Today, there are very little, if any, class distinctions. However, when Jane Austen published
Emma in 1815, a person was classed by the family from which he was born in and how much money he possessed. Marriage between classes was uncommon and deemed degrading for the spouse of the higher class. Within the first two chapters of Emma, the reader observes the disunity of the classes. In Chapter Two, the narrator mentions that Mr. Weston's first marriage "was an unsuitable connection, and did not produce much happiness" because of the disparity of wealth between the prosperous Churchills and the underprivileged Westons. Despite Austen poking fun at the class distinctions of her time, she illustrates that true love and humility can bridge the gaps …show more content…
Weston. Robert Martin, though a lowly farmer in Emma's eyes, displayed true gentility to Harriet when he met her in the store after she had rejected him. He was friendly to her and did not shun her as most injured lovers would have done. With Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill's secret engagement, true love bridged the chasm between orphanage and gentility. Mr. Knightley also proved that the rigid class structure could be broken by humility and pragmatism. Emma declares to him that it is below his …show more content…
However, he retorts back that he likes the exercise. By walking, he makes himself more accessible to the people around him who would not necessarily approach him if he rode in a carriage. The greatest break in class separation is when Mr. Knightley asks Harriet Smith out to dance when she had been ignored by her former love, Mr. Elton. Mr. Knightley, a wealthy owner of the greatest estate in Highbury, asked Harriet Smith, a girl with unknown parentage, to dance because he sincerely cared for her feelings and did not want her to be left out.
Austen ridicules the class distinctions of her time and shows that they are trivial, unnecessary, and ridiculous. The landed gentry, who are supposed to be the courteous people, are often foolish and meddling, when they are not being downright malicious. The low-class tradesmen are hard-working, honest, and oftentimes more genteel than the supposedly "well-bred" society. Many times in the course of the book, attempts have been made to join the classes, but all end in near disaster because of want of true feeling. In the end though, Austen shows that true love and good decorum can bridge the gap that separated many of the characters from each
Emma in 1815, a person was classed by the family from which he was born in and how much money he possessed. Marriage between classes was uncommon and deemed degrading for the spouse of the higher class. Within the first two chapters of Emma, the reader observes the disunity of the classes. In Chapter Two, the narrator mentions that Mr. Weston's first marriage "was an unsuitable connection, and did not produce much happiness" because of the disparity of wealth between the prosperous Churchills and the underprivileged Westons. Despite Austen poking fun at the class distinctions of her time, she illustrates that true love and humility can bridge the gaps …show more content…
Weston. Robert Martin, though a lowly farmer in Emma's eyes, displayed true gentility to Harriet when he met her in the store after she had rejected him. He was friendly to her and did not shun her as most injured lovers would have done. With Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill's secret engagement, true love bridged the chasm between orphanage and gentility. Mr. Knightley also proved that the rigid class structure could be broken by humility and pragmatism. Emma declares to him that it is below his …show more content…
However, he retorts back that he likes the exercise. By walking, he makes himself more accessible to the people around him who would not necessarily approach him if he rode in a carriage. The greatest break in class separation is when Mr. Knightley asks Harriet Smith out to dance when she had been ignored by her former love, Mr. Elton. Mr. Knightley, a wealthy owner of the greatest estate in Highbury, asked Harriet Smith, a girl with unknown parentage, to dance because he sincerely cared for her feelings and did not want her to be left out.
Austen ridicules the class distinctions of her time and shows that they are trivial, unnecessary, and ridiculous. The landed gentry, who are supposed to be the courteous people, are often foolish and meddling, when they are not being downright malicious. The low-class tradesmen are hard-working, honest, and oftentimes more genteel than the supposedly "well-bred" society. Many times in the course of the book, attempts have been made to join the classes, but all end in near disaster because of want of true feeling. In the end though, Austen shows that true love and good decorum can bridge the gap that separated many of the characters from each