As Harriet is of a lower class and intelligence to Emma, she fits in perfectly with Emma’s meddlesome romantic games as she is too naïve and inclined to fit in to object. As soon as Emma befriends Harriet, she tries to create an unlikely match between Harriet and Mr Elton, a “respectable vicar of Highbury,” and somebody unsuitable for Harriet, a girl of no “respectable relations,” an important factor when selecting a partner in the Regency Age. Austen gives certain clues to the reader signifying the fate of Harriet and Mr Elton’s relationship. One of these clues is in the form of a charade that Mr Elton sends to Hartfield, he decides to keep this charade nameless, possibly hinting that he may know Emma’s intentions of matchmaking him with Harriet even though he is only interested in Emma, and her fortune. The indication that suggests the charade may not be to Harriet is that he describes “ready wit,” something that evidently does not apply to Harriet who is “not a sensible girl”. When Mr Elton comes to watch Emma paint Harriet’s portrait at Hartfield he cleverly disguises a compliment to Emma as one to Harriet by saying “you have given Miss Smith all she required,” and “you have made her graceful and easy.” This may be interpreted as another clue to the reader that Harriet and Mr Elton are destined not to end up together as Mr Elton compliments the painter rather than the painted.
As well as trying to match make Harriet and Mr Elton, Emma is also responsible for Harriet’s refusal of Mr Martin, a “respectable, intelligent, gentle-man farmer” somebody easily good enough for Harriet. The fact that Emma is able to do this shows her exerting her social exclusivity to persuade easily adaptable Harriet into making wrong decisions, something Emma does without a second thought to Harriet’s feelings and the consequences. Mr George Knightley, Emma’s brother in law and Austen’s voice of reason is a character who observes the problems with Harriet and Emma’s friendship.
He describes the proposal from Mr Martin to Harriet as “good enough” and blames any sense of “superiority” acquired on Emma’s influence; he even goes as far to say that Emma has been “no friend to Harriet Smith.” In many ways Mr Knightley is correct in making this observation. Harriet impresses Emma “on account of her beauty,” and Emma sees “how useful she might find” Harriet as a “walking companion,” showing that their friendship begins on the basis of Harriet being easy company for Emma when she desires it.
However, despite having her ambitions towards a good marriage fed by Emma, Harriet takes rejection surprisingly well for a “silly” girl. When learning of Mr Elton’s proposal to Emma, although upset, Harriet remains dignified and unspoilt “blaming no one,” her grief is “so truly artless” and Emma believes that “no dignity could have made it more respectable in” her eyes. Overall, Emma is so wrapped up in guilt; she even concludes that Harriet is “the superior creature of the two”. A statement that may well be true judging the harm she has caused her innocent young “friend”.
During the novel it seems slightly odd that, in a time so concerned with certain rules of society, Emma decides to befriend someone so below herself in class and of unknown origins when the company of other accomplished young ladies, such as Jane Fairfax, is on offer. There could be many possible explanations on top of ones previously mentioned. Emma’s ability to “summon” and manipulate Harriet exacerbates her arrogance. Emma feels no sense of competition in her friendship with Harriet as, whatever happens, her upbringing, home and “connections” will always allow her to be better than the modest Harriet Smith. Emma’s self-delusions help her to persuade herself that she is “improving her little friend’s mind, by a great deal of useful reading and conversation” and Emma believes she is improving Harriet’s standard of living. This is quite ironic in the fact that by trying to destroy Harriet and Mr Martin’s relationship, Emma comes close to ruining her life. Perhaps Emma feels threatened by young women who are on a more equal level to her, such as Jane Fairfax? Emma makes little effort with Jane, something Mr Knightley observes, and the character of Jane Fairfax is another way Austen accentuates Emma’s flaws. During the novel Emma talks of being sorry “she had to pay civilities to a person she did not like through three long months” but then fails to explain why she does “not like Jane Fairfax,” showing how she fails to recognise her own motives and forms shallow opinions tarnished with jealousy. This may also explain again why it is easy for Emma to be friends with Harriet as Harriet will never be a threat to her.
Overall, the quote describing how Emma can “summon” Harriet and that she is “another addition to her privileges” is indicative of the two girls’ relationship. In such an unbalanced and class-controlled society it is inevitable that two girls from totally different backgrounds are destined not to form a harmonious and equal relationship as society prevents it. By the end of the novel, Emma matures and finally comes to terms with the fact that her selfishness and love of matchmaking has done Harriet no favours and Emma starts to see Harriet as a person with feelings as to merely a privilege to use when it suits her. Emma’s friendship with Harriet is a learning experience for both girls and, although unequal, teaches Emma a vital lesson about how she has been accidentally cruel to many other people in pursuit of her own happiness and fulfilment.