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Unit 8: Jane Austen—Emma

intellectual level. More over, Harriet will do nothing but flatter her, something with which Notes
Emma is already well-acquainted. Mrs. Weston’s position as a governess was ideal preparation,
Mr. Knightley argues, because it trained her to think of others and often submit her own will.
Still, he praises Emma for her beauty when Mrs. Weston presses him.
Analysis: More than any other character in the novel, Mr. Knightley expressed the author’s
views on each character. While other characters are overwhelmed by social status and wealth,
Mr. Knightley is able to recognize personality traits and the truth of each character. In this
chapter, Mr. Knightley takes the opportunity to point out Emma’s flaws, an action that he will
repeat consistently throughout the novel. Not only does this criticism contrast sharply with
the way that Emma is treated by everyone else in the novel, but it suggests that Mr. Knightley
may have deeper feelings for Emma. He is greatly concerned with Emma’s behavior and
worries that she has been misguided by those around her.
Therefore, when Mr. Knightley tells Mrs. Weston that Harriet Smith is not an appropriate
friend for Emma, this must be taken as foreshadowing. The harm in the friendship is that
Harriet will flatter Emma and indulge her worst qualities, while Emma will teach Harriet to
be so refined that she will not fit among her true social equals. Again, status is significant:
Harriet, given her suspicious birth and upbringing, must know her lower place in society. A
friendship with the woman at the center of Highbury society will only be confusing and even
damaging.
Mr. Knightley makes an important comment about how Emma prepared Mrs. Weston for
marriage by making her submit to another’s wishes. This highlights the role of a wife in
marriage as completely subservient to the husband and indicates how exceptional Emma is in
her circumstances. Emma, because of her fortune and status, has the power of a married man
and must submit to no one’s wishes. If she did marry, she would have to give up a great deal
of her independence.

Chapter Six: Emma starts working to develop a romantic match between Mr. Elton and Harriet.
She speaks to Mr. Elton about Harriet Smith, but for every compliment he gives Harriet,
Mr. Elton gives Emma the credit. Emma decides to draw a portrait of Harriet Smith for
Mr. Elton, even though he seems more interested in having a picture by Emma Woodhouse
than of Harriet Smith. When Emma completes the picture of Harriet Smith, Mr. Weston and
Mr. Knightley note how Emma has improved Harriet’s appearance, giving her better features
and making her taller. Mr. Elton gallantly offers to take the picture to London so that it can
be framed.
Analysis: This chapter rests on situational irony. Harriet Smith is interested in Mr. Elton, but
Mr. Elton is interested in Emma, the woman who is attempting to set up the two. It also
creates a number of ambiguities. Mr. Elton gladly accepts the portrait, but is not clear whether
or not he cherishes it for the subject (Harriet) or the artist (Emma). Certain qualities in both
Emma and Harriet Smith allow this delusion to continue. Emma has idealized both Harriet
and Mr. Elton in her attempts to play matchmaker, and she cannot presume that her plans
would ever go awry. Harriet, in turn, is so trusting that she cannot see the signals that
Mr. Elton gives. At this point it is unclear whether or not Mr. Elton is aware of the circumstances,
but that point is critical. He does know that he is in their company for the purpose of courtship.
But, if he knows that Emma intends him for Harriet and not herself, then he is deliberately
and cruelly manipulating Harriet Smith.
The chapter also reinforces the life of leisure that Emma Woodhouse lives. She spends her
days working on a portrait of Harriet Smith. Yet also interesting is that the others also have
a similar life of leisure, even though Harriet does not have Emma’s resources, and Mr. Elton
actually has a career. Austen never shows Mr. Elton actually at work or considering his duties
at the parish.

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