September

September is the month in which the narrative of Emma begins, establishing the temporal framework for the novel's central conflicts and resolutions. It is a period of transition, marking the end of summer and the onset of autumn, and it is during this month that several pivotal events are set in motion or reach their culmination.

Temporal Anchor and Initial Events

The novel opens with Emma Woodhouse, "handsome, clever, and rich," having lived nearly twenty-one years with little to distress her. The story's action is set in motion shortly after the marriage of her beloved governess and friend, Miss Taylor, to Mr. Weston, an event that has taken place in the recent past. The narrative quickly establishes September as a key temporal marker. It is in September that Mr. Weston, after years of planning, finally purchases Randalls and marries Miss Taylor, beginning a new period of existence. This marriage, which Emma proudly claims to have orchestrated four years prior, is the catalyst for her subsequent matchmaking endeavors. The month is also explicitly referenced in the date of Frank Churchill's letter to his new mother, Mrs. Weston, which is dated September 28th and is a source of great pride and discussion in Highbury. This letter, written from Weymouth, is the first tangible connection to the elusive Frank Churchill and fuels the community's curiosity about him.

Matchmaking and Social Maneuvering

September is intrinsically linked to Emma's most ambitious and misguided matchmaking project: her plan to unite Harriet Smith with Mr. Elton. It is during this month that Emma first meets Harriet and immediately resolves to improve her and detach her from the Martin family. Emma's schemes are rooted in the social dynamics of Highbury, where September represents a time of renewed social activity after the summer. The month is also the setting for the first major crisis in Emma's plans: Harriet's refusal of Robert Martin's proposal. This event, which occurs in September, is a direct consequence of Emma's influence and sets the stage for the subsequent complications with Mr. Elton. The narrative later reveals that Mr. Elton's own ambitions are tied to the month, as he is described as having been in Highbury for only a year, having entered the neighborhood not two years ago, making his social climbing a relatively recent phenomenon.

Culmination of Romantic Entanglements

September serves as a crucial turning point for the novel's romantic resolutions. It is in this month that the secret engagement between Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax, which has been concealed since October of the previous year, is finally revealed. This disclosure, which occurs after Mrs. Churchill's death, shatters Emma's illusions about Frank's affections and forces her to confront her own feelings. Simultaneously, September is the month in which Harriet Smith's romantic trajectory is finally resolved. After a period of confusion and misplaced affection for Mr. Knightley, Harriet accepts Robert Martin's second proposal of marriage. This event, which brings Harriet's story to a happy conclusion, is a direct result of the social interactions and personal growth that have occurred throughout the year, with September marking the final, decisive moment.

Historical and Social Context

The month of September in Emma is not merely a chronological marker but is deeply embedded in the social and historical context of the novel. The narrative references the historical background of the characters, such as Mr. Weston's early life in the militia and his subsequent entry into trade, which occurred over a period of eighteen or twenty years. The month also highlights the social structures of the time, including the importance of inheritance and property. The Woodhouses have been settled at Hartfield for several generations, and the landed property of Hartfield is described as a "notch in the Donwell Abbey estate," underscoring the hierarchical nature of land ownership. Furthermore, September is the month when Colonel Campbell, a friend of Jane Fairfax's father, returns to England and takes notice of the orphaned child, setting in motion the chain of events that leads to her education and eventual engagement. This act of benevolence, rooted in the past, has profound consequences that unfold in the present September of the narrative.