Emma: Character Profiles

Emma Woodhouse: The spirited, independent and wealthy protagonist, Emma Woodhouse, mistakenly enjoys indulging in match-making attempts and must face the complexities of life, romance, and self-discovery.
Mr George Knightley: Mr. Knightley, the mature, discerning and morally upright brother-in-law of Emma, challenges the protagonist’s mistakes and acts as her voice of reason.
Frank Churchill: Frank Churchill, an attractive and charming young man with a slightly manipulative nature, creates intrigue and excitement within Highbury’s social group.
Jane Fairfax: Jane Fairfax, a reserved, talented, and genteel young woman, serves as a contrast to Emma’s outgoing personality and becomes her perceived rival.
Harriet Smith: Harriet Smith, a naïve, impressionable young woman of unknown parentage, becomes a pawn in Emma’s match-making schemes.
Robert Martin: Robert Martin, a responsible and respectable farmer, symbolises the societal barriers and judgments within Highbury’s class structure.
Mr Elton: Mr. Elton, the ambitious and self-aggrandizing local vicar, presents a secondary antagonist figure in Emma’s romantic misunderstandings.
Mrs Elton: Mrs. Elton, the outspoken, socially ambitious and somewhat vulgar wife of Mr. Elton, serves as a foil character to Emma.
Mr Weston: Mr. Weston, the affable and social father of Frank Churchill, plays a key role in bringing new faces into Highbury’s social circles.
Mrs Weston: Mrs. Weston, a friend and former governess, acts as a maternal figure to Emma, guiding her in her personal growth.
Mrs Bates: Mrs. Bates, the talkative, impoverished elderly mother of Miss Bates, symbolises the unavoidable decline within the upper class.
Mr Henry Woodhouse: Mr. Henry Woodhouse, Emma’s hypochondriac and overprotective father, adds a layer of humour to the novel by highlighting his excessive worry for the health of others.
Isabella Knightley: Isabella, Emma’s elder sister exhibits the happiness and security of appropriate marital life against Emma’s continuous romantic pursuits.
John Knightley: John Knightley, Emma’s brother-in-law, represents a pragmatic perspective in the novel with his dry and realistic approach towards life.
Other Characters: The other minor characters in “Emma” provide context and texture to the narrative, each contributing to the complexity of the social tapestry in Highbury.