emma4.docx
Views of Marriage in Jane Austen's Emma
The dominant theme that constantly runs through this novel is that of
marriage. All of the important activities of the novel are focused
around various attempts from Emma, to arrange them, prevent them, or
hinder them; this idea is empathized in both chapter 1, where Emma
replies in discussion to Miss Taylor's marriage "I made up my mind on
the subject. I planned the match from that hour", and in chapter 7
when Emma is told by Harriet of Mr Martins proposal and uses clever
manipulation over Harriet to influence her rejecting decision: "You
think I ought to refuse him then?...Ought to refuse him! My dear
Harriet, what do you mean? Are you in doubt as to that?...I lay down a
general rule, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she would
accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him". This in
itself instantly portrays the idea of Emma and her interfering nature
of marriages and relationships which is quite obviously going to
increase as the novel moves on.
The novel itself actually begins on the wedding-day of Miss Taylor to
Mr Weston; something significant in introducing the theme of marriage
to the novel early. This particular engagement is another one from
which as been set up by Emma. This marriage and idea of Emma loving
match-making being introduced so early in the novel brings a certain
impetus into the reading, and expands the readers imagination into how
and why the three major couplets; Knightley and Emma, Robert Martin
and Harriet and Frank Churchill could all end up being close. Other
than these major couplets, most of what happens in the novel is
generally to do with people proposing and being accepted or rejected,
marriage plans falling through, and various well-meant attempts at
match making from Emma.
The importance of marriage as a theme in this novel has to be judged
against the background of ideas on the subject in Jane Austen day. For
middle class women such as Emma and Jane Fairfax, making a suitable
marriage was an important matter. Emma's great wealth which she
appears to have control of produces her reasons in which she does not
need to be married, and should stay independent: Emma acknowledges
this in chapter 10, "I must see somebody very superior to anyone I
have seen yet, to be tempted". Here Emma is beside herself and
highlights almost a snobbishness of a class society that continues to
run though the novel. It is this idea of a class society that Emma
tends to use as her framework for her match making.
Within chapter ten, the whole conversation between Harriet and Emma is
particularly based upon the subject of marriage. Emma declares that
she has "non of the usual inducements of women to marry". Apart from
love, which is the only thing that Emma says would induce her to
marry, she mentions three reasons why a middle-class women might be
anxious to change her single state; to increase her material property,
to increase her social importance, and to have an occupation has
mistress of the house. Each one of these Emma already withholds in
some way or another, introducing an idea that Emma may never actually
marry. This builds up a structure of reaction for when Emma is later
proposed to by both Mr Elton and then Mr Knightley.
In the world of Austen, marriage depended a great deal upon two
fundamental factors; equality of social class and background and
equality of fortune. It is true that Jane Austen does not allow these
two considerations to dominate to the leaving out of all others. Jane
Fairfax, for example, although she has no personal fortune, marries
Frank Churchill, the heir to a great property. In spite of all Emma's
efforts, Harriet Smith does not eventually marry outside of her social
sphere. Jane Fairfax, in spite of her lack of fortune, is in every
other way Frank Churchill's equal, particularly in birth and breeding,
and the marriage of Emma and Mr Knightley results in the perfect match
from Jane Austen's point of view, founded correctly on social,
material and moral equality.
The various efforts from Emma for match making, some successful, some
not, are a way in which Jane Austen has provided unity and interest
throughout the novel and are the source of most satisfying ironies. As
already said, the initial promotion of match making is highlighted in
chapter 1 in relation to the marriage of Miss Taylor and Mr Weston. Of
this marriage we are told that "Emma had always wished and promoted
the match". This chapter is dominated with thoughts such as this,
ending with Emma showing determination to continue her activities in
the match making field.
Throughout the novel, Mr Knightley is the character that shrewdly
observes that Emma and her match making is more likely to do more harm
than good. With this in mind, there is an irony in what immediately
follows, as Emma declares her resolution to find a match for Mr Elton
the vicar. In this particular activity she will do even more harm to
herself than even Mr Knightley could foresee. Her attempts to match
Harriet and Mr Elton ends abruptly in chapter 15 after Mr Elton's
proposal of marriage to Emma, and results in a huge embarrassment from
Emma.
Overall therefore, throughout this novel, each chapter is vigorously
based upon marriage in one way or another, and in the whole is
attempting to represent the views and opinions of people in Jane
Austen's time, in particular in the light of gender, class and
material differences.
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