The society of Jane Austen's time and period, being early nineteenth century rural England, marriage was seen as a reflection of social status.

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   The society of Jane Austen’s time and period, being early nineteenth century rural England, marriage was seen as a reflection of social status. It was determined by a combination of family background, reputation, and wealth, it was one of the main ways one could raise their social status. This method of social advancement was crucial to women, who were denied the possibility of improving their status through hard work or personal achievement.

   Women of nineteenth century England were mainly along the poverty line, surviving only on domestic work. They were not in the position to give any type of viewpoint or opinion that would create an impact but were under the dominion of men. Written in the marriage ceremony was a vow to ‘obey’ their husbands, which every woman had to swear before God as well as earthly witnesses. Their lives were confined and reduced to the aims of marrying and reproducing. Even if a woman was wealthy, in the majority of cases, marriage stripped her of all her assets and handed them over to her husband.

   Within the novel, Emma, the confined scope of action gives us a strong sense of the reduced role of a woman’s existence during the time. Emma possesses a great deal of intelligence but finds the most worthy use in an attempt to guide the marital destinies of her friends, a project that gets her into trouble. Whereas Isabella Knightley seems like the only woman devoted to her family. She is slow and diffident compared to Emma. Her domesticity provides a contrast to the independence Emma imagines for herself. Yet when Jane compares her work as a governess to the slave trade, "I did not mean, I was not thinking of the slave-trade," replied Jane; "governess-trade, I assure you, was all that I had in view; widely different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on; but as to the greater misery of the victims, I do not know where it lies.” She makes it clear that the life of a working woman is in no way preferable to the inactivity of a woman of fortune. The novel focuses on marriage because marriage offers women a chance to exert their power, if only for a short time, and affect their own futures without having to take on the labours or efforts of the working class.  Participating in the rituals of courtship and accepting or rejecting proposals is perhaps the most active role that women were permitted to play in Emma’s world.

   It is apparent that Austen uses a variety of ways to clarify and express her viewpoints on courtship and marriage. She uses the characters and events to emphasize issues surrounding such complex topics.

   The novel suggests, marrying too far above oneself leads to strife.  Mr Weston’s first marriage to Miss Churchill seemed like a wise move since she came from a wealthy family, “Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her fortune,” although as Mr Weston was a tradesman the inequality of the relationship caused hardship to both “It was an unsuitable connection, and did not produce much happiness,” However, on Mr Weston’s second marriage, just prior to the novel’s beginning, it is much happier as their social statuses are more equal as Mrs Weston is a governess.

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   Emma’s attempt to match Harriet with Mr. Elton is also shunned by other characters as inappropriate, “Men of family would not be very fond of connecting themselves with a girl of such obscurity-most prudent men would be afraid of the inconvenience and disgrace they might be involved in, when the mystery of her parentage came to be revealed.” Since Harriet is “illegitimate”, Emma still believes that “she is a gentleman’s daughter,” and encourages Harriet to reject what turns out to be a more appropriate match with Robert Martin. Yet when it is revealed Harriet is the daughter of a ...

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