Posted by Kali on June 30, 1997 at 22:17:24:
In reply to Re: Frank Churchill - Emma posted by Linda K. on June 30, 1997 at 21:41:58
I agree, Linda...And this is partially why I'm so soft on Frank. Emma is partially to blame for the long charade by continually mistaking or ignoring his truthful cues and encouraging his deceitful ones.
He's ready to confess his sins and prove the sincerity of his friendship with Emma through this confession. Emma, in mistaking his intentions upon the interruption, indulges in gleefully selfish and delusional presumption. While she didn't instigate Frank's nonsense, she eggs him on at every turn, delighted by his presence and aura, despite the fact that she keeps thinking, "Ach, Frank...whatever. I can live without him!" She just can't leave well enough alone, which shows that in spite of her basically good instincts, she's still got a problem with selfish egotism.
After all, it is SHE who encourages their gossip and speculation about Jane, her rival (especially about the pianoforte...she brings up Dixon). In addition, the fact that Frank wants to confide in her must mean that he's in love with her, and wants to marry her! It would under any other circumstances be an easy mistake to make, yet Emma takes the presumption to hyperbolic extremes, causing her to miss the real clues that others (like Mr. Knightley and we as the readers) see.