The Annotated Emma

by Jane Austen

  15. Mr. Knightley assumes Robert Martin would go to Mrs. Goddard to propose to Harriet in person. This is the procedure in almost every proposal in Austen’s novels. Robert Martin’s use of a letter may reflect a feeling of awkwardness on his part and a belief that he could articulate his sentiments better on paper, or it may reflect his disinclination to approach Harriet at Hartfield, due to the Woodhouses’ higher rank, and his uncertainty about finding her elsewhere.

  16. Emma consistently says “Mr. Martin,” in contrast to Mr. Knightley’s “Robert Martin.” The latter nomenclature is one used mostly by men; women tend to use either the first name alone, in the case of relatives, or the last name and a title.

  17. Meaning social and financial situation.

  18. He means there are probably no settled legal provisions to provide for her financially, which would include a dowry in case she married. This could seriously mar her marital prospects.

  19. Her lack of such relations or any known parentage would compound the taint of her illegitimate birth, for family connections played a vital role in establishing someone’s social position and marital eligibility.

  20. information: education.

  21. scruple: hesitation.

  22. cry-out: exclamation, outcry.

  23. For the contemporary definition, and social position, of a farmer, see note 31.

  24. In most marriages in this society the man was richer, so some disparity there would not tell drastically against the woman.

  25. A gentleman-farmer was one in a superior position to most farmers.

  26. According to the law an illegitimate child was the child of nobody, which meant he or she had no right of inheritance.

  27. That her allowance is very liberal, or generous, in no way proves that its payer is a gentleman, for many merchants had ample fortunes without being considered gentlemen.

  28. The phrase “gentleman’s daughter” was often used then, for an unmarried woman derived her status from her father. In Pride and Prejudice the heroine, in replying to someone who declares that she is not fit to marry the hero, replies, “He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter.” Emma, however, stretches the truth when she speaks of daughters: she herself is the only gentleman’s daughter ever shown associating with Harriet.

  A farmyard. Robert Martin’s necessary involvement with scenes such as this would add to Emma’s disdain for him.

  [From Sir Walter Gilbey and E. D. Cuming, George Morland: His Life and Works (London, 1907), p. 118]

  [List of Illustrations]

  29. shift: get on, manage.

  30. Her friends: those providing for her, including possibly any parent or relation.

  31. nice: fastidious, selective.

  Portrait of a girl (Miss Marshall).

  [From Sir Walter Armstrong, Lawrence (London, 1913), p. 96]

  [List of Illustrations]

  32. In Mansfield Park the author discusses the sweetness of character that “makes so essential a part of every woman’s worth in the judgment of man.” She also presents in her novels men who have married foolish or silly women on account of their beauty, though the heroes of her novels, as well as some other men, show an appreciation for female intelligence.

  33. He means that he is almost tempted to think beauty and sweetness of temper a higher claim than intelligence, when a woman with the latter quality, such as Emma, uses her intelligence so badly.

  34. This idea, which Emma tosses out in jest here, will later become an object of more serious and poignant consideration.

  35. mischief: harm, damage. At this time the term had a stronger connotation, referring usually to serious injury or bad actions.

  36. Men of family: men of good family.

  37. The inconvenience and disgrace could come from the parent or parents turning out to be disreputable, as well as from the shameful nature of her conception.

  38. marry greatly: marry someone of high social position.

  39. consequence: high rank or position.

  40. “Parlour-boarder” sometimes referred to adults who lodged at a school, without being an employee (see note 28). Presumably Harriet could continue in that position indefinitely as long as her parent or guardian continued to pay for her.

  41. A writing master was someone who taught handwriting, a valued skill often taught to children, especially girls. Such a master could be employed by a family for home teaching or by a school such as Mrs. Goddard’s. The latter employment, even if only part-time, could give the writing master, and potentially his children, the opportunity to get to know Harriet. Writing master was not a prestigious profession, and would certainly earn its typical practitioner less than a prosperous farmer such as Robert Martin.

  42. canvassing: discussing, debating.

  43. manners: general conduct and demeanor.

  44. mind: character, referring to both intellectual and emotional qualities. “Manners” and “mind” are paired like this in many passages in Jane Austen, as a way of referring, respectively, to the outer and the inner nature of a person.

  45. state: dignity, imposing appearance.

  46. views: expectations, aims.

  47. To “throw oneself away” was an expression frequently applied to those who made foolish marriages, and in this case the folly would be marrying someone without a good fortune.

  48. These are large fortunes, especially for a family with multiple daughters. The great majority of single female characters in Austen’s novels have less than that, usually much less than that, and most of those who have more are sole daughters. Mr. Elton may have a connection with such a family because of his family’s background in trade, for mercantile families, unlike landed families who wished to pass on the family estate intact to an eldest son, were more likely to give large fortunes to all their children, including daughters. Mr. Elton may also be exaggerating the fortunes of these ladies.

