Emma Volume 7: Christian Review and Content Guide

In our Christian review of Emma Volume 7, we will explore the seventh volume of Kaoru Mori’s Emma manga series. Includes parent guide.

This review is about Emma Volume 7. For our review of Emma Volume 6, click here, and for our Emma series overview post with a list of all our Emma reviews, click here.

Synopsis of Emma Volume 7: A Conclusion to the Main Story

With Emma now bound for America, William Jones is determined to rescue her. He boards the first available ship—of course, it happens to be Hakim’s—and together they sail across the Atlantic in search of the woman he loves.

But even if they manage to reach America safely, how will they find Emma in an unfamiliar country with so few clues? And once they return to England, will they finally overcome the class divide that separates them, or is the gap between servant and gentry wider than the Atlantic itself?

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Review of Emma Volume 7 by Kaoru Mori *Spoilers for Entire Review*

Volume 7 of Emma begins in chaos. Emma is still on the boat from Volume 6 of Emma, continuing her streak of passivity—accepting her fate without resistance. Upon arriving in America, she tosses away the lock of hair William gave her, symbolically cutting him off. (Seriously, I can’t with these characters—Emma works so hard as a maid, yet seems so listless in her personal life. And William doesn’t act at all—until, of course, the exact moment Emma gives up.)

Emma remembers that Mrs. Stownar believes in her and, because she’s so autonomous and driven in everything (sarcasm), she finds work fast and decides to make a new life in America, throwing off everything from the past—including William.

William’s Journey

William, still determined to reunite with Emma (finally), hops on the first boat available—which just so happens to be Hakim’s ship. (Seriously, how many extravagant modes of transport does this guy own—and why are they all conveniently parked in England?) They nonchalantly sail across the Atlantic like it’s no big deal and quickly arrive. (This arc literally lasts like 0.5 seconds.)

Emma…Makes a Decision?

William finally decides to pursue her and begs her to come back—but Emma, ever the decision-maker, runs away from the man who just crossed an ocean for her on the Hakim Express. She eventually agrees to return, and it finally feels like there’s progress… but wow, what a frustrating ride to get here.

The Kidnapping Arc’s Pacing Was Off

Emma is kidnapped in Volume 6 of Emma and only arrives in America at the start of Volume 7 of Emma. In less than 100 pages (in manga format, no less), William has found Emma in a new country, Abraham Lincoln has made a cameo appearance (page 23—technically it’s plausible for the time period), William has convinced Emma to come back home with him, and they both returned to England to talk about next steps at the Meredith Estate.

The whole kidnapping arc felt unrealistically rushed—and honestly, almost unnecessary. It seemed like she was sent away just so that William could go after her. Personally, I feel like there were other ways Mori could have shown their desire for each other and William’s newfound fighting spirit—something a bit less… dramatic.

When something as major as a kidnapping and a journey across the Atlantic happens, you kind of expect it to carry some real weight. But it just doesn’t. William could’ve easily rescued Emma from being sold as a servant, or forced to relocate somewhere else in Europe (maybe Germany, since that’s where the Merediths are from), and avoided this whole anticlimactic detour across the ocean. However, it is still fun, I just wish it was more climactic and less rushed.

The Return of Hakim

The return of Hakim is one of the highlights of this volume. Not only is he willing to let William use his boat on a whim, he goes with William across the Atlantic to help him get Emma back—a girl Hakim likes, too, but is willing to relinquish for William. Hakim even interacts with American locals—people he doesn’t know—asking them to pass along a message to William. Unsurprisingly, none of them know who William is. It’s a minor scene, but one that shows Hakim’s loyalty despite the absurdity of the situation.

As Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Hakim certainly fits that description.

Vivian

We talked a bit about Vivian in the last post, and she deserves a bit of attention here, too. In consistent tune with her character, when Emma and William visit the Jones residence, she calls Emma “wicked” and assumes she was scheming her way into William’s life—refusing to welcome her with grace or love (p. 239). Arthur seems indifferent, and Collin meets Emma without showing any dislike, but Grace and Richard refuse to meet with her at all. It’s a harsh reminder that, even though Emma and William are finally together, the hurdles they face are far from over.

