Emma in Different Interactions
...ent husband, she is meddlesome and dictatorial. She assumes that Robert Martin is too coarse for Harriet Their friendship is not one between equals. As far as the parallel between the two is concerned, both women share a degree of vanity. Part of Emma’s vanity resides her feelings toward her social inferiors. Emma feels that Highbury needs her; Young Robert Martin “will connect himself well if he can (Emma, p.50)”; and the Cole’s main object in giving the dinner is to see Emma at their table: The regular and best families Emma could hardly suppose [the Coles] would presume to invite ---neither Donwell, nor Hartfield, nor Randalls. Nothing should tempt her to go, if they did; and she regretted that her father’s known habits would be giving her refusal less meaning than she could wish. (Emma, p.207) At every social event Emma sees herself as giving the honor instead of receiving it. On the other hand, it is Emma who has raised Harriet Smith to claim greater and made the humble Harriet vain. After Harriet has become a constant guest at Hartfield, it can be indicated that Harriet may consider herself a resident of Hartfield. This shows that Mr. Knightley’s prediction is coming true: Harriet is coming to think of herself as too high in status. Her decline of Robert Martin’s suit is another indication. Emma makes Harriet Smith believe that she can expect a man of higher status than she can actually claim. Later as the story develops, Mr. Knightley saves Harriet at the Crown Inn ball after Harriet has been slighted by the Eltons. His kind behavior makes Harriet believe that Mr. Knightly could be in love with her. Unlike her situation with Mr. Elton, this time Emma does not mislead her to that wrong thought. Harriet's belief that Mr. Knightley might love her is a product of her developing vanity. The second important female character as a juxtaposition against Emma is Jane Fairfax. Jane is an exemplar of the self-made woman, who is poised, talented and refined. Her high regard in society mainly comes from her talents and charm instead of the impoverished Mrs. and Miss Bates, her family background. This reminds the reader that it is not Emma's intelligence or talents that make her the head of Highbury society, but instead her family and fortune. Compared with Emma, Jane lacks status. Volume II Chapter XVII reveals the likely fate of Jane Fairfax. Since she is not from a wealthy family, she must go into a profession as a governess, which is compared by her as slave trade. This is a sharp contrast from the fate of Emma Woodhouse. While Emma is an heiress to her father’s large property who will be at the center of society even if she remains single, Jane Fairfax must depend on a good marriage. Otherwise, she will be forced into a demeaning life as a spinster, much like her aunt, Miss Bates. Jane Fairfax, a woman with equal talent as Emma, must take a low position merely because of status. Another contrast of the two is their relationships with the male characters that can become their potential husbands. Emma displays a natural and open relationship with Mr. Knightley and Frank Churchill, while there is an obscure mystery that surrounds Jane. On the first reading of the novel, readers can share Emma’s various feelings during the course of events, her bafflement, curiosity, despise as well as appreciation to these male characters. Yet, readers can never be sure what feelings Jane holds toward these same men. For example, in Volume II Chapter VIII, at the Coles' party, Mrs. Cole tells how Jane Fairfax received a new piano from an unknown source. Emma tells Frank that she suspects it is a gift from Mrs. Dixon, and Frank suggests to Emma that Mr. Dixon has fallen in love with Jane, who saved Jane Fairfax's life when she nearly fell overboard during a water party. Frank also mentions to Emma that Mr. Knightly must have provided a carriage to transport Jane Fairfax and Miss Bates to the party. It’s an indication that Mr. Knightly may intend to marry Jane Fairfax. Also notable is that Frank Churchill may have an interest in Jane Fairfax. In Volume III Chapter V when Emma, Frank, Harriet and Jane play word games together, the word Frank gives Jane to guess is "Dixon," which greatly annoys Jane, who promptly quits the game. Mr. Knightly tells Emma about his suspicions about Frank and Jane. Though Emma doesn’t think that there is romance between the two, this put readers into thinking. All these three men seem to be connected with Jane, and the mystery becomes clear at Volume III Chapter X, almost the end of the novel. The parallel between Emma and Jane Fairfax lies in their equal intelligence and talent. In Volume I Chapter XII, Isabella mentions Jane Fairfax in conversation, claiming that only she could be as accomplished and superior as Emma, a more suitable companion than Harriet Smith. Emma knows very well that Jane would be a more appropriate companion for her than Harriet, for Jane possesses real refinement of mind and manners, and is truly cultivated, while Harriet “is pretty, and …good tempered, and that is all (Emma, 24)”. Yet, Emma rejects the opportunity of Jane’s friendship. She complains that Jane is so distant and hard for anyone to approach. Emma’s dislike of Jane Fairfax is rooted in jealousy. Emma cannot bear to hear so many praises given to Jane, who in Emma’s mind poses a constant challenge to her. Both Emma and Jane are good observers of social propriety and decorum. Yet, each of them has made a major breach of decorum. In her secret engagement with Frank Churchill, Jane has risked her reputation by deceiving her friends and family. As Emma states, "her affection must have overpowered her judgment (Emma, p.361)." Her action is “one great deviation from the strict rule of right (Emma, p.363).” Since she has not hurt anybody during her deception and is properly married in the end, her behavior can be regarded as wrong for reasons of manners. Emma also has made a breach of decorum. During their trip to Box Hill, when Miss Bates begins to chatter on incessantly, Emma puts her down harshly, telling her that she is limited to only three dull things. Mr. Knightly later scolds Emma for treating Miss Bates so rudely. He tells her that Miss Bates deserves her compassion and not her scorn. As one of the highest members of Highbury society, Emma has a duty to treat those of lesser rank with kindness and to take pity on those disadvantaged people. This is the first time Emma does not behave politely to her social inferiors. The distinction between Emma and Mrs. Elton, or Miss Augusta Hawkins, is one between status and wealth. Mrs. Elton is said to be handsome, elegant and accomplished by many, but Emma notes that she has no truly respectable family connections. She is certainly wealthy, but the source of this wealth is important. Her family's fortune comes from the somewhat disreputable trade industry, not from the ownership of property, which is the case with the Woodhouses. In Jane Austen’s view, social class determines proper manners. Mrs. Elton does not know her proper rank in society, and thus she treats the members of Highbury society with much less respect than they should be accorded. She is self-important, ignorant and ill-bred, with none of the talents that can compare her to Emma or Jane Fairfax. Calling Mr. Knightly by his l...