Diana - Emma vol. 2 ch 8-13

In chapter eight, we see Knightley's influence over Emma. Knightley had commented that Frank had turned out to be the silly person he had supposed him to be (162). At the time, Emma took exception to Knightley's opinion. Indeed, she tried to rationalize it away. "Emma thus moralized to herself:--'I do not know whether it ought to be so, but certainly silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way. . .No, I am perfectly sure that he is not trifling or silly'" (166).

Then we see what may be a change of heart later in chapter eight. Emma questions Frank as to whether he regrets spending a day getting his hair cut, to which he replies he does not (174). I think there are two possibilities regarding this passage:

1. Emma is trying to reassure herself that Frank is not silly by soliciting the fact that he still does not regret spending a day getting his hair cut (as we saw her rationalize earlier on 166).

2. Knightley has influenced Emma, and she is beginning to think Frank is rather silly, and seeks confirmation of this by trying to get him to admit he wasted his day getting his hair cut.