Social status is clearly one of the main themes in Jane Austen’s Emma and was usually defined in reference to a family name and a long line of wealth.  Emma is ruled by her place in society and restricted to certain social standards that include everything from conduct to clothing and social events.  Apart from her willful deviations from the strict code in the instances of her matchmaking, Emma finds herself confined within her class restrictions, although she inwardly rebels by refusing to marry.  The importance of class is shown through Emma’s and other character’s interactions with each other and the hardships and criticism they face when trying to rise above their status.  There are times when class status is abused or taken for granted as when Emma openly humiliates Miss Bates.  However unfair, these class distinctions make life easy for the people in Highbury for they know who they are and what their place is. 

Proper manners include many aspects and Emma has a hard time learning that bragging is not one of them.  Emma knows how wealthy she is and seems to think that because she is in the high class, she doesn’t have to associate with anyone below her.  When Miss Taylor leaves, Emma has a hard time finding a replacement because many of the girls her age are not of the upper class like she is.  When Emma is forced to interact with the lower classes she doesn’t treat them with much respect.  At the Box Hill Party, Emma openly makes fun of Miss Bates and doesn’t see how it is wrong.  Emma thinks her behavior is fine based on the fact that she’s higher in class than Miss Bates.  The only way that Emma learns is after Mr. Knightley scolds her like a child. Mr. Knightley says, “How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age and situation,” (351). Mr. Knightley teaches her that it is not acceptable to disassociate yourself with someone based on class. 

Proper speech is also an aspect of proper manners.  People address one another formally using proper titles such as Mr., Mrs., or Miss.  Mrs. Elton doesn’t address people with proper titles like she should; she is continually calling Jane or Knightley by informal names.  There are very strict rules on topics of conversation as well.  Personal problems are not discussed among one’s own family, much less polite company.  Weather, upcoming parties and books read are typically the topics of discussion; anything more intimate is considered improper.  Emma doesn’t seem to think that she should follow that rule either.  She is nosy and is constantly in other people’s business when she tries to play matchmaker and when she tries to mold Harriet.

            In addition to proper speech, clothing is an important aspect of how people are treated socially and is part of being civilized.  The people are always well dressed and their clothing signifies their class status.  The better-dressed people are, the higher their class status.  People wearing dirty, ratty, old clothes are most likely of a lower class, compared to people in the higher classes who know and wear appropriate clothing for the event they are attending. 

            Both clothing and speech are symbolic in that they are representations of wealth and good breeding.  Improper dress and poor speech are not accepted among the elite.  Emma comments on Mr. Martin, who is of lower class and says, “His appearance was very neat, and he looked like a sensible young man, but his person had no other advantage; and when he came to be contrasted with gentlemen, she thought he must lose all the ground he had gained in Harriet’s inclination…Mr. Martin looked as if he did not know what manner was” (31).  Proper etiquette and manners are a must in order to be accepted in the upper class. 

Along with physical appearance, the upper class has certain duties to maintain a good reputation.  Works of charity are one of the upper class’s responsibilities to the Highbury community. In the novel it becomes apparent that the Bates family has moved from an elevated social class to a lower social standing. To help to Miss. Bates, the Woodhouses send meat and other bakery items and Mr. Knightley sends over apples. The upper class doesn’t believe in sending money because it would be stripping people of lower status of any respect that remains within the family. Emma also takes time out of her schedule to visit a poor family with Harriet. 

Another obligation of the upper class is to throw dinner parties and soirees.  As charitable as they are, they even invite Miss Bates who is now of a lower class, but was once on their level. These events keep Miss Bates in good social standing despite the decrease in her wealth.  The Coles, a nouveau riche family, throw parties to assimilate and associate with the upper class as well.  In Emma the social gatherings happen frequently and are used as a means to congregate and meet people because affiliations are almost as important as wealth.

Despite the importance of class requirements and class distinction, the novel is littered with violations.  Social mobility, although possible, is not widely accepted in the idealized life in Highbury.  It is gained through the acquisition of money.  Money along with bloodlines are the principal factors in determining social status.  The gain in social status may also be achieved through marriage, which is what Emma tries to do for her friend Harriet Smith.  The idea of class is so ingrained in the community’s minds that any deviation from that code is unthinkable.  Social status is so important to these people because it dictates who they are and how they should behave. 

Emma likes to push the boundaries because she finds the class stipulations confining.  From the beginning of the novel Emma states, “ I am not only, not going to be married, at present, but have very little intention of ever marrying at all…If I were to marry, I must expect to repent it,” (82).  Emma realizes that class status can limit people’s freedom and as she now runs her own house and is free to do as she pleases, there is no need for change.  However, for others, marriage is a suitable option versus becoming an old maid. 

After Ms. Taylor marries, Emma finds her replacement in Harriet and takes it upon herself to better Harriet’s social standing.  That is not to say that Emma considered Harriet her equal, for she did not.  Emma feels that “Harriet could be loved as one to whom she could be useful,” (27).  To Emma, Harriet is useful because she provides entertainment and companionship.  Emma attempts to marry Harriet off to Mr. Elton, who is of higher standing than Harriet.  Mr. Elton, who is below Emma in social status, is appalled at the idea and fancies himself above that and equal to Emma.  In turn, Emma can’t believe Mr. Elton could ever see her with himself, as she feels superior in her status and, “He must know that the Woodhouses had been settled for several generations at Hartfield, the younger branch of a very ancient family—and that the Eltons were nobody.”(129).  This triangle demonstrates the idea of class being more important to those in higher classes in regards to someone of a lower class.