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FAQs for Emma Volume 7

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Conclusion: Review of Emma Volume 7 by Kaoru Mori

This is the final volume in the main Emma storyline. The last three volumes of Emma (8, 9, and 10) are side stories that, while they occasionally feature the main cast, don’t really push the plot forward until Volume 10 of Emma. I appreciated the promise of more, but where Volume 7 of Emma ends, there’s a lot left unresolved. Emma attends a social gathering with William after some coaching from Aurelia, Dorothea, and Martha. The story ends with the couple entering the event arm in arm, stepping into an assumed future together.

But without the side volumes, that future remains unclear—making this volume feel like a premature conclusion. I’d rather have seen a proper continuation of the main plot instead of volume after volume of side stories. Unfortunately, this volume leans into the explicit nudity contained in many of the other volumes, making it inappropriate for younger readers unless the nudity is discerningly skipped over.

To jump to our review of Emma Volume 8, click here, and to return to our Emma series overview post with a list of all our Emma reviews, click here.

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Parent Guide for Emma Volume 7

Sexual Content and Nudity in Emma Volume 7

• Kissing & Romantic Gestures
  • Hakim holds Emma’s hand and kisses it, telling her she should come to him when she gets tired of William. Emma rejects this and says she doesn’t think she could get tired of William. She also says she doesn’t even know where Hakim lives, to which he replies, “Ask William.” William walks in during this moment, and Hakim repeats the same statement. William also says he doesn’t see that happening.
  • A character runs to his lover, kisses her neck and ear, they embrace, and he proposes marriage.
  • A character falls down, her lover carries her to bed, kisses her, then leaves and tells his mother he’s going to marry her. His mother replies, “I thought that was your plan.”
  • A character hints that waiting so long for marriage is…difficult.
• Cleavage and Revealing Clothing
  • Emma is with her female allies getting dolled up. Martha tries to dress her, but Emma insists on doing it herself. Some cleavage is visible, though not to the extent of the bath scenes (pg. 253).*
  • Emma’s dress is revealing, and she wants to wear a shawl. Dorothea insists on her wearing the dress to capture the attention of the male attendees.
  • Emma unbuttons her dress slightly to pull out a handkerchief, revealing cleavage.
  • Someone sells Emma’s dress, and she is shown in underclothes with cleavage visible.
  • Hakim’s girls and Monica wear revealing outfits, showing cleavage and midriff.
  • Tasha’s dress is open at the top, showing undergarments and cleavage.
• Bathing/Nudity
  • Maids bathe together and chat. Full nudity is shown, including a conversation about wearing corsets and how one doesn’t need one (pgs. 159–163).*
  • It is implied that Hakim’s girls may be minors, which is concerning given how they are dressed.

Violence and Disturbing Content in Emma Volume 7

• Monica slaps William.
• William chases after Emma, gets wounded, and bleeds.
• Monica, angry at William, accidentally chokes her husband while yelling that if he goes through a window again, it’ll be because she threw him.
• Mr. Campbell shows aggressive and emotionally abusive behavior:
  • He throws Monica and her husband out.
  • Sends Eleanor away.
  • Is very rude to William.
  • Displays possible anger issues and verbal/emotional abuse.

Language in Emma Volume 7

• Mild and dated exclamations:
  • “Oh thank God”
  • “Thank God”
  • “Coward”
  • “What on earth”
  • “Moonlight flit”
  • “Blimey”
  • “Old bean”
  • “Foppish”
  • “Despot”
  • “Wicked”
  • “Who the devil”
  • “Devil of a time”
  • “Crickey”
  • “Shut up”
  • “Haber-dashery”
  • “Scoundrel”
  • “Thick-skulled”

Alcohol and Smoking in Emma Volume 7

• Emma is given alcohol.
• Smoking is depicted between male adults socializing with one another.
• Other characters smoke in multiple situations.
• A character, Al, cuts through a graveyard often because it’s the fastest way to the pub, hinting at a possible deeper connection to the location.

Religious Content in Emma Volume 7

• A cross is briefly shown.
• Someone says “Thank God.”

Other Concerns in Emma Volume 7

• Eleanor wonders if the dancing girls are ghosts or fairies.
• Emma’s captors consider selling her.

*There are multiple versions of Emma out there, which means that the page numbers may vary a bit.

Photo Credit: Emma Volume 7 cover by Kaoru Mori on Amazon. Under fair use for review/commentary/education/criticism. All rights retained by respective owners.