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Fiction

Notes Mr. Woodhouse is in an ill temper. It has started to snow, and Mr. Woodhouse fears that they
will be unable to leave Randalls. The snow, however, subsidesm and carriages are brought to
take the guests home. Emma finds herself in the same carriage as Mr. Elton, who professes his
love for her. When Emma brings up Harriet Smith, he disparages her for her low social status
and reminds Emma that he only spent time with Harriet when Emma was near and claims that
Emma gave him encouragement. Emma is appalled by this revelation and promptly rejects
Mr. Elton.
Analysis: This chapter contains some sharp insights into the social life in Austen’s England.
A light snow is enough to keep the guests of the Westons from possibly leaving, and to walk
in such weather, as Isabella suggests that she could do, is unthinkable. Travel, even between
two relatively close estates, can be arduous if conditions are not perfect.
Mr. Elton reveals himself to be far less sympathetic than before. When he contrives to be in
the same carriage with Emma, he arranges a very private encounter with her outside of
normally accepted social space. This is the first instance in the novel in which Emma is alone
with a man (whenever Mr. Knightley visits, her father is always nearby), and the enclosed
space of the carriage heightens the intimacy of the encounter. His protestations to Emma show
that he deliberately feigned an interest in Harriet to be close to Emma, and his quick dismissal
of Harriet as not of his rank shows a petty snobbery.
However, his quick dismissal of Harriet Smith for her status recalls similar objections that
Emma herself made in regards to Harriet and Robert Martin. What Emma finds acceptable
behavior for Harriet, she finds unacceptable for Mr. Elton. This turn of events is a perfect
ironic retribution for Emma’s earlier actions. The concern for status and breeding that Emma
used as a weapon for Harriet Smith against Robert Martin she now finds used against her.

Chapter Sixteen: The next day, Emma is miserable that she was so deceived by Mr. Elton that
she failed to recognize his true motives. She realizes that the situation is entirely her fault
because she tried to meddle in Harriet’s and Mr. Elton’s affairs. Mr. Knightley, despite the
inclement weather, visits Hartfield that Christmas day.
Analysis: Emma is upset about Mr. Elton’s behavior towards her for several reasons. The first
and most obvious reason is that it humiliates Harriet, and Emma has the burden of telling
Harriet that Mr. Elton never had the slightest interest in her. The second relates to Mr. Elton’s
motives for pursuing Emma. Among Emma’s objections to Mr. Elton is the fact that his devotion
to her is largely fiscal. He so desperately wants to move up in society and perceives marriage
to Emma as the ideal opportunity.
Emma is also insulted that a person of Mr. Elton’s social status would consider himself fit for
her. This demonstrates some arrogance, for Mr. Elton is too low for Emma but good enough
for her close friend. She dismisses Mr. Elton because he does not come from a reputable
family, the same reason that he rejects Harriet Smith. Also, the qualities that Emma finds
objectionable in Mr. Elton - he is “proud, assuming, conceited; very full of his own claims”—
are the very qualities that she instills in Harriet.
Still, even Austen makes some distinction between what Mr. Elton does and what Emma
attempts to do for Harriet. Mr. Elton uses Harriet’s attentions to get to Emma and behaves
with no sense of polite manners (as when he expresses his feelings in the carriage). Emma,
Harriet and Mr. Elton may have the same reasons for pursuing and rejecting suitors, but the
two women behave with tact, while Mr. Elton is manipulative and rude.
Yet another reason why Emma is upset is that her plans go awry. Emma wishes everything
to be orderly, and in this situation nothing has gone as she planned. Nevertheless, she shows
some newfound signs of maturity. She accepts the blame for the situation and realizes that she

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