Views of Marriage in Jane Austens Emma Essay - 954 Words

Views of Marriage in Jane Austens 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 Taylors 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†¦show more content†¦For middle class women such as Emma and Jane Fairfax, making a suitable marriage was an important matter. Emmas 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, marriageShow MoreRelatedThe Fellowship Of Marriage And Marriage1661 Words   |  7 PagesThe Fellowship of Marriage Marriage has always been a convoluted subject to every era of time, especially when wealth is brought into the equation of it. During the Romantic Era, the state of marriage illustrated women’s continued inequality in society. For instance, women lacked legal equality once they entered marriage due to coverture, which is the condition of a woman during her married life, when she is under the law of being the authority of and protection of her husband. 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