Social Stereotypes

“Encouragement should be given.  Those soft blue eyes, and all those natural graces, should not be wasted on the inferior society of Highbury and its connections.  The acquaintances she had already formed were unworthy of her.  The friends from whom she had just parted, though very good sort of people must be doing her harm.  They were a family of the name of Martin, whom Emma well knew by character, as renting a large farm of Mr. Knightley, and residing in the parish of Donwell - very creditably, she believed; she knew Mr. Kightley thought highly of them; but they must be coarse and unpolished, and very unfit to be the intimates of a girl who wanted only a little more knowledge and elegance to be quite perfect.  She would notice her; she would improve her; she would detach her from her bad acquaintances, and introduce her into good society; she would form her opinions and her manners.  It would be interesting, and certainly a very kind undertaking; highly becoming her own situation in life, her leisure, and powers.” - Chapter 3 (pg. 17)

This passage from the early pages of the novel immediately sets up beauty and its relationship with social status.  By focusing on Harriet’s physical beauty, Emma stresses a societal belief that beauty in women is in and of itself deserving of higher social status.  Based on nothing other than Harriet’s appearance, which makes her almost entirely perfect, Emma decides that the social class in which Harriet moves in “unworthy”.  Never mind the fact that Emma knows  nothing of Harriet’s character and the fact that Emma is clearly aware that the Martins are wholesome and honest people, even people highly regarded by her social equal, she falls into social class stereotype despite the facts.  Harriet is beautiful and must be worthy of higher society, and the Martins must be base because they are of a lower social caliber.  However, while Emma believes that Harriet is worthy of much more than her present connections, Emma still views herself as distinctly superior in that she has the right to form Harriet’s person; she does not embrace Harriet as her equal, even after Harriet gains “a little more knowledge and elegance.”  Here we gain a deeper insight into an upper class society’s mindset:  They may amuse themselves by exercising their power and leisure upon lower class projects in the name of charity.  After all, the wealthy were expected to be kind to the deserving poor, and thus helping Harriet would be a completely appropriate pastime for someone of Emma’s rank.