Emma: Volume 1: Chapter 15 скачать в хорошем качестве

Emma: Volume 1: Chapter 15

Chapter 15 marks one of the most dramatic turning points in Emma: the collapse of Emma’s fantasy about Mr. Elton and Harriet. Throughout the evening at Randalls, Emma tries to ignore Mr. Elton’s increasingly obvious attentions, convincing herself they are harmless or simply the product of his concern for Harriet. Austen uses Emma’s stubborn misinterpretation to create powerful dramatic irony—the reader sees what Emma refuses to see. The tension reaches its peak when snow forces the party to leave early, and Emma finds herself trapped in a carriage alone with Mr. Elton. The moment he seizes the opportunity to confess his love, Emma’s illusions crumble instantly. The scene is both embarrassing and revelatory. Emma is horrified—not only by his declaration, but by his complete dismissal of Harriet and his arrogant belief that Emma has been encouraging him. His ambition and vanity become clear, contradicting everything Emma thought she’d observed. Emma’s shock exposes the dangers of her self-assured matchmaking: she has misread Mr. Elton entirely, misled Harriet unintentionally, and now must face the consequences. Austen also uses the scene to critique social class snobbery—Mr. Elton’s contempt for Harriet reveals how sharply he draws social boundaries, while Emma’s earlier blindness shows how much she underestimated such prejudices. The chapter ends with Emma deeply troubled, aware for the first time of the damage her confidence can cause, setting the stage for her moral growth.