  One mark of Jane Austen is that, unlike many novelists, she discusses money and is explicit about monetary sums. The value of such sums in present terms is not easy to estimate. One pound at that time is equivalent to approximately fifty-five pounds today, or eighty to eighty-five dollars. Thus fortunes of twenty thousand pounds would be roughly equivalent to ones of 1.6 to 1.7 million dollars. These comparisons go only so far, however, for relative costs were very different then; in particular, goods tended to be far more expensive and labor far cheaper. Thus even wealthy people had to be careful in their spending on personal possessions, while even those of modest means would have one or two live-in servants.

  49. Emma’s fear runs completely contrary to her just-expressed opinion that Harriet will now only consider marrying a gentleman.

  50. inconsiderate: rash, careless.

  51. established: confirmed, fixed.

  52. Clayton Park is probably the home of a wealthy family living in the general vicinity (though not very close to Highbury, since it is never mentioned again). Grand country houses often had “Park” in the name; one such provides the title of Mansfield Park.

  53. As a medical man Mr. Perry would be a prime spreader of local gossip, for he would spend all his time traveling to people’s houses and consulting with them. Talking to patients about their ailments was the principal form of medical care, and almost all of it was conducted in patients’ homes.

  54. Whist was the most popular card game in England at the time. It had arisen only recently but had quickly caught on. It is essentially bridge without bidding or a points system: the entire deck is dealt out to four players; the last card dealt is turned over and determines which suit is trumps; thirteen rounds are played in which the highest card of the initial suit, or the highest card of trumps, is victorious; and at the end the total number of winning rounds for each partnership of two is tallied. For more on whist clubs, see note 9.

  55. This is an allusion to a fable by the eighteenth-century poet John Gay, “The Hare and Many Friends.” In it a bull explains to the hare that he cannot offer assistance because he
is expected by his cow love, saying, “And when a lady’s in the case, You know, all other things give place.” Gay’s fables were very popular, and this particular expression became used more generally. Its popularity is shown by another character quoting the same lines on this page.

  A walking dress, for going out during the day.

  [From The Repository of Arts, Literature, Fashions, Manufactures, &c, Vol. XI (1814), p. 116]

  [List of Illustrations]

  VOLUME I, CHAPTER IX

  1. to hand: into her possession.

  2. This would be the sitting, or living, room of most general use, as opposed to one reserved for special occasions. Virtually all rooms of the time had mantelpieces, since fireplaces were the only sources of heat. For an example, see this page.

  3. “The evening of life” was a popular phrase at the time. The mental provision one would make for it would be the development of interests that could provide diversion and occupation when one was no longer as active, or the development of greater wisdom and mental fortitude to allow one to cope better with the difficulties of old age.

  4. During the century preceding this novel riddles were a popular amusement for adults. A number of leading writers and political figures tried their hand at them, and books containing riddles and puzzles of various kinds were published.

  5. quarto: moderately large book. Books then came in four sizes, depending on how many times the large sheets of paper used to make pages had been folded. Folios, the largest, contained sheets folded in half; quartos had sheets folded into quarters, while octavos and duodecimos had sheets folded into eight or twelve sections.

  6. Hot-pressed paper had been developed in the eighteenth century by the printer John Baskerville for fine books. It was more smooth and glossier than any paper previously seen, and for this reason it soon came to be sold as writing paper also.

  7. This probably means that Harriet, with Emma’s assistance, has collected the paper and had it bound into the thin quarto. At this time book binding was separate from book printing; books were sold with little or no binding, and purchasers took them to binders. Hence it would be easy to have one’s own collection of papers bound.

  8. Cyphers, or ciphers, are intertwined sets of letters, especially initials; trophies are ornamental or symbolic figures. Publications of the time often contained such decorations, and there were special books that contained examples of cyphers or trophies or other symbols and ornaments that could be used for such purposes. During this period, writing paper also began to be sold with various designs and decorations.

  9. This was an age of literature in many respects, with a dramatic expansion in the number of books published, including many of high literary quality. Moreover, published books of riddles and puzzles, often written in verse, were popular then, while many people also compiled their own collections, containing ones they had copied from books or ones they and their friends had composed. Jane Austen and her family engaged in such composition themselves, as did some relations of hers. At the same time, this was always regarded as a light amusement, and the author is being ironic in describing such efforts as signs of the literary achievement of the age.

  10. invention: inventiveness, ingenuity.

  11. Attractive and elegant handwriting was usually a part of girls’ education, so Harriet would have learned hers at Mrs. Goddard’s. Many books were published then showing examples of handwriting for people to emulate, and these books often recommended a particular type of graceful and decorative handwriting as ideal for ladies.

  12. For more on this poem, see here and note 52.

  13. the sex: women.

  14. A charade was a riddling poem whose solution was a two syllable word, in which each syllable was a word itself. The poem provided clues in turn to the first syllable, to the second syllable, and to the whole word, while linking the three clues as closely as possible into a coherent story or message. See the next note for an explanation of the following example, which appeared in a book of charades published at the time.

