Emma
(Jane Austen)

Emma Woodhouse

Emma Woodhouse lives at Hartfield with her father, Mr. Woodhouse, and acts as a kind of caregiver for him. Although Emma is charming, generally kind and intelligent, she is also self centered and blind to her own faults. She is also extremely blind to her own feelings—she thinks she is in love with Frank Churchill, but she discovers—after a long time—that she is actually in love with Mr. Knightley. Emma's series of blunders and mistakes through the novel hurt other people, and she has to make amends for them. She flirts with Frank even though she has no intention of marrying him, insults and talks about Jane behind her back and is cruel to Miss Bates. Emma has had no worries aside from the small concerns of relationships because she has her own fortune and has decided never to marry, which is the opposite of what most women in this society aim for. In fact, it is the opposite of what Emma actually feels, which proves Emma evolves emotionally across the course of the novel. She finally understands herself.

Harriet Smith

Harriet Smith does not know who her parents are. She lives with Mrs. Goddard and spends time with people who are, Emma believes, below her status in society. Although we later find out that Harriet actually belongs in the same sphere as the people she has been spending time with, Emma fills her head with thoughts of being a gentleman's daughter. Harriet is led and influenced by Emma to refuse Mr. Martin—a man who is suited to her—which threatens Harriet's happiness. Harriet is led to believe she is more superior than most, and she sets her eye on Mr. Knightley, a man far above her societal status. While Emma thinks this is outrageous, Harriet only has Emma to blame for the way she is changed. On the whole, she is a sweet, gentle girl, who only wants to please those around her. She is also not Emma's equal in intelligence, which leads Emma to think more of her own intelligence.

Jane Fairfax

Jane Fairfax is an orphan who was taken in by Colonel Campbell. While with the Campbells, Jane excelled in her accomplishments and received a fine education so that she could become a governess. Although Emma suspects that Jane refuses to go with them to Ireland due to a mistake she makes with a married man, it is discovered that Jane and Frank are in love and have a secret engagement. The keeping of this secret forces Jane to remain cold and reserved, especially when she cannot show she is upset with Frank for openly flirting with Emma. For this reason, she is often misjudged by others. Emma dislikes Jane because she is more accomplished than Emma, and she feels she is inferior to her, but by the end of the novel, Emma and Jane find themselves on more equal footing and may even be friends in the future.

Mr. George Knightley

Mr. Knightley lives at Donwell near Highbury and is a long time friend of the Woodhouse family. He visits them nearly every night for cards and conversation and has been present for most of Emma's life. He corrects her mistakes, provides advice and tries his best to steer her in the right direction, even if she is too stubborn to accept his help. Mr. Knightley is one of the few people in the novel who can actually see the truth in people's character, and is often correcting Emma on her own mistaken perspectives. While not as cold as Jane might appear, Mr. Knightley does not express his enjoyment for many things and prefers the quieter things in life. He does not like to dance, and he does not play the word-games, but he observes people very well. He is also a man of impeccable morals: he rescues Harriet from the Eltons, chastises Emma for insulting Miss Bates, and looks after those who are in need, for example, when he delivers his entire stock of apples to Jane to make sure she keeps her health.

Frank Churchill

Frank Churchill is Mr. Weston's son, whom he gave up to the Churchill family when his wife died, and he found he could not raise him. Frank has grown up in Enscombe, with nothing to want for, but with an extremely controlling Aunt. It is thought he comes to Highbury to pay his respects to his father's new bride, but he has travelled to see Jane, whom he is secretly engaged to. Frank is open with his emotions, is attractive and charming to everyone he meets and is well liked. The only person who suspects Frank has a secret to hide is Mr. Knightley, who does not approve of him going after Emma. When Frank finally does reveal his secret engagement to Jane, his apologies to everyone involved, including Emma, are enough for Highbury society to forgive him for his behaviour.

Mr. Elton

Mr. Elton is the Vicar at Highbury and is the object of Harriet's affections. Emma first chooses him as a possible match for Harriet because he is attractive and kind, but Mr. Elton has actually fallen in love with Emma. He is well aware of his status in society and is insulted that Emma could think he would stoop so low to take Harriet for his wife. After Emma refuses him, he flees Highbury and returns with a rich wife to appear more important. He reveals his truer nature when he is consistently cruel to Harriet.

