The Importance of Class in Emma

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The Importance of Class

Jane Austen's Emma is about a young woman who goes through many problems to find herself, love, and happiness. Emma is an extremely wealthy person. In this novel class becomes increasingly important as it progresses. It becomes so important because Emma tries to promote Harriet to her own social level, Emma is rich enough to financially support herself without men, she does not allow Harriet to accept Robert Martin's wedding proposal, Mr. Elton marries Augusta Hawkins who has 10,000 pounds, and he does not believe that Harriet is worthy enough to marry him.

The first example that illustrates the importance of class is shown through the way Emma attempts to promote Harriet to her own social level. She takes on Harriet as a project.

She would notice her; she would improve her; she

would detach her from her bad acquaintance and

introduce her into good society; she would form

her opinions and her manners (Austen 42).

She also encourages Harriet to transform into an image of Emma. This is very interesting for Emma and educational for Harriet so this relationship seems to benefit one another.

Emma encouraged her talkativeness- amused

by such a picture of another set of beings and
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enjoying the youthful simplicity which could

speak with so much exultation (Austen 45).

Emma's tendencies and attentions just pull Harriet away from her rightful social class.

Altogether she was quite convinced of Harriet

Smith's being exactly the young friend she

wanted- exactly the something which her home

required (Austen 44).

By setting up a romance between Harriet and Mr. Elton, she hopes to succeed in her change in Harriet. She experiments with Harriet so often because she is rich enough to not deal with men of her ...

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