Jane Fairfax
A beautiful and accomplished young woman, niece of Miss Bates, and object of much admiration and speculation in Highbury.
Core Belief
"Jane believes in the importance of duty, self-control, and fulfilling one's obligations. She is committed to acting with integrity and strives to make the best of her difficult circumstances."
Worldview
Jane sees the world as a place where social expectations and economic realities can create significant challenges. She strives to maintain her dignity and composure in the face of adversity and seeks to find happiness within the constraints of her situation.
Personality
Jane is elegant, reserved, and accomplished, possessing both beauty and talent. She is burdened by her uncertain future and the need to earn her own living, which makes her often appear melancholy and withdrawn. She is secretly engaged to Frank Churchill.
In Their Own Words
"“Thank you, but I would rather you did not mention the subject to her; till the time draws nearer, I do not wish to be giving any body trouble.”"
"“Excuse me, ma’am, but this is by no means my intention; I make no inquiry myself, and should be sorry to have any made by my friends. When I am quite determined as to the time, I am not at all afraid of being long unemployed. There are places in town, offices, where inquiry would soon produce something—Offices for the sale—not quite of human flesh—but of human intellect.”"
"“I do not know when I have heard any thing that has given me more satisfaction!—It always has quite hurt me that Jane Fairfax, who plays so delightfully, should not have an instrument. It seemed quite a shame, especially considering how many houses there are where fine instruments are absolutely thrown away. This is like giving ourselves a slap, to be sure! and it was but yesterday I was telling Mr. Cole, I really was ashamed to look at our new grand pianoforte in the drawing-room, while I do not know one note from another, and our little girls, who are but just beginning, perhaps may never make any thing of it; and there is poor Jane Fairfax, who is mistress of music, has not any thing of the nature of an instrument, not even the pitifullest old spinet in the world, to amuse herself with.—I was saying this to Mr. Cole but yesterday, and he quite agreed with me; only he is so particularly fond of music that he could not help indulging himself in the purchase, hoping that some of our good neighbours might be so obliging occasionally to put it to a better use than we can; and that really is the reason why the instrument was bought—or else I am sure we ought to be ashamed of it.—We are in great hopes that Miss Woodhouse may be prevailed with to try it this evening.”"
Other Characters from Emma
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