Show how Austin builds up suspense and tension in the Elton/Harriet/Emma relationship, leading up to the dramatic conclusion.

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Show how Austin builds up suspense and tension in the Elton/Harriet/Emma relationship, leading up to the dramatic conclusion.

               The first volume of Jane Austens’ Emma has a dramatic conclusion in which Mr Elton proposes to Emma. Emma’s wild imagination is the source of all the confusion in the novel, as she attempts to match-make the local vicar, Mr Elton and her friend Harriet Smith, who is of a lower social class, with uncertain parentage, (living in a time when status and class were of the utmost importance). During the first volume of the novel the objective narrative stance contains much dramatic irony; the reader is allowed to observe Mr Elton’s increasing attachment to Emma with growing pleasure whilst she remains completely oblivious of his infatuation and continues to misconstrue every sign of affection to herself as further indication of his affection to Harriet.

               The first time the reader hears about Emma’s intentions to match-make Mr Elton is at the end of the first chapter- “Only one more, papa; only for Mr Elton. Poor Mr Elton!” Mr Knightley warns Emma that meddling in the affairs of others can bring nothing but trouble. Mr Knightley is realistic and practical and he often gives Emma good advice, which she is too single-minded to listen to, however he is nearly always right and therefore tension is built up for the reader as we know what mistakes Emma is going to make before she does. Harriet Smith is introduced to the reader and to Emma in chapter three as “the natural daughter of somebody.” Emma creates a new project for herself to fill her time now that Miss Taylor has married and takes it upon herself to befriend Harriet and make her a lady.

               It is evident that Harriet is Emma’s object of desire for Mr Elton and the sweet, simple, stupid girl is slowly, manipulated by Emma. Of course it is only in Emma’s wild imagination that this idea is possible because Harriet’s doubtful birth immediately rules her out as a suitable match for the conceited Mr Elton. Emma begins to lay her plans after a chance meeting with Robert Martin. She is very critical of the young farmer, the brother of friends of Harriet and forces Harriet to compare him with “say…Mr Elton.” Emma only needs to make this one suggestion before Harriet convinces herself she is in love; this shows us the extent of Emma’s power over Harriet. “Mr Elton was the very person fixed on by Emma to drive the young farmer out of Harriet’s head.”

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               There is a great deal of ambiguity in the novel which shows the reader how Emma interprets Mr Elton so wrongly and how Mr Elton could misunderstand Emma’s friendliness towards him:

               “She was a beautiful creature when she came to you, but, in my opinion,

               the attractions you have added are infinitely superior to what she received

               from nature.”

               Mr Elton is praising ...

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