Book Christmas 7
- SML
- Dec 7, 2015
- 1 min read
Emma by Jane Austen
Christmas rarely figures significantly into Jane Austen novels, perhaps because they predated the Victorian era that established many of the season's most recognizable traditions. In this novel, however, a snowy Christmas party sets the scene for Mr. Elton proposing to Emma, to her great embarrassment, as she'd been attempting to make a match between him and her friend Harriet for months:
"Christmas weather," observed Mr. Elton. "Quite seasonable; and extremely fortunate we may think ourselves that it did not begin yesterday, and prevent this day's party, which it might very possibly have done, for Mr. Woodhouse would hardly have ventured had there been much snow on the ground; but now it is of no consequence. This is quite the season indeed for friendly meetings. At Christmas every body invites their friends about them, and people think little of even the worst weather. I was snowed up at a friend's house once for a week. Nothing could be pleasanter. I went for only one night, and could not get away till that very day se'nnight."
Mr. John Knightley looked as if he did not comprehend the pleasure, but said only, coolly,
"I cannot wish to be snowed up a week at Randalls."
At another time Emma might have been amused, but she was too much astonished now at Mr. Elton's spirits for other feelings. Harriet seemed quite forgotten in the expectation of a pleasant party.
Comentários