Emma Monologues

While matchmaking for friends and neighbours, a young 19th Century Englishwoman nearly misses her own chance at love.

I rode through the rain! I'd - I'd ride through worse than that if I could just hear your voice telling me that I might, at least, have some chance to win you.

Emma, how could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How can you be so insolent to a woman of her age and situation? I had not thought it possible.

I assure you, she felt your full meaning. She cannot stop mentioning it. I wish you could have heard her honour your forbearance in putting up with her when her society is so irksome.

Were she prosperous or a woman equal to you in situation, I would not quarrel with you about any liberties of manner. But she is poor, even more so than when she was born. And should she live to be an old lady, she will sink further still. Her situation being in every way below you should secure your compassion! Badly done, Emma. Badly done. She has watched you grow from a time when her notice of you was an honour to this, humbling her, laughing at her in front of people who would be guided by your treatment of her. It is not pleasant for me to say these things, but I must tell you the truth while I can, proving myself your friend by the most faithful counsel, trusting that sometime you will do my faith in you greater justice that you do it now.

Marry me. Marry me, my wonderful, darling friend.

Maybe it is our imperfections which make us so perfect for one another.

Men of sense, whatever you may say, do not want silly wives!

The truest friend does not doubt… but hope.

Is it not a brother's job to find fault with his sister?

I know there is no better creature in all the world, but you must allow that blended alongside the good, there is an equal amount of the ridiculous in her.

Vulgar? Base? Conceited? Crass? She actually seemed pleased to discover that Mr. Knightley was a gentleman. I doubt he'll return the compliment and find *her* a lady. She proposed that we form a *musical club*. Is it possible that Mr. Elton met her while doing charitable work in a mental infirmary?

There is only one thing to do with a person as impossible as she.

I must throw a party for her. Otherwise everyone will feel at once how much I dislike her.

Mr. Knightley, if I have not spoken, it is because I am afraid I will awaken myself from this dream.

Now I need not call you Mr. Knightley. I may call you my Mr. Knightley.

I will not know how to behave when I see him.

Oh, but if he seems happy, I will know that he's decided to marry Harriet, and I will not, I know I will not be able to let him tell me. But if he seems sad, I'll know that John has advised him against it. I love John! Or he may seem sad because he fears telling me he will marry my friend. How can John let him do that? I hate John!

I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control.

Indeed! One matter of joy in this is that I made the match myself. People said Mr. Weston would never marry again, and what a triumph!

Have you never known the triumph of a lucky guess? Had I not promoted Mr. Weston's visits and given encouragement where encouragement was needed, we might not have had a wedding today.

Not one in a hundred men have "gentleman" so plainly written across them as Mr. Knightley!

Dear Diary, Today I tried not to think about Mr. Knightley. I tried not to think about him when I discussed the menu with Cook... I tried not to think about him in the garden where I thrice plucked the petals off a daisy to acertain his feelings for Harriet. I don't think we should keep daisies in the garden, they really are a drab little flower. And I tried not to think about him when I went to bed, but something had to be done.

I hope John advises him against it. After all we know nothing about her parents. They could be pirates!

One does not like to generalize about so many people all at once, Mr. Knightley, but you may be sure that men know nothing about their hearts, whether they be six-and-twenty, or six-and-eighty.

Hmm, you dismiss her beauty and good nature, yet I would be very much mistaken, if your sex in general, does not think those claims the highest a woman could possess!