Class Divisions in Highbury

A detailed Summary of Class Divisions in Highbury

Jane Austen's classic novel, "Emma", is not only a story about love or self-discovery, but it is also a novel which depicts the division of classes in the time during which it was written. During Emma Woodhouse's time, the mid-1800's, more and more people seemed to be able to climb up into the wealthier classes. This new class of wealth was rarely welcome, as is apparent in Emma's behavior throughout the novel. Austen reveals society's reluctance to accept this new class through characters such as the Eltons, Coles and the Martins.

The newest family to make their way into the wealthy class was the Coles. "A very good sort of people...of low origin, in trade, and only moderately genteel, the Coles have managed to improve their means quite considerably in a short amount of time to become, in fortune and style of living, second only to the family at Hartfield" (132). Emma outwardly resents the Coles' rapid climb into her society and desperately wants to put them in their place. She plans to do this by refusing to accept their invitation to a dinner party. "The Coles were very respectable in their own way, but they ought to be taught that it was not for them to arrange the terms on which the superior families would visit them

Emma takes a young girl named Harriet under her wing at the beginning of the novel. She tries to transform Harriet from a dumpy, unknown little girl into a prestigious young woman like herself. Emma, however, ends up hurting Harriet more than helping her. Harriet almost seems to become a canvas for Emma to paint. She does this by inventing a family history for Harriet and persuading her to snub the lesser families who had always been kind to and helped Harriet. Austen emphasizes Harriet's inferiority through Emma constantly referring to her as a "Nobody." Austen writes "Harriet had a sweet, docile, grateful disposition...and altogether Emma was quite convinced of Harriet Smith's being exactly the young friend she wanted and exactly the something which her home required. Harriet would be loved as one to whom she could be useful" (15). Emma overshadows Harriet's own place that she had acquired by her transformation of Harriet.

As Emma continues to snub everyone else in society, Augusta thinks very highly of herself and snubs Harriet. This shows just how two-faced Augusta is because both she and Harriet come from mercantile parents. Another similarity between Emma and Augusta is that they both take young women and try to transform them. August takes a young woman named Jane Fairfax under her wing much the same way that Emma took Harriet: "Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming...I quite rave about Jane Fairfax. A sweet, interesting creature. So mild and ladylike...She is very timid and silent. One can see that she feels the want of encouragement...I am a great advocate for timidity...Jane Fairfax is a very delightful creature, and interest

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Approximate Word count = 1119
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English