Emma: Frank Churchill as a Villain

George Knightley is very good at assessing the characters of other people and so the reader is inclined to trust his judgement on Frank Churchill. Throughout the novel Frank displays some faults which would make him appear to be the villain towards the end of the novel. His behaviour towards some people has been awful, particularly in the case of Jane who he had constantly teased and tormented when he said he was in love with her.

Frank Churchill is seen to be in a way the prize of Highbury, though he has never visited before. All the characters are predisposed to like him and most do, except Knightley who sees through the image that Frank has been given. When Frank does eventually visit many admire him for his lively nature and elaborate and elegant speech. Frank Churchill, however, does have many faults. He behaves very selfishly and uses others to his advantage. When he does not want anyone to find out about his engagement to Jane he flirts with Emma, using her as a `blind'. In fact, Emma herself believes at one point that he is in love with her and if she had not had the good sense not to fall in love with him, she might have been even more hurt by his self-centred behaviour. In his letter to his father he comments on his behaviour towards Emma,

`I am sure you will believe the declaration, that had I not been convinced of he indifference, I would not have been induced by any selfish views to go on.'

Frank Churchill also plays games with the feelings of others, to the extent that his own happiness is nearly jeopardised. He treats Jane Fairfax very badly and at times makes his flirtation impossible for her to bear. He is particularly cruel to her on Box Hill, when his comments were designed to hurt her afte...

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...jealousy of Frank. Knightley believes that Emma is in love with Frank and as he loves Emma himself, he could be less understanding of Frank's faults. He later admits this to Emma, when he has come to comfort her after the news of the engagement.

`And I do envy him, Emma. In one respect he is the object of my envy.'

In many ways Churchill is the villain in the piece. He is deceitful and selfish in his behaviour and is perhaps unworthy of Jane's attentions. He is compared to France, probably because of their elaborate fashions and speech. Knightley aligns himself with England, thinking of himself as having good, well bred manners. In comparison to Knightley, Churchill in fact seems to be more flawed and ill mannered and perhaps in some ways the comparison between the two is unfair as Knightley is widely regarded as the most gentlemanly man in the area.