How does Jane Austen present the themes of love and marriage in the novel Emma?

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Emma

Question: How does Jane Austen present the themes of love and marriage in the novel Emma?

Answer: Jane Austen's novels incorporate her observations on the manners of her time and class, and while they often relate courtship, love, and marriage, Austen herself never married. In the essay below I will be discussing how the author, Jane Austen, presents the themes of love and marriage in the novel Emma. The novel Emma is about a young woman who is interested in matchmaking. Emma is the central character, who is the daughter of wealthy gentleman, her mother died when she was young leaving her to be brought up by Miss Taylor. The novel is essentially a story of how Emma matures from a clever young woman to a more modest and considerate woman. By using Emma as the central character, using authorial comments, beginning the novel with an example of what makes a perfect marriage and through couples who get married and couples who might have got married, Austen has chosen to present the themes of love and marriage.

At the novels beginning Jane Austen introduces things she sees as the fundamentals of a marriage, which are always echoing in the back. In the first chapter the novel's title character, Emma Woodhouse is introduced. She is the youngest of two daughters. She has no mother and a father who imposes no limits on her behaviour or self-satisfaction. While her mother died long ago, Emma was brought up by Miss Taylor. Just as the novel begins Miss Taylor has just married Mr Weston leaving Emma short of a companion. Emma feels the loss of Miss Taylor, who was "peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of hers - one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection for her as could never find fault" (page 6).

Emma tries to take credit for the marriage claiming she matched Miss Taylor and Mr Weston.

"And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me, said Emma, and a very considerable one - that I made the match myself. I made the match, you know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in the right, when so many people said Mr Weston would never marry again, may comfort me for anything."

Emma says this to Mr Knightly and her father about the marriage of Miss Taylor and Mr Weston. This quote gives the reader a hint of Emma's character, and a glimpse of the major marriage and matchmaking themes of the novel.

Within the first few paragraphs of the book, Jane Austen praises Emma while she is "handsome, clever and rich," she is also spoiled and self-centred, less concerned with Miss Taylor's happiness than her loss of a companion. Throughout the novel Emma identifies matches which as reader we know will not work which makes the reader think, what does make a good marriage? (In mind the cameo example of the Weston's marriage).

Chapter two begins telling us all about Mr Weston. Mr Weston married Miss Churchill, who was of a higher social status than him. An important consideration in Emma is social status especially when it concerns marriage. The reason why Mr Weston's first marriage failed was partly because he married a woman who was of a higher social status than him. She was familiar to living a life beyond what they could afford and she could not lower herself down to her husband's level. Though the marriage benefited Mr Weston, socially, it did not benefit Miss Churchill.

In chapter three a number of characters of a lower social status are introduced including the poor Mrs Bates, Miss Bates, her daughter; Mr Elton, a local vicar; Mrs Goddard, the mistress of a boarding school and Harriet Smith an illegitimate child who was placed at Mrs Goddard's school. Parentage becomes important to determine a characters social status, which is important for Harriet's character as she does not know which family she belongs to, preventing her from a higher place in status; social status being an important consideration when concerning marriage.

In chapter four Emma and Harriet become quite good friends. Emma realises that one of the Martins has a romantic interest in Harriet. By asking Harriet questions about the Robert Martin, she criticises and tells Harriet clear that he is not a suitable match for her. Emma tells Harriet to compare him to better men such as Mr Weston or Mr Elton. She decides Mr Elton would suit Harriet, as he is from a higher social class than Robert Martin. The reason Emma persuades Harriet against romance with Robert Martin he lacks proper manners. Robert Martin lacks with what Mr Weston or Mr Elton have. But the real reason why Emma persuades Harriet against romance with Robert Martin is because of his social status for Emma manners actually mean status. This brings up the theme in the novel: the relationship between status and manner which is considered in marriage.

Chapter five is about the concern of Mr knightly about the friendship between Emma and Harriet Smith. The harm in the friendship is that Harriet will indulge Emma in her worst qualities, while Emma will teach Harriet to be so refined that she will not fit among her true social class. Again, status becomes important: Harriet, given her undoubtful birth has a low place in society and a friendship with a woman from a high place in society would confuse her.

Chapter six is all about irony. Harriet Smith is interested in Mr Elton, but Mr Elton is interested in Emma. This chapter creates a number of ambiguities. Emma decides to draw portrait of Harriet for Mr Elton. Mr Elton accepts the portrait, but is not clear whether he accepts it because of Harriet or Emma. Emma plays matchmaker between Harriet and Mr Elton. She cannot assume her plans would go wrong. Harriet is so trusting in Emma that she cannot see the signals that Mr Elton gives. The novel is about the growth of Emma's knowledge. She uses high authority to make what she believes. Emma only looks at situations from one point of view which is probably why the matches she makes never work out except for the Weston's marriage.

In chapter seven Robert Martin sends a letter to Harriet Smith proposing to her. Letters in 'Emma' are not only the major means of long-distance communication, but symbolise the worth of the person. Though Emma is impressed with the letter, she still continues to criticise Robert Martin. The nature of the letter tells us that Robert Martin is serious about Harriet smith and that he loves her though Emma disagrees, she does not fully understand and produces misguidance. She suspects that one of his sisters must have written the letter for him. Emma's interest is not in Robert Martin's manners, but his status, again status being important when concerning marriage. Harriet cannot make her mind up whether or not to accept the proposal she comes to Emma for advice though she says she will not give her any advice she says if Harriet is in doubt she should refuse it which is what Harriet does. She writes a letter to Robert Martin refusing his proposal.

Chapter eight is about Mr knightly's rage of anger with Emma because of Harriet's refusal to Robert Martin's proposal which he thinks is all down to Emma's doing. Because Harriet is an illegitimate child unsure of which family she belongs to, she is unlikely to marry well and must rely on a husband to pledge her a place in society. Again, class is the primary consideration for marriage. Emma's fault or some what misguidance is making Harriet Smith believe that she can expect a man of high status. Mr Knightly believes that Mr Martin is a good match for Harriet as he is close to her social class. When Mr Knightly and Emma discuss Harriet's possibilities for marriage, they do not mention love. For the characters in novel, the primary consideration is marrying for status not for romance. Mr Knightly feels that Harriet should marry Robert Martin because he would provide for her and give her a place in society. Mr knightly also mentions Mr Elton and how he would want to marry someone who will bring him decency through her status which explains his interest in Emma. He may want to marry her because of her status and wealth.

In chapter nine Mr Elton gives Emma a poem, which Emma thinks is intended for Harriet. When the poem is read it is interpreted to be a love poem to Harriet. The poem is a riddle with the answer 'courtship'. Games and riddles dictate this chapter of the novel. The title of the poem is "Charade," and its solution is romance. Jane Austen gives the reader a reminder that Harriet is intellectually inferior to Emma when they attempt to solve the riddle. Harriet gives only silly answers, while Emma easily guesses the answer. This a hint to Emma that the "Charade" is not for Harriet but for her but she wrongly assumes that Mr Elton is so madly in love with Harriet and the fact that she is not as intelligent as him does not bother him. Harriet's mind and Mr Elton's mind is not one of equivalence; Jane Austen demonstrates this through the "Charade".
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In chapter ten the reason that Emma is unmarried becomes clear. As a greatly independent woman she does not need to marry and can marry only for love and when she finds a suitable partner. Marriage entitles many sacrifices. Emma would lose her authority and have to give in to a husband, while as a single woman she has the power to do whatever she pleases. This chapter also returns to Jane Austen's distinctions between marriage for love and marriage for status. It is only the very few people such as Emma who can marry for love, while ...

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