THE ATTACK OF JANE FAIRFAX
Emma’s relationship with Jane Fairfax is nothing short of tumultuous.
Edgar F. Shannon Jr. author of, “Emma:
Character and Construction,” writes, “[Emma] has taken a dislike to Jane
Fairfax, who should have been her natural friend and companion and, believing
Jane to be the object of a married man’s attentions, has repeated to Frank the
slander she has concocted” (Shannon Jr. 638).
Emma, once again, reverts back to her old ways by slandering Jane
Fairfax, citing claims that are unsubstantiated to say the least.
This natural dislike, in Emma’s mind, stems from Jane’s supposed
inappropriate relationship with a married man.
However, this relationship is created in Emma’s imagination, leaving us
yet another hint to just how clueless the immature Emma can be.
Emma’s dislike of Jane Fairfax is less about Jane’s imaginary relationship, and
more about Emma’s immaturity and jealousy.
Goodheart writes, “In knowing herself, Emma would have to admit that she
is a creature of fancy with an irrepressible need to rule her little world”
(Goodheart 595-596). This is aptly
stated, as Jane Fairfax presents a threat to the world in which Emma lives.
Jane Fairfax is elegant, kind, and capable of wooing Frank Churchill,
Emma’s brief crush. As Knightly
points out, her dislike of Jane Fairfax came “because she saw in her the really
accomplished young woman, which she wanted to be thought herself” (Austen 156).
This lack of maturity breeds jealousy and it doesn’t take long for Emma
to retaliate in ways both passive aggressive and mean.
Austen writes of Emma harboring a natural dislike of Jane’s character, “Emma was
very willing now to acquit her of having seduced Mr. Dixon’s affections from his
wife, or of any thing mischievous which her imagination had suggested at first”
(Austen 157). This statement proves
untrue, as it becomes clear that Emma has not acquitted Jane of her imaginary
crime. During a lighthearted word
game, Frank Churchill and Emma gang up on Jane to humiliate her by placing the
word “Dixon” in full view, referring to her imaginary affair.
Frank Churchill, the future husband of Jane, proves to concoct this plan
out of jealousy himself, but Emma is all too eager to join in the humiliation,
as Emma, with “eager laughing warmth,” encourages Frank to embarrass Jane
(Austen 327). This passive
aggression is unwarranted, and clearly comes out of jealousy and a lack of
control. Minma writes, “Emma’s
sophistry, like that of her predecessors, is a means of justifying her own
conduct to herself; like them, she glosses over her unwarranted control of
others by subtle manipulation of motives” (Minma 51).
Embarrassing Jane is Emma’s pathetic attempt to lower Jane’s social
status, and here we see how Emma reacts to a woman who may slightly challenge
her role in society. Minma confirms
this by stating, “Rank and position are a sort of obsession with Emma, and
because of this preoccupation, as well as for the haughty and supercilious
attitude she frequently shows, she has been often called a snob” (Minma 54).
Emma’s obsession with class explains her humiliation of Jane Fairfax, as
no one has ever posed a threat to her elite social level.
However mean Emma’s treatment of Jane Fairfax, she does feel bad for what she
has done, as Austen writes, “She could not endure to give [Knightly] the true
explanation; for though her suspicions were by no means removed, she was really
ashamed of having ever imparted them” (Austen 328).
Feeling more shame than true remorse, the audience struggles to forgive
Emma.
Immediately after Emma’s humiliation of Jane Fairfax, Austen reminds us of the
immaturity Emma still holds, as she argues against Knightly’s assertion that
Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax are secretly in love with one another.
Knightly asks Emma, “Have you never at any time had reason to think that
she admired him?” to which Emma replies, “Never, never!” (Austen 328).
Emma continues to display her lack of insight as she states to Knightly,
“Oh! You amuse me excessively. I am
delighted to find that you can vouchsafe to let your imagination wander – but it
will not do” (Austen 329).
Ironically chastising Knightly for having an overactive imagination, Emma is
completely wrong in her argument.
Knightly once again proves the voice of reason and redemption, as he is able to
recognize the relationship between Frank and Jane, a relationship we in the
audience know to be very much alive.
Austen gives Emma a childish air, allowing us to see her as more girl than
woman. We know Emma can behave
poorly, but we also justify her actions because she falls in the favor of
Knightly. Knightly is clearly a man,
no longer a boy, and is capable of correctly identifying the thoughts and
feelings of the people around him.
Emma however, struggles to put herself in the shoes of those below her.
Although she is manipulative and mean, Emma shows enough of her childish
naivety to elicit sympathy. She has
not yet been redeemed; she is still very much a girl, but her maturation comes
after an incident with Miss Bates.
After this incident Emma is no longer able to offer an explanation for her
behavior, and is forced to fully recognize the error of her ways.