Harriet’s real love belongs to Mr. Martin, a man who is below both Harriet and Emma.  In order to sway her companion’s opinion away from accepting Mr. Martin’s proposal and confirm Harriet has done the right thing, Emma tells Harriet, “It would have grieved me to lose your acquaintance, which must have been the consequence of your marrying Mr. Martin… I could not have visited Mrs. Robert Martin, of Abbey-Mill Farm,” (54).   Even though they are great friends, Emma would not have been able to remain so, if Harriet had married below her station, due to the standards of her respective class.  Knightley feels that because Harriet has no real fortune, Mr. Martin is the real catch, and could easily do better than Harriet. Emma argues that, “Mr. Martin may be the richest of the two, but he is undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in society.-The sphere in which she moves is much above his.- It would be degradation” (p.60).  In this situation, it is so important to Emma that Harriet be of the higher class, she blinds herself to the actual point Knightly is trying to make.  He is attempting to explain the importance of class position and through his statement, he reflects the ideals of the community. 

Social entertainment in Highbury is also important and includes many get togethers. In most cases, each social gathering is an important section in the novel where key situations occur. The Box Hill party was an important chapter because it shows two classes come together as one.  However, “during the two whole hours that were spent on that hill, there seemed a principle of separation, between the other parties, too strong for any fine prospects, or any cold collation, or any cheerful Mr. Weston, to remove,” (344).  Everyone is painfully aware of the separation of status.  Emma herself makes fun of the lower class attending when she teases Miss Bates in front of all.  Mr. Knightley says to Emma about Miss Bates, “She is poor; she has sunk from the comforts she was born to; and if she live to old age, must probably sink more,” (351).  Mr. Knightley understands the need to respect everyone regardless of class status, or at least to appear respectful.         This event also shows just how much the residents of Highbury regard class status even when an effort is made to ignore it.  Because Mrs. and Miss Bates are lower on the social ladder, Emma actually fears associating herself with these women because of the reflection it might have on her social status. It is interesting comparing her relationship with Harriet to her relationship with the Bates, because both are of a lower standing than Emma yet she tries to bring Harriet up and accept her without considering doing the same for the Bates women.  Regardless of the rules and some people’s disapproval, adherence is expected, which is why Knightley finds Emma’s unwillingness to abide so distasteful. 

People like the Coles put a hitch in Emma’s beliefs.  Before it was possible for the middle class to gain social status through hard work, wealth was solely based on inheritance and family name.  The problem with the mere acquisition of money, as opposed to a line of inheritance, is that it sets “new money” apart from “old money.”  In Emma, the Coles are a great example of this in that (although as wealthy as many in the upper classes) they are still not completely accepted in this circle.  Emma is uncomfortable with the Coles because she doesn’t know how to categorize them.  Technically they are from a lower class, but they have money.  Even with the rise in status, Emma comments that they, “had been settled some years in Highbury, and were a very good sort of people—friendly, liberal, and unpretending; but, on the other hand, they were of low origin, in trade, and only moderately genteel,” (194).  Although they are good people and have attained wealth, they are still lower because they weren’t brought up a certain way. 

The Coles themselves display the hypocritical convictions of the upper class. “On their first coming into the country, they had lived in proportion to their income, quietly, keeping little company, and that little unexpensively,” (194); however, once they have attained the wealth they no longer consort with the lower class and instead begin having grand dinner parties with all the other wealthy families.  Emma has no desire to associate with people who climb the social ladder so before Emma even gets an invitation she decides she’s going to reject it. She wanted to teach the family a lesson that they can’t overstep their class without cost. When everyone but the Woodhouses get an invitation, Emma then feels left out.  So when the invitation finally arrives, she changes her mind and decides to go. Emma felt, “The Coles were very respectable in their 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,” (194). Because the Coles have had a significant increase in money,  they have added on to their house, hired more servants and have also bought a pianoforte, which they cannot even play. Mrs. Cole says, “ …and it was but yesterday I was telling Mr. Cole, I really was ashamed to look at our new grand pianoforte in the drawing-room, while I do not know one note from another… (201). The Coles were not staying within their birth class and this sort of changeover is unacceptable to Emma.

At the end of the novel, all the other couples, including Emma and Knightley, appear happy. Austen may have been trying to convey the common belief (in the 19^th century) that marriage follows the natural order of things; that one should be happy to find her place.  Emma could have remained alone enjoying all the freedoms available to her, but she chooses to marry Mr. Knightley.  However, one must take into consideration the way Mr. Knightley behaves towards Emma.  He treats her like a child, scolding and admonishing her constantly.  Emma exchanges her independence and sense of humor to grow more worthy of Mr. Knightley. She doesn’t just marry an equal, but more of a father figure.  It is hard to imagine that her marriage to Knightley was a trade up as opposed to her merely abiding by her role as a women. 

            There are many inconsistencies that follow Emma throughout her existence in Highbury.  The class standards that everyone finds so crucial are duplicitous in nature.  They allow certain freedoms for specific people, but confine them in doing so.  Emma’s divergence from the norm sets her apart and others, such as Mr. Knightley, see her as improper and need to correct her.  The Coles, as well, face criticism when they rise above their station, but it is Emma this time who feels they should be taught a lesson.  Any advancement in class position, gives way to new opportunity; however, one loses the unconstrained manner once allowed when there are not so many circumstances that demand predetermined conduct.  The reason the discriminatory conventions are (for the most part) blindly accepted is because it establishes who people are and where they fit into the community.  Allowing no room for error, this gives people a sense of peace that cannot be found with ambiguity. 

Austen, Jane.  Emma.  Britain: Penguin, 1996.