hope it may be allowed that if compassion has produced exertion and relief to the sufferers, it has done all that is truly important. If we feel for the wretched enough to do all we can for them, the rest is empty sympathy, only distressing to ourselves."What ever else may cause some to criticize Emma, and not like her, I feel she is more than a shallow, match maker.
So now Isabella, her husband Mr. John Knightley, and their five children, are coming to Hatfield for a visit.
JoanK.,
Have you gotten to the "war of the apothecaries" between Mr. Woodhouse and Isabel yet?
I had to laugh at the fact Isabella is so much like her father with her insecurities of her health, and stands firm with him when they have this little war of words, on which doctor is correct in taking their children to the open air at the sea. My take on the entire conversation was, Mr. Woodhouse was upset Isabella preferred taking her family to the sea, rather than come to visit Hartfield. He is using the doctors, sea, air, health, etc., to deflect his hurt feelings in her choice.
I have a daughter who lives in Florida, and has visited her husband's family in Georgia much more, than coming to Ohio to visit her family. Even though her argument is much like Isabella's, it's a shorter distance, and less expensive, I still can't help but feel like Mr. Woodhouse, wanting them to come visit us.
So much is happening in these chapters, I feel like I can't read fast enough, yet I am trying not to read so fast I miss things.
Seems, Mr. John Knightley has a disliking for Mr. Weston, and yet he is very insightful about Mr. Elton's feelings for Emma. I don't want to jump too far ahead, because again I may need some more pictures of fireworks! We now know the first name of the other Knightley brother is George. He has come to visit his brother, Isabella and the children, and he and Emma have called a truce. Phew...thank goodness that is resolved for now.
Jonathan, " I may have to change my mind about Emma.
Oh no, you mustn desert your first impressions of Emma. I am up to chapter 17, and she so far for me has remained a really good friend to Harriet, in spite of her lack of insight into Mr. Elton's Charade, and I use that word literally. She had no idea what his intentions were. She had Harriet's best interest at heart. Emma is a kind, and caring person, who gets a bit caught up in her attempts to help others. She at this point has not been intentionally malicious to anyone. If anything, I think she has come to realize, men know men, on a level she is not capable of knowing them, and realizes how she was deceived by Mr. Elton, and realizes the harm that has been done in her matchmaking. She is torn apart having to tell Harriet what the reality of things are. But, don't forget, Harriet was interested in Mr. Martin, so for her at least all could still work out for the best. A blessing in disguise.
As for how many men may be interested in Emma, that remains to be seen. But, it seems, Emma is considering taking never marrying off the table, since Mr. Frank Churchill's name has come to light, and he is coming for a visit. Oh, I can just see Mr. George Knightley not liking this one bit. It may be time to declare his real feelings for Emma, before Frank Churchill grabs her up. That is of course, assuming he will be at all interested in Emma. Where does Miss Fairfax fit into all of this? Hmmm.....I sense a web is being spun.
I don't feel the story is so much a "charade", as it is an entangled web, to be sorted out. Oh the fun it will be!!!
On to the last two chapters.
Ciao for now~
