Jane Fairfax’s Piano

Jane Fairfax’s Piano

Instruments

Jane Fairfax’s piano is an anonymous gift, leading all her acquaintance to speculate on the giver. Frank encourages Emma to believe that Mr. Dixon gave it to Jane, evidence of an improper attachment, but Frank was her actual benefactor. The piano demonstrates the pains that Frank goes through to keep his and Jane’s engagement a secret, even to the point of hurting her feelings and reputation. The gift also revels Frank’s impulsivity and lack of foresight, because Jane does not have the resources to maintain it. Throughout the novel, Jane’s accomplishment on the piano is compared to Emma’s, which wounds Emma’s pride.

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Emma, Jane Austen

Brianna Sumption

Novel