Marriage does seem to be
a universal concern for Austen's characters. Marriage was of course the only way that a woman
could raise herself up the social ladder and thus the person you married was of key importance.
However, what is interesting about the presentation of marriage in this novel is the way that
Austen suggests rising too high above your social class is something that can actually lead to
unhappiness. The first marriage of Mr. Weston to a woman socially his superior was one that only
brought sadness to both parties. In the same way, Frank Churchill must keep his attachment to
the socially inferior Jane Fairfax secret because of his fears of being disinherited by his
aunt. Lastly, note howthinks of Harriet when she admits to entertaining hopes of a marriage to
Mr. Knightley, a man who is socially well above her:
How
Harriet could ever have had the presumption to raise her thoughts to Mr. Knightley!--How she
could dare to fancy herself the chosen of such a man till actually assured of it!
Theof this passage is two-fold: Harriet is only free to entertain
such "presumption" because of Emma's own work in encouraging her to think of herself
as the secret daughter of some noble gentleman, and it is only when Emma finds out Harriet is
interested in Mr. Knightley that she realises she is in love with Mr. Knightley herself. Emma
causes Harriet to forsake a marriage to a man more in keeping with her social station, but
fortunately Harriet herself seizes the initiative and accepts Robert Martin. Marriage may be a
vehicle for upward socal mobility, but in so doing, Austen seems to warn, characters may commit
themselves to bitterness and unhappiness. Happiness in marriage is something that is only
achieved through equality of social status and temperament.
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