Resumo de Emma - Jane Austen

Emma is a rich, beautiful, intelligent young woman of large fortune. However, she is also very pleased with herself and feels no need to engage in any emotional entanglements herself but loves to dictate and help other people with their own lives. Her friend, Mr. Knightly is a frequent visitor to her estate, and there she tells him exactly what her plans are. At the beginning of the novel, Emma?s governess, Miss Taylor has just married Mr. Weston, a wealthy estate owner. Emma feels a little abandoned by the departure of her companion and not quite sure what to do with herself.
However, soon Emma discovers the orphan girl, Harriet Smith, a young, simple girl who Emma feels she can take under her wing and shape into a perfect young lady. Emma instructs Harriet in who she should associate with, what she should wear and how she should behave. She?s also found the perfect match for Harriet, a Mr. Elton. She also forces Harriet to abandon her former friends, the Martins, and refuse a marriage proposal by her former beau, the farmer Robert Martin.
Knightly is alarmed by these events and tells Emma she is behaving wrongly and she shouldn?t force the poor Harriet to seek happiness above what is likely to occur according to her fortune and character. Emma completely disagrees with her friend and continues to treat Harriet like a doll she can dress up at her own will.
Soon, however, all of Knightly?s fears are found to be true. Mr. Elton only pays attention to Emma, not Harriet. Harriet is devastated by Mr. Elton?s rejection and becomes unhappy and inconsolable. Without even having seen him, Emma decides on another match for Harriet with a Mr. Frank Churchill. Though Knightly disapproves of Churchill?s dubious character, Emma continues to try and get the two together.
Emma?s attempts to throw Mr. Churchill at Harriet end up making Knightly more and more offering Harriet consolations for the way she has been treated. Soon, it is discovered that Frank Churchill has been secretly married to someone and Emma?s hopes were in vain. When Emma breaks the news to Harriet, she discovers to her horror, that Harriet is actually in love with Mr. Knightly.
A new side to Knightly?s character revealed to Emma makes her realize that she is actually in love, and has always been, with Knightly herself. Knightly also confesses his love for Emma and they plan to marry but are afraid of hurting poor Harriet. Emma soon realizes that all of her plots to change Harriet?s life have only made her unhappy. She slowly makes Harriet realize that her initial love for Robert Martin is not so detestable and reawakens Harriet?s passion for the station in life she was born to.
The novel ends with Harriet marrying Robert Martin and Emma finally marrying Knightly. Emma has learned several vital lessons about herself and how to treat others.

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