From Emma’s many mistakes the overall impression given of her is that she is not a particularly nice person who at times can be very thoughtless and cruel yet the novel is presented in a way which just endears her to the reader.
Austen presents Emma’s faults in a way which makes it seem that she is just genuinely naive and does not realise how wrongly she misjudges certain situations and people.
‘She saw it all with a clearness which had never blessed her before. How improperly she had been acting by Harriet! How inconsiderate, how indelicate, how unfeeling had been her conduct!’
It is only here nearing the end of the novel that she realises the size of her mistakes and just how they have effected the people around her. Even Mr. Knightley notices her mistakes and tells her she is ‘no friend to Harriet Smith’ though as mentioned it is presented so it seems she does not realise at the time exactly what she is doing. The only reason Emma suggested Mr. Elton to Harriet as a suitor was because she believed him to be the very person ‘for driving the young farmer (Mr. Martin) out of Harriet’s head’ when Emma thought she could do much better for her. For Emma this train of thought is perfectly natural for her so she really cannot be blamed for her personality or in general the way she is. The whole situation back fires on her when Harriet believes herself to have fallen in love with Mr. Elton whose true affections lay else where.
‘If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man, I could have borne anything’…..(Emma’s thoughts to herself) How could she be so deceived!.....She had taken up the idea, she supposed, and made everything bend to it.’
This is after Mr. Elton had just declared his love for Emma on the way back from an evening out and he does not see how she could have mistaken his affections for being towards Harriet when instead they were aimed towards her.
On the majority of occasions when Emma is wrong she does not admit it to anyone but herself, no matter how small the imperfection is,
‘You have made her too tall, Emma,’ said Mr. Kinghtley
Emma knew that she had, but would not own up to it’
This also serves to present how proud she is, even with such minor things. To Emma’s defence though she does improve through the novel and begins to realise how foolish she has sometimes been.
There is one particular occasion in Austen’s book when Emma gives considerable offence, once again not being aware of the hurt she has caused. This occasion occurs when several of Highbury’s residents, including Emma and Mr. Knightley, are having a picnic during which Emma carelessly says something to offend one of the party,
‘I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth shan’t I?’….. ‘Ah! Ma’am, but there will be a difficulty. Pardon me – but you will be limited as to a number – only three at once’
The woman who Emma says this to is an elderly lady who although is a bit talkative is very kindly and the majority of the party are quite surprised by what Emma says however no one dares chastise her except Mr. Knightley. Probably because he seems to be the only person she will listen too.
‘How could you be so unfeeling to Mrs. Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation? – Emma, I had not thought it possible’
After which she immediately regrets what she has said but yet again it only occurred through another moment of her not thinking before she’s spoken. This is yet another blindness of Emma’s however as there is a reason behind the fact she respects Mr. Knightley’s opinion and that is because she loves him but does not realise this until she inadvertently advises her friend Harriet that he would be an ideal suitor.
Overall Emma is presented as having her friend’s best interests at heart but not quite being right on certain aspects, she is also shown as being slightly thoughtless at times but not meaning to be in a cruel way. However to Emma’s defence she does learn from her mistakes and everything ends as it should do it the novel, with all young couples happily paired off and soon to married.