Quote from AnnetteJ: "not an instant fan of Emma Woodhouse, and I'm still waiting for what makes others love her so much."

Well said, and perhaps this is a good time to reflect on Emma Woodhouse...because I may be in the minority, but I do love her character.

I suppose because she is flawed, and therefore very human to me. Here are some of her faults:

1. Conceit...and vanity, she tends to think a little too highly of herself. That's why she enjoys "molding" Harriet, is blind to Mr. Elton's true purpose, and tends to undervalue the characters of Miss Bates and Robert Martin.
2. Idle, she could certainly be employing her time better in improving her own mind through reading or in the pursuit of self-improvement.
3. Class conscious, she seems to attach a great deal of importance to societal position.

Against these faults, one must acknowledge these virtues:

1. A heart capable of extreme kindness and love, as demonstrated by her care and consideration for her father.
2. A mind both lively and intelligent, as contrasted with her sister and supported by Mr. Knightly/Miss Taylor's observations.
3. A good sense of humor and a quick wit. As evidenced in her exchanges with Mr. Knightly.

Maybe that is why Jane Austen chose to name the novel after her heroine...the theme central to this novel is the exploration of Emma, a war of the good versus evil in her character...and the joy for the reader in vacilating back and forth between like versus dislike. Much like a game of lawn tennis!