  15. The first is “woe” and the second is “man,” and the whole is therefore “woman.” The poem is a typical example of the gallant compliment to women found in much literature of the time, and this would give Mr. Elton particular reason to select it.

  16. Miss Smith is only an afterthought.

  17. Emma fails to conceive that he could be looking at her because she is his object of interest; he may intend his look to impart additional meaning to his words.

  18. This charade is an original composition by Jane Austen. It is an appropriate one for Mr. Elton, both in its long-winded, grandiloquent language and in its fulsome compliment to women. Jane Austen also wrote a few charades for her own amusement, or that of her family. They are in a very different style: shorter, more direct in their language, and far more humorous and acerbic. Two of them are:

  When my 1st is a task to a young girl of spirit

  And my second confines her to finish the piece

  How hard is her fate! but how great is her merit

  If by taking my whole she effect her release!

  The solution is “hemlock.”

  You may lie on my first, by the side of a stream,

  And my second compose to the Nymph you adore

  But if when you’ve none of my whole her esteem

  And affection diminish, think of her no more.

  The solution is “banknote.”

  A fancy mantelpiece by the leading designer of the time, Robert Adam.

  [From John Swarbrick, Robert Adam and His Brothers (New York, 1915), p. 4]

  [List of Illustrations]

  19. dulness: stupidity.

  20. For an explanation of the solution, see below. A New Collection of Enigmas, Charades, Transpositions, &c. contains in both its 1791 and 1810 editions a different charade with “courtship” as the solution.

  21. pay my addresses to: court.

  22. A man would actually have to be a complete fool to describe Harriet thus, and Mr. Elton, for all his limitations, is not that; even a blindly infatuated lover would presumably find some other quality than ready wit to praise in Harriet.

  23. This suggests that Mr. Knightley has an extremely good record of being right until now, for someone as astute as Emma and as eager to confound Mr. Knightley in argument would certainly have noticed and remembered any serious earlier errors of his.

  24. Thus Harriet cannot even see through Mr. Elton’s reference to the “friend” who composed the charade and his unknown young lady.

  25. A trident is the tool and symbol of Neptune, the god of the sea in ancient Roman mythology (the Romans derived Neptune from the Greek god Poseidon, but during this time the Roman or Latin names for ancient gods and goddesses were normally used). The study of classical antiquity, especially classical languages, was central to the education given boys. Girls, in contrast, would not learn Latin or Greek, but they still could acquire a general familiarity with many aspects of the ancient world, whether from their education or from books of the time, which often contained classical references.

  26. The idea of mermaids goes back centuries in England as well as in other European countries, and during this period, as in others, there were occasional incidents, sometimes reported in the newspapers, in which people claimed to have spotted actual mermaids.

  27. Both these references would come naturally to British readers of the time. The monarchy still played a crucial role in the country’s political life, and being presented at court was a social rite of passage for those of elite rank. The navy had long been crucial to the defense of Britain, and the ability of its ships to dominate the seas was vital to the wars with France that had been going on for more than twenty years at the time this novel was written.

  28. The idea of man as woman’s slave, due to the seductive power of her charms, appears frequently in the literature of the time and would be especially likely to be employed by a man wishing to convince a woman of his devotion and win her ha
nd (once that had occurred, the man was in a good position, according to law and social custom, to assert his mastery if he wished). Jane Austen used the idea in a humorous private poem that was inspired by a newspaper announcement of the marriage of a Mr. Gell and a Miss Gill:

  Of Eastbourn, Mr Gell

  From being perfectly well

  Became dreadfully ill

  For the Love of Miss Gill

  So he said with some sighs

  I’m the slave of your i.s.

  Ah! restore if you please

  By accepting my e.s.—

  29. eligibility: desirability, suitability.

  30. By “consideration” she means social importance and prestige; by “independence” she means financial independence. These, along with one’s own home, were the principal practical benefits of marriage for a woman, and they were substantial benefits in most cases (for more, see note 52). They would be especially significant for Harriet, due to the social taint of her illegitimacy, her lack of family or a home other than Mrs. Goddard’s, and her apparent lack of any fortune besides the allowance maintaining her at present.

  31. alliance: union through marriage.

  32. Harriet probably has heard only positive opinions of Mr. Elton, for those living in Highbury, including those at Mrs. Goddard’s, show themselves to be great admirers of his throughout the novel. Mr. Knightley, however, has indicated a less adulatory judgment of Mr. Elton, as has Emma in her private reflections, so Harriet’s statement here indicates that she still inhabits a somewhat different world from Emma, for all the latter’s efforts to raise her.

  33. Many plays of the time had prologues, often in verse. Many novels (including the two earlier mentioned by Harriet, The Romance of the Forest and The Children of the Abbey), prefaced each chapter with a motto, or quotation from a literary work.

  34. In saying that this is out of the common course or procedure, Emma is thinking of the idea in the quotation below, of the normal difficulties and barriers to true love.