I've shown people this table before, but I thought it might be nice for those who haven't seen it to take a look. It describes what we learn about each character in chapter 1, and from whom.

I think it helps to see how the narrator is working, and it gives us hints about whose voice is reliable. For instance: given what is said about Mr. Woodhouse and how he talks, do you think we're supposed to trust his opinion about Emma?

Character	Description	Who tells us
Emma	Handsome, clever, rich Happy disposition Nearly 21 Little to distress or vex her Has an older, married sister Mother has been dead a long time (possibly 16 years) Directed chiefly by her own judgment (although she esteems Mrs. Weston’s), and has rather too much her own way Thinks a little too well of herself	Narrator
	Depressed over Mrs. Weston leaving Hartfield Highly values Mrs. Weston for her past kindness and friendship	indirectly from Emma
	Has “odd humours” [to her father] Is “fanciful and troublesome" [to Mr. Knightley]	Directly from Emma—meant to be light-hearted
	Never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others	Directly from Mr. Woodhouse
Mrs. Weston	Been with the Woodhouses 16 years Has some relatives/friends who come to the wedding but we do not meet	Narrator
	Interested in Emma’s every pleasure and scheme, with deep affection for her	[indirectly from Emma]
	Rational, unaffected	Directly from Mr. Knightley
Mr. Woodhouse	Affectionate, indulgent father Cannot meet Emma in conversation, intellectual or playful Much older than Emma, and much older in ways than in years	[indirectly from Emma]
	Valetudinarian all his life Beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper Universally civil A nervous man, easily depressed Hates change of every kind Depressed over Mrs. Weston getting married.	Narrator
Mr. Weston	Unexceptionable character Easy fortune Suitable age Pleasant manners	[indirectly from Emma]
	Good humoured, pleasant, excellent man	Directly from Emma
	Straight-forward, open-hearted	Directly from Mr. Knightley
Isabella	Married with small children Lives in London Husband the younger brother of Mr. Knightley Brunswick Square is her London address	Narrator
Highbury	Large, populous Woodhouses (note, that it’s not Mr. Knightley) are first in consequence there	Narrator
	No one lives there who could take Mrs. Weston’s place for even half a day	[indirectly from Emma]
James	coachman	Mr. Woodhouse
Hanna	James’ daughter, now a housemaid at Randalls	Directly from Emma
	Civil, pretty-spoken Does needlework for Emma	Directly from Mr. Woodhouse
Mr. Knightley	Sensible man About 37 or 38 Elder brother of Isabella’s husband Lives about a mile from Highbury at Donwell Abbey Frequent visitor at Hartfield, always welcome Has a cheerful manner Sits through all Mr. Woodhouses questions about Isabella and the family Rational: encourages Mr. Woodhouse not to exaggerate his walk to Hartfield; while he sympathizes with the Woodhouses’ loss, he knows that Mrs. Weston is much better off married	Narrator
	loves to find fault” with Emma	Directly from Emma – meant to be lighthearted
	One of the few people who could see faults in Emma, and the only one who ever told her of them	Narrator
	Never flatters Emma	Directly from Mr. Knightley
Mr. Mitchell	Farmer who owns umbrellas	Directly from Emma
Mr. Elton	Lived in Highbury one year Fitted up his house nicely Vicar of Highbury	Directly from Emma
	Very pretty young man, very good young man	Directly from Mr. Woodhouse
	26 or 27	Directly from Mr. Knightley