Miss Bates

Miss Bates lives with her mother, Mrs. Bates, and her niece, Jane, in a small house. She talks incessantly without stopping in long passages that bounce from subject to subject and is immensely proud of Jane's accomplishments. Emma visits because Mrs. Bates is a friend of Mr. Woodhouse's, but would rather not have to listen to Miss Bates because of her love for Jane. She is insulted by Emma at Box Hill, but cannot voice her displeasure; in fact, she is kind enough to Emma to make her feel terribly guilty for what she has said.

Mrs. Weston

Mrs. Weston is the former Miss Taylor who helped to raise Emma and Isabella after their mother died. It is generally considered that Emma was unteachable, and ungovernable, and so Miss Taylor and Emma were friends more than anything else. Mrs. Weston's marriage has meant she could escape being a governess, and she seems to be exceedingly much in love with her husband. She hopes that Emma and Frank will end up marrying one another as it is a match she approves of and encourages. She is a sensible woman who loves Emma very much.

Mr. Weston

Mr. Weston, the owner of Randalls, has been married previously. His son, Frank, left to live with another family after Mr. Weston found he could not take care of him and provide a life of fortune for him. His second marriage to Mrs. Weston is considered to be a better one as they are both on similar standings in society. He appears to be far happier because there is less pressure on him to provide what he cannot. Mr. Weston is fortunate to have his son back in his life and a new born baby girl by the end of the novel. Mr. Weston likes and socializes with anyone who will have him, but does not make a significant impact on anyone.

Mr. John Knightley

Mr. John Knightley is Mr. Knightley's brother and has married Emma's sister. John wavers between enjoying social outings and wishing that he could be back at home. He is often amazed when people pay visits when they could be at home and grows angry if he is forced to go out in poor weather for no reason, particularly when he does not appreciate the company he is about to keep. John seems like the kind of man who would prefer interesting conversation at home to going over the same things repeatedly.

Isabella Knightley

Isabella Knightley is the wife to Mr. John Knightley and Emma's sister. She is a remarkably good mother and wife and fulfils all of the expectations of someone in her position. She has inherited her father's sense of worry, especially where her children are concerned. She even has a favoured Doctor, as Mr. Woodhouse does, and follows his advice on everything related to health. She and Mr. Woodhouse frequently argue over the best health care as both believe their Doctor to be the better one.

Mrs. Elton

Mrs. Elton, the former Augusta Hawkins, marries Mr. Elton after he leaves Highbury for a few weeks. She is a vulgar, controlling woman who likes nothing more than to wield her influence to make people do what she wants. She has no real sense of politeness when it comes to the people are are socially higher than her, and would prefer to show her dislike out in the open. She is particularly cruel to Harriet after hearing of Emma's plan to marry her off to Mr. Elton, but takes Jane under her wing to take advantage of her accomplishments and to remain the centre of attention. Mrs. Elton is the kind of person who believes she is a greater person because of the people around her, and often tries to put Emma down in conversation.

Mrs. Bates

Mrs. Bates is Miss Bates' mother, who suffers from her health and old age. She does not speak much, mostly because Miss Bates does not allow her to and is often told small lies by her daughter to protect her. Mrs. Bates knows that Jane is not feeling well despite being told she is fine, so we can assume Mrs. Bates is not as infirm as her daughter likes to make out.

Mr. Woodhouse

Mr. Woodhouse is the father to Isabella and Emma Woodhouse, and the owner of Hartfield. He worries endlessly about the safety and health of the people he knows, and one of his favourite people is his Doctor, Mr. Perry. He is a difficult person to please and deal with and worries endlessly about everything, especially when it comes to something health related. He does not approve of or celebrate marriage because both Isabella and Mrs. Weston left his company when they married.

Mrs. Churchill

Although we never meet Mrs. Churchill, we hear enough about her to form an opinion. Mr. Weston does not care much for her because she keeps Frank away from him and suspects that her illnesses are faked to influence and control Frank every step of the way. Mrs. Churchill uses her weak health as a crutch.