Emma Metaphors and Similes Quotes

The real evils, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 1. This quote foreshadows the protagonist’s main flaws and the challenges she will face as a result of them. Highlighted are the spoiled and excessively confident Emma’s egotism and vanity and her being accustomed to having too much of her own way. Her self-assurance and over-confidence are satirized in the description of her thinking “a little too well of herself.” The word “alloy” is used as a metaphor to suggest that her flaws may have the effect of threatening her own happiness. Thus the central conflict upon which the novel is built is foreshadowed. When Emma turns matchmaker her pride and sense of superiority do indeed lead her to meddle in other people’s lives and make bad decisions because of her flawed perceptions.

It was her own universal good-will and contented temper which worked such wonders. She loved every body, was interested in every body’s happiness, quick sighted to every body’s merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with blessings in such an excellent mother, and so many good neighbours and friends, and a home that wanted for nothing. The simplicity and cheerfulness of her nature, her contented and grateful spirit, were a recommendation to every body, and a mine of felicity to herself.

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 3. While Miss Bates lacks Emma’s beauty, intelligence and economic resources, her virtues and positive personality traits make up for these deficiencies. She shows love and goodwill to everybody in Highbury, which is why she is so popular there. Regarded as a contented and grateful person, Austen uses the metaphor of a “mine of felicity” to describe her cheerful nature.

“Depend upon it, Emma, a sensible man would find no difficulty in it. He would feel himself in the right; and the declaration – made, of course, as a man of sense would make it, in a proper manner – would do him more good, raise him higher, fix his interest stronger with the people he depended on, than all that a line of shifts and expedients can ever do. Respect would be added to affection…Respect for right conduct is felt by every body. If he would act in this sort of manner, on principle, consistently, regularly, their little minds would bend to his.”

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 18. Mr. Knightley is speaking to Emma about Frank Churchill, after Frank fails to make his expected visit to Highbury following his father’s marriage. Instead Frank sends yet another letter of excuse, to the disappointment of his new mother Mrs. Weston in particular. Knightley strongly disapproves of Frank’s behavior. He doesn’t believe that Frank is truly restrained by his guardians, as he suggests, but has simply no concern for duty and family connections. He uses the metaphor to describe how Frank could “bend” or manipulate his guardians’ “little minds” if he really wanted to. To Knightley acting with integrity and doing the right thing by people you are connected with are of the utmost importance.

“You are very fond of bending little minds; but where little minds belong to rich people in authority, I think they have a knack of swelling out, till they are quite as unmanageable as great ones.”

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 18. Emma defends Frank Churchill against Mr. Knightley’s criticism of him not fulfilling his duty as a son by visiting his father. Emma in a metaphor speaks of Knightley’s fondness for bending or influencing “little minds.” But when these small minds belong to rich people with power, she describes them in another metaphor as “swelling out” and becoming difficult to control. The small-minded people she refers to are Mr. and Mrs. Churchill. They are Frank’s uncle and aunt who became his guardians after the death of his mother and he is under their control, Emma says.

Emma’s eyes were instantly withdrawn; and she sat silently meditating, in a fixed attitude, for a few minutes. A few minutes were sufficient for making her acquainted with her own heart. A mind like hers, once opening to suspicion, made rapid progress; she touched, she admitted, she acknowledged the whole truth. Why was it so much worse that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley than with Frank Churchill? Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet’s having some hope of a return? It darted through her with the speed of an arrow that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself!

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 47. Here we have Emma’s awakening when she makes the surprising discovery that she is in love with Mr. Knightley. While she spends most of the story focused on matchmaking for other people, she is remarkably blind to her own desires and romantic feelings. It takes her friend Harriet’s declaration that she has feelings for Mr. Knightley and had hopes to him returning the affection to awaken Emma’s jealousy. It makes Emma realize that Mr. Knightley should marry no one but her. The sheer force and speed of the realization of her feelings for him is emphasized by the hyperbolic metaphor, “It darted through her with the speed of an arrow.” This major turning point in the story is an important moment in Emma’s journey of self-knowledge and growth as a person.

As long as Mr. Knightley remained with them, Emma’s fever continued; but when he was gone, she began to be a little tranquillised and subdued – and in the course of the sleepless night, which was the tax for such an evening, she found one or two such very serious points to consider, as made her feel, that even her happiness must have some alloy. Her father – and Harriet. She could not be alone without feeling the full weight of their separate claims; and how to guard the comfort of both to the utmost, was the question.

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 50. A number of metaphors describe the kind of euphoria Emma experiences spending time with her fiancé Mr. Knightley. Her emotions are compared to a “fever,” which is “tranquillised” a little by his departure, then she must pay the “tax” of enduring a sleepless night. The word “alloy” is used as another metaphor to describe how she feels that even her own happiness must have some flaws. She is thinking of the impact her engagement will have on Harriet and her father Mr. Woodhouse.

“She is a complete angel. Look at her. Is not she an angel in every gesture? Observe the turn of her throat. Observe her eyes, as she is looking up at my father.”

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 54. Frank Churchill uses a hyperbolic metaphor to describe how Jane Fairfax embodies angelic qualities. His romanticized, idealized attraction, as if he were worshipping her, is shown in the language used. Jane’s elevation to a heavenly being may be Frank camouflaging the fact that orphan Jane is of lower social standing than he is. His superficial side also comes across, with his infatuation of Jane focused entirely on her physical beauty and gestures.

She proved to be the daughter of a tradesman, rich enough to afford her the comfortable maintenance which had ever been hers, and decent enough to have always wished for concealment. – Such was the blood of gentility which Emma had formerly been so ready to vouch for! – It was likely to be as untainted, perhaps, as the blood of many a gentleman: but what a connexion had she been preparing for Mr. Knightley – or for the Churchills – or even for Mr. Elton! – The stain of illegitimacy, unbleached by nobility or wealth, would have been a stain indeed.

– Jane Austen

Emma, Chapter 55. In the final chapter after Harriet’s engagement to Robert Martin, her parentage is revealed. She is the daughter of a mere tradesman and illegitimate into the bargain. This was seen as a shameful thing in majority of cases in those times, reflected in Emma’s use of the metaphor “stain.” Emma the snob and defender of the social class structure makes a re-appearance, despite having grown in maturity and self-awareness throughout the novel. She thinks that Harriet is far too low in social status to make a match with men like Mr. Knightley, Frank Churchill or Mr. Elton. Using another metaphor, she says that Harriet’s illegitimate status was “unbleached” – or whitewashed – by having a noble or wealthy man for a father. It seems everything would have been fine for her to marry upwards if that were so. The power of the novel as a social satire and critique on early 19th century English society’s snobbery and class consciousness is seen in this quote.
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