Emma

Emma is the fourth novel written by Jane Austen. It was published in three volumes in 1815. The novel is set in Highbury, England, in the early 19th century. It centres on Emma Woodhouse, an intelligent young woman whose misplaced confidence in her matchmaking abilities results in several romantic misadventures. Introduction of the character Emma Woodhouse in the novel is considered as among the most famous in the history of fiction. Even as she is convinced that she will never marry, Emma believes she is an excellent matchmaker. She practically arranged the marriage between her former governess, Miss Taylor, and the widower Mr. Weston. After such a clear “success,” Emma is determined to make another match. Even though Emma’s father and Mr. Knightley caution her against interfering.

The two focal points of Emma are: marriage and social status. Given their social status, most of the drama in Austen’s novel revolves around who loves whom and what that means. In 19th-century England, members of the higher social classes were not expected to intermarry. Through Emma, the author subtly satirizes her society’s obsession with social distinctions.