I was figuring stuff out when I wrote these, and now almost all of them seem incomplete or not quite right, but that’s how Austen goes. It doesn’t all become clear at once and I’m working through a second round of more coherent Austen thoughts, but…
The single most important thing to know about Emma is that you must factor in that Frank suspects Emma knows that he and Jane are in love when he leaves Highbury the first time, and that Frank is certain Emma knows they’re in love after the ball.
The trick is figuring out what Jane thinks, when. But it can be done.
You always knew it, EXAMPLE: If you think about it, you know that Miss Campbell and Mr. Dixon were, in effect, double dating with Frank and Jane in Weymouth. That Frank was on those walks with Mr. Dixon speaking of his home in Ireland to Miss Campbell, that the two of them—the Dixons—invited Frank, Jane, and Colonel and Mrs. Campbell to Ireland together. You always had to know that. Frank put himself back in every “picture” we had of Weymouth—the near-accident on the boat, dancing, Jane playing piano for Mr. Dixon’s musically talented ear—and the only one left is the walks with Miss Campbell. You had the information the whole time, just like Emma did. —STS, Jan 18, 2025
Please remember that these are blog posts. There are mistakes. The traveling circus, chapter-by-chapter is a mess in a lot of places. They are mostly my notes as I went. Some bits are better than others, some are funny, and I can’t read it for too long—even the funny bits—because the typos make me crazy. And I can’t start fixing them because I’d be at it all week. Nonetheless, I use it as a base of knowledge always. Some things need updated, and someday, when more people know I’ve done this and use it too, I will do upkeep. But it is still a worthwhile little knowledge source. Some chapters are perfunctory, but there’s a lot from when Frank and Jane first arrive. (It’s 8708 words. And I do occasionally add to it.)
I wish I had an editor, but I don’t, and these things usually come together like puzzle pieces, from five different directions because I’m thinking too many things at once.
This was my most enlightening experience. And I cut off about 1,000 words because I kept falling into raptures about the piano. And also falling into first person. “My piano.” But Jane is there. She is there. Austen painted her there.
I tried to explain Miss Bates, or at least, I still didn’t know what I was trying to do yet, only what I’d found. In the end, as always, I ended writing about Jane. What it must have been like getting charity pork from Emma and listening to her aunt. It would be so embarrassing, in front of Emma.
“Escaping” a letter in a Jane Austen novel should have been a clue ❦ Teasing Jane’s Letter • compilation ❦ Chapter 19Miss Bates narrating places, people and problemsLady Catherine getting stomped by Elizabeth ❦ “You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person’s whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.” “That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me.” 🔥 Pride and Prejudice; Chapter 56A good example of the Miss Bates blind ❧ Frank first visits Emma with Mr. Weston: I saw Miss Bates at the window/I am afraid you will not hear her at all (combo) ❦ Chapter 23“‘Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax.’ Heavens! Let me not suppose that she dares go about, Emma Woodhouse-ing me!—But upon my honour, there seems no limits to the licentiousness of that woman’s tongue!” ❦Chapter 32Miss Bates is removed ☔️ Seeing Miss Fairfax become real with a walk in the rain to the post office ❦ Chapter 34“What about Miss Bates, though?!” “How would he bear to have Miss Bates belonging to him?—To have her haunting the Abbey, and thanking him all day long for his great kindness in marrying Jane?—‘So very kind and obliging!—But he always had been such a very kind neighbour!’ And then fly off, through half a sentence, to her mother’s old petticoat. ‘Not that it was such a very old petticoat either—for still it would last a great while—and, indeed, she must thankfully say that their petticoats were all very strong.’” ❦ Chapter 26Gloves as Easter eggs combo 🪺 When Emma interrupts Miss Bates monologue to comment, always listen to what Miss Bates has just said. ❦ (I cannot prove they are the same gloves, but it’s clearly not an accident and Miss Austen is most certainly having fun.) ❦ Chapters 24 and 27“I wanted them to put off the wedding” ❦ Mr. Woodhouse, Chapter 1“and as Jane used to be very often walking out with them” • Jane and Frank with Mr. Dixon and Miss Campbell? ❦ Chapter 19“Ten couple might stand here very well.” ❦ Frank Churchill, Chapter 29“That young man is not quite the thing.” ❦ Mr. Woodhouse, Chapter 29But surely nobody would think of opening the windows! ❦ Mr. Woodhouse, Chapter 29Wearied in spirit ❧ Emma helps Jane escapeat Donwell Abbey ❦ Chapter 42
Exact Words 