Emma, A Comedy of Errors and Redemption



Imagine going toward some destination that you have been preparing for weeks. As time passes and the more you get closer to the destination, there is a slight pinch of sadness from the realization that you are close to ending this journey, and no matter how many more times you get here again; it will never feel like this first visit. It’s the same feeling when you are reading something good and realize there's just one good book left that exists in this world. I’ve seen some people delay and slow down their reading when they reach the end, as they're not yet ready to say goodbye. Nevertheless, this is not about that book; if I were to express this sentiment to any book, it would be to Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky—despite having read it three times, I can never get over it. But let’s focus on this book now.

The novel is set in Highbury, Surrey, England. The main story revolves around a girl named Emma and her perception of the events and decisions that often lack rationality. She is the daughter of a wealthy father who suffers from hypochondria. Emma orchestrates a marriage between Miss Taylor and the widower Mr. Weston, which leads her to believe that she could be a perfect matchmaker and manage love lives better than the individuals involved.

So, she befriended another orphan girl, Harriet, who is a sweet girl but naive. Emma advises her to reject the proposal of Robert Martin, who is a respectful farmer and had proposed to Harriet. She convinces her to marry Mr. Elton instead, who is a village vicar. Emma misreads Elton’s polite attentions as affection for Harriet, blind to the fact that Elton is courting Emma herself.

Emma’s meddling continues. When a mysterious piano arrives for Jane, Emma spins a theory that it was sent by Mr. Dixon, a married man Jane once knew—a rumour that tarnishes Jane’s reputation. Emma remains oblivious to Jane’s quiet suffering and Frank’s duplicity, too engrossed in her own schemes. The drama continues, and many twists will never get you bored. The story begins with Emma being overconfident, snobbish, and blind to her own heart, but later learning empathy, humility, and the limits of her control.

Despite the narrative helping readers empathise with her at times, it was difficult to justify most of her actions. I think it’s natural for readers to develop a slight dislike for her during the first two volumes. However, there was no lack of humour, and no part felt boring. Like every other novel, this one also includes many characters, and it’s sometimes hard to keep track, because after all, they aren’t people in front of you or someone you see or call daily, but just fictional characters. Austen’s wit and irony dissect the social hierarchies of Regency England, where love and money intertwine, but the story’s warmth lies in Emma’s redemption.

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