Discuss the function of setting in the presentation of Jane Austen's main concerns in Emma.

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In the discussions of fiction, the term ‘setting’ may refer to descriptions of localities, landscapes and interiors. It may, however, refer to period as well as place, and to social convention. Setting may express (directly or indirectly) the main concerns of a work of fiction.

Discuss the function of setting in the presentation of Jane Austen’s main concerns in Emma

 In Jane Austen’s novel Emma, the function of setting is to demonstrate life as it would be in Highbury around the same time as Austen was writing the book (around 1815). The setting mostly refers to the period the is set in story as well as the place, which of course also bears much relevance. However, Jane Austen’s main concern in the book was to convey social convention, an aspect of life which would have a major affect on the characters in the story as it did Jane herself, in context to the period it is set. Also the themes of marriage and wealth also tie in with social status in the book as it would be of importance in the early 18th century that it is set in.

 The character that to help all these themes together as well as Emma herself is Harriet. Not only is the power of status shown by Emma’s control over Harriet,( not even by force but Harriet’s freewill, as she admires and aspires to Emma)but she also takes the theme of marriage with Emma’s mischievous behaviour as she tries to match make Harriet to suitors of seemingly higher class.

  Harriet also ties in with the education being a parlour boarder at Mrs Goddard’s school. We are able to see a glimpse of what education is like as Jane Austen bring s in her description of Mrs Goddard the mistress of a school “not of seminary, or an establishment…but, a real, honest, old-fashioned boarding school…where girls may be sent out the way and scramble themselves in to a little education, without any danger of bringing back prodigies” We are shown the kind of education girls would have received at the time, a middle class education. Jane evokes a warm sense to the ides of school though the last line is a little shocking it brings in the real world, a world where contraception were not available and pre-marital sex was still a shameful act in the eyes of society. The “scramble” for education also shows the type of education the girls may receive. Not a full education but whatever the girls could grasp. In this way we can already see the kind of education that society of the period were growing up with. However for Emma, a member of higher class this was different, as it is shown, she was educated by Miss Taylor as would all member s of upper class be tutored at home.

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  Through out the novel there are marriage agreements and suitors made and discussions between characters of “equal marriage” this refers to marrying a person in the story of equal wealth and status. By the end of the novel it seems all characters seem to have found their equal in marriage, with Emma it is the gentlemanly Mr Knightly who if not just equal in status is equal by intellect as is evident through their many long conversations they hold, conversations on a level we never see Emma talk to Harriet with. Harriet also marries Mr Martin who after all ...

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