Emily of New Moon · Chapter
A Hop Out of Kin explained
Following the death of her father Douglas Starr, Emily faces the arrival of her Murray relatives who must decide her future.
What happens
Following the death of her father Douglas Starr, Emily faces the arrival of her Murray relatives who must decide her future. She struggles with grief, defiance, and the fear of being placed with an unloving guardian, while asserting her independence and loyalty to her father's memory.
Themes in this chapter
Loss and Grief
Emily experiences the death of her father and the profound loneliness that follows, struggling to maintain composure.
Family and Belonging
The Murray relatives gather to decide Emily's fate, highlighting her precarious place within the family and her longing for love.
Individuality vs. Conformity
Emily resists the Murrays' expectations and Ellen's advice, asserting her own identity and values.
Characters to notice
- Emily Byrd Starr
Grieving her father's death, defiant toward the Murrays, and determined to be brave.
- Ellen Greene
Manages Emily after Douglas's death, criticizes her behavior, and speculates about the Murrays' plans for her.
- Uncle Wallace
Grim and stern, he kisses Emily coldly, prompting her to wipe it off in defiance.
- Aunt Ruth
Mentioned as a possible guardian; Emily dreads living with her.
- Aunt Laura
Emily wishes Aunt Laura would take her, remembering her father's kind words about her.
- Uncle Oliver
Jovial and offers a quarter for a kiss, which Emily resents.
Key passages
“Father—Father! she cried. Then she screamed for Ellen.”
Emily called out for her father in panic, then shouted for Ellen Greene.
Emily's immediate reaction upon realizing her father has died.
“I don't want to learn sense and be done a world of good to, cried Emily with a quivering lip. I—I want somebody to love me.”
Emily tearfully rejects the idea of being improved, expressing her deep need for affection.
Emily's emotional plea reveals her vulnerability and desire for love over discipline.
“I am important to myself, cried Emily proudly.”
Emily asserts her own self-worth despite being told she is insignificant.
A key moment of self-assertion in the face of Ellen's